Christian Counseling and Labor Ethics
With the recent outcry of union rights versus the state, one may come to many questions regarding Christian ideals and how to counsel confused individuals upon what is right and wrong. One prominent document that championed the right of the worker but also guided many away from the idealology of socialism was Rerum Novarum. Pope Leo the XIII wrote this encyclical in a time of public outrage as workers tried to organize against oppressive industrial barrens who exploited the poor. Yet during this dark era of labor history, the Pope also warned Christians of the dangers of Socialism that attempted to manipulate the worker for its own designs and purposes. Below is this encyclical.
“That the spirit of revolutionary change, which has long been disturbing the nations of the world, should have passed beyond the sphere of politics and made its influence felt in the cognate sphere of practical economics is not surprising.”
To read the full encyclical, please press the link below.
I feel this encyclical l captures the essence of extreme ideals found both in capitalism and socialism and how ultimately, it is the church, ministries, counselors, and other charitable organizations that must curb the desires of evil philosophies from injuring the rights of the working man.
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