Charity in Truth 2: Economy
20/03/10 14:27 Filed in: Catholic
Social Teaching
In his latest social encyclical, Caritas in Veritate,
Benedict XVI asserts that love in truth must be the
foundation of the economy. He holds that human beings
are gifts, and, as such, mutual trust must be the
foundation of economic transactions. Charity -- love
-- is desiring the good of the other. That desiring
of the good for others must be part of the economic
system. Thus, gratuitiousness is the FOUNDATION of
justice not something over and above justice.
This is a powerful vision, a prophetic call on what the economy can be. It is not something that can be acheived by laissez faire capitalism or state socialism. It means a fundamental reorganization of the economy.
But how do we everyday citizens engage in such a reorganization?
One thing that Benedict XVI recommends is co-ops. Get involved in a co-operative grocery that has purchsing power throught the collective bargaining of its members. For those of us living in the Willamette Valley, one such co-op is Life Sources in Salem. But there are many around. The idea here is simple: we exercise our rationality and will by coming together as a collective based on charity and mutual trust to determine a common good and pursue it on the market. This common good is something above and more important than mere profit, which is an individual pursuit. Profit does not rely on trust; in fact, it's built on mistrust. The recent economic crisis which depended, in part, on banks taking out insurance policies that someone would efault on a loan is an example of what concern for profit can do. The gift of Bob Red Mill's foods to its employees is an example of what charity can accomplish.
We reorganize the economy by rejecting the big business model that looks at profit over people and embrace local ecnomies. Shop at your local farmers market or your locally owned grocery store (IGA), Grow some of your own food to control your economy. Eat at local eateries rather than chain restaurants. Choose a local bank or credit union over national and international banks who profitted from the government bailouts.
And place charity above justice, for there is no justice without charity.
This is a powerful vision, a prophetic call on what the economy can be. It is not something that can be acheived by laissez faire capitalism or state socialism. It means a fundamental reorganization of the economy.
But how do we everyday citizens engage in such a reorganization?
One thing that Benedict XVI recommends is co-ops. Get involved in a co-operative grocery that has purchsing power throught the collective bargaining of its members. For those of us living in the Willamette Valley, one such co-op is Life Sources in Salem. But there are many around. The idea here is simple: we exercise our rationality and will by coming together as a collective based on charity and mutual trust to determine a common good and pursue it on the market. This common good is something above and more important than mere profit, which is an individual pursuit. Profit does not rely on trust; in fact, it's built on mistrust. The recent economic crisis which depended, in part, on banks taking out insurance policies that someone would efault on a loan is an example of what concern for profit can do. The gift of Bob Red Mill's foods to its employees is an example of what charity can accomplish.
We reorganize the economy by rejecting the big business model that looks at profit over people and embrace local ecnomies. Shop at your local farmers market or your locally owned grocery store (IGA), Grow some of your own food to control your economy. Eat at local eateries rather than chain restaurants. Choose a local bank or credit union over national and international banks who profitted from the government bailouts.
And place charity above justice, for there is no justice without charity.