John Medaille wrote:
"... there is not a "papal economics"
per se, since the Church does not endorse any
economic system and has no competence in
economics per se. But the Church does maintain
that any economic system must meet some minimum
standards of justice, however it might choose to do so.
A papal encyclical like Rerum Novarum, 1891, Quadragesimo Anno, 1931, Cent.
Anno, 1991, and various others, seem to articulate a papal economics. Rerum
espoused Thomism and appeared to condemn Georgism and Marxism, especially
the former, although with some wavering thereafter. Msgr. John Ryan then
published his influential book on economic policy, echoing much of Rerum,
and then moved into the FDR administration with considerable influence.
Quad. Anno endorsed Rerum and reshaped it into the corporate state. Its
anti-Marxism could be interpreted, especially in the context of its times,
as an endorsement of some aspects of fascism. Few today would call that a
standard of justice. It may be unfair to call it fascistic, but it was
certainly anti-Marxist, which is a politico-economic position and ideology.
FDR's need to angle for Catholic voters kept him from opposing Franco and
clerical fascism in Spain, while Hitler and Mussolini had no problem
supporting Franco. More recently, Cardinal Spellman led us into the Viet Nam
war in the name of containing atheist Marxism.
Papal economics today has evolved with the times, and I confess I have not
kept up with it. My point is simply that there is such a thing as Papal
economics. It no doubt eschews fascism today, but consistently uses
glittering generalities and fine phrases like "standards of justice". Is
Opus Dei a sanitized falange? I don't know. Catholicism has produced many
beautiful, giving people, and outstanding workers for social welfare and
justice. But when it comes to Papal views, one must look under the hood to
see what is really driving the motor.
Mason Gaffney
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