Extreme capitalism like extreme socialism cause problems.

We have seen how the lack of regulations and ethics as well as the presence of greed and dishonesty have caused such huge poverty for so many on both sides of the Atlantic.

There is a need for a return to Gospel values.

However, like in so many things, we are both on the same side.

That is why I am here and admire and support the work of you and your colleagues in CE.

I just wish we had more discussions and debates.

So at times I am a little provocative to get a discussion going, but I have little success, since (as I have written before) the last four contributions to the Roundtable “Faith and Life” (from June 13 to 15) have been by me and no one has even bothered to disagree with me there.

I didn’t say that the free market was the basis of Catholic social teaching as you are suggesting I said. I am saying that that system as with any other, can be looked at in the light of Catholic social justice teaching. That is what Sirico does.

many thanks for your reply.

It is always great to hear from you.

Catholic Social teaching is not based on the free market, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as pointed out in the three great social encyclicals – “Rerum Novarum” (1891), Quadragesimo Anno (1931) and Centesimus Annus (1991).

In the latter Pope JP II reminds us that
“Pope Leo’s Encyclical on the “condition of the workers” is thus an Encyclical on the poor and on the terrible conditions to which the new and often violent process of industrialization had reduced great multitudes of people. Today, in many parts of the world, similar processes of economic, social and political transformation are creating the same evils.
If Pope Leo XIII calls upon the State to remedy the condition of the poor in accordance with justice, he does so because of his timely awareness that the State has the duty of watching over the common good and of ensuring that every sector of social life, not excluding the economic one, contributes to achieving that good, while respecting the rightful autonomy of each sector”.

The Acton institute was created by Fr. Robert Sirico and is to study and promote principles of the free market in the light of Catholic social teaching. See here for info about him: http://www.acton.org/about/staff/fr-sirico.php

I also see that it is a product of the Acton Institute, presumably called after Lord Acton (1834-1902).

“Acton was one of a group of Catholics labeled, “Liberal Catholics.” They were critical of the church in respect to its authoritarian organization (specifically, the Infallibility of the Pope), and critical too of its past history (as for example: the Index, the Inquisition and the Massacre of St. Bartholomew). Much of Lord Acton’s writings dealt with these matters. His positions were to get him into difficulty with Rome and he came very close to being excommunicated, indeed, his mentor, Dr. Dollinger, did get excommunicated (http://www.blupete.com/Literature/Biographies/Philosophy/Acton.htm).”

Can I again ask for more participants here? After all, it is Catholic Exchange. Recently there are very few views being exchanged, few debates are being undertaken.

May I remind you again that the last four posts in the Roundtable “Faith and Life” were by me (June 26, 21, 14, 13). Also recent comments of mine to TOB have elicited no replies.

Does anyone else have any views, comments, opinions?

The Body of Christ should be resposible for Universal Health Care, not the state. We should be taking care of the elderly, the sick, and the poor; and we should organize and finance these activites, not the state.