Article #5: Church as a Social Thinker
Social activism, right, left and in between, can build from the idea that within society, class is naturally hostile to class. Pope Leo XIII began modern Catholic Social Thought strongly debunking that philosophy. Rich and poor are not naturally poised to be at war with each other. Pope Leo used a Pauline-like image of the human body composed of many necessary parts to make that point. In a message that matters as much today as ever: We all require each other.

In his 1890s world with Marxism and industrialization mutually advancing at lightning speed, Pope Leo realized that religion, especially Christianity, was a powerful agent to prevent this conflict. The Church is uniquely positioned outside of politics to bring rich and poor together. Christ-based morality teaches the laborer to work honestly, honor agreements, never injure capital or injure an employer. Likewise, employers must respect their laborers, avoid exploitation, provide rewards for labor that are just and provide a sustainable means for workers to meet life’s secular and spiritual needs.

The Pope went further as he staked out the Church’s role in social thinking. He looked to Jesus Christ as a “Master and Guide” to direct the Church to advance the opposite of class conflict. Instead, the Church should pursue a more perfect way to bring social classes together. The methods should be alive with friendliness and understanding. That is, live Christ’s directive to “love one another as I have loved you.” Pope Leo was in touch with the worldly basics of industrialization and socialism and not blind to the merits of both. But he advanced the broader view that there is a spiritual component that goes beyond the passing things of this life. He said, “The things of this earth cannot be understood or valued rightly without taking into consideration the life to come.” Without this broader view, futility sets in that makes good and right blurry. The futility is easy to see in the pre-Christian morality of an “eye-for-an-eye” where all scores are final at the end of life. Marx advanced the same need to balance scores today. While Marx saw the Church as the problem, Pope Leo saw the Church as the solution. In fact, Leo saw no other possible means to enlighten and advance genuine understanding and friendliness. In doing so, Leo wrote that human society cannot be reduced to a level. People are different. He saw the differences as beneficial. Now as then, his words command us to live lovingly in a diverse world within the context of eternity.