European Bishops discuss new way of doing economics

Source: CCEE

The Section for Social Issues of the Council of Bishops' Conferences of Europe (CCEE) held its meeting on 6-8 March in Rome on the theme: 'A new way of doing economics'.

Experts in economics and in the social doctrine of the Catholic Church, along with representatives of the Bishops' Conferences of Europe, discussed how the spirit of the Gospel, the Good News about love and justice could inspire a more just world economy for the benefit of all, especially the poorest.

The social teaching of the Catholic Church emphasizes the legitimacy of private property - which provides a sphere of freedom for the individual, for the family, and increases the productivity of goods -, but at the same time upholds the principle of the "Universal destination of goods"(1). The goods of the Earth should serve the well-being of all, especially of the poor, of the weak, of the disadvantaged. The Catholic Church emphasizes that the ultimate goal of economy should not be profit maximization, but the common good, the fulfilment of each single person (2). Therefore the markets - preserving their just, but not absolute autonomy - should be regulated according to moral rules (3). The states should strive to create full employment (4).

However, the regulations of the world economy today are quite often far away from these principles. As Pope Francis said: "Just as the commandment 'Thou shalt not kill' sets a clear limit to safeguard the value of human life, today we also have to say 'thou shalt not' to an economy of exclusion and inequality. Such an economy kills"(5).

The representatives of the CCEE Commission call the decision makers and every person of good will to implement the inspirations of the Gospel into the concrete reality of world economy, of politics, of laws and of daily life. We ask our Christian brothers and sisters to become the salt of the Earth in the field of social justice, too, creating a more just world economy. We especially ask the developed countries, the great owners and corporations to pay the 'social mortgage'(6) that is attached to their private properties and to their gains. We ask the parliaments of every nation and the United Nations to implement the values of justice and solidarity in their legislations more and more. Let us make the Earth a better place for humanity as a whole; especially for those, who have no access to clean water, to sufficient nutrition, to education and healthcare! When the more developed nations and individuals can do that, their lives and their societies will turn out to be more human, fuller, and happy. Humankind is one family, we are essentially social beings, and we can be happy only together.

The option for the poor is not optional, it cannot be delegated to special organs of the Church or of society. The pastors in the Church should accompany in a pastoral way agents of economic life, but also their communities to discover the obstacles that hinder their integral human development. In this pastoral effort they must listen to them, first of all they have to listen to the poor, to the suffering.

Humanity should break those "structures of sin" - to use the expression of Saint John Paul II. - which lead to inequality and exclusion. Such structures of sin are among others the surcharging of the poor countries, the tax havens, or the monopoly of a few in the field of high-tech industry and communication.

The prophet Isaiah says: "The fruit of justice is peace" (Is 32,17). If we desire peace, we must create a more just world. The Jubilee Year calls humanity to build up a new world economy, an economy of solidarity that really serves the well-being of all.

[1] II. Vatican Council, Gaudium et spes, 71. Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church 176-178.
[2] Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, 326. 329.
[3] Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, 349.
[4] Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, 288.
[5] Pope Francis, Evangelii gaudium, 53.
[6] Pope John Paul II, Sollicitudo rei socialis, 42.