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