Quadragesimo anno

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Quadragesimo anno ( Latin for "in the fortieth year") is a May 15, 1931 by Pope Pius XI. published encyclical . Its name is derived from the opening words of the introduction and refers to the fortieth anniversary of the publication of the encyclical Rerum novarum under Pope Leo XIII. (The title is also abbreviated with “QA”.) The encyclical Quadragesimo anno by Pope Pius XI. (1931) was largely prepared by the Jesuits around Gustav Gundlach and the “Königswinterer Kreis” (mainly by the lead author Oswald von Nell-Breuning ).

In his introduction, Pope Pius XI. to the circular of Leo XIII. a, here it says: “Forty years have passed since Our predecessor of blessed memory, Leo XIII, issued his wonderful circular Rerum novarum . The whole Catholic world seizes this occasion with grateful joy to celebrate the commemoration with a solemn ceremony. "

content

After Rerum novarum , Quadragesimo was anno the most important encyclical devoted to questions of industrial society. The encyclical addresses the social order as a whole, beyond the labor question. It pushes for social reforms and under this aspect develops the ideas of the principle of subsidiarity and professional order. The principle of subsidiarity guarantees social freedom. She looks for ways to get adequate help from state or local authorities.

  • The first part refers to the history of the effects of Rerum novarum (16–40).
  • The second part deals with the ecclesiastical teaching of economy and society (41–98). Ownership (44–52) is recognized in its individual and social function. The state may not abolish the right to private property, but it can regulate its use and, if necessary, restrict it for the sake of the common good. Capital and labor (53–58) are dependent on each other. The income from the interaction of labor and capital must be made available to the general benefit. The aim of depoletarianization (59–63) is to promote the formation of property in the hands of workers and thus contribute to a balance of property relations and reduce impoverishment. The fair wage (64–75) is measured in addition to the respective work performance according to the living needs of the worker and his family, the viability of the company and general welfare. Employee participation in the company is encouraged. Social reform (76–98) is both a state reform (structural reform) and an effort to improve morals (reform of attitudes). The encyclical also states (79): “Every social activity is subsidiary according to its nature and concept; it should support the members of the social body, but must never smash or suck them up. ”In addition, statements were made on the professional order (81–87), which gave rise to many misunderstandings. In the professional corporations there should be a balance between capital and labor. A just and social social and economic order should regulate the legitimate and useful competition within certain limits.
  • In the third part (99-126), both forms of socialism (i.e. both radical Marxism - communism and moderate democratic socialism ) are rejected, although it is recognized that the moderate shows a certain approximation of the postulates of Christian social reform (117 ): “Socialism, whether as a doctrine, as a historical phenomenon or as a movement, even after it gives room to truth and justice in the above-mentioned pieces, always remains incompatible with the teaching of the Catholic Church. It would have to cease to be socialism: the opposition between socialist and Christian conceptions of society cannot be bridged. "
  • A reform of the state must be combined with a moral renewal from the Christian spirit, as the last section of the encyclical (127-148) emphasizes.

literature

  • Federal Association of the Catholic Workers' Movement in Germany (ed.): Texts on Catholic social teaching - the social circulars of the popes and other church documents. With introductions by Oswald von Nell-Breuning SJ and Johannes Schasching SJ. Ketteler-Verlag, Cologne 1992 ISBN 3-927494-01-1 / Butzon & Bercker, Kevelaer 1992, ISBN 3-7666-9789-7 .
  • Josef Pieper : Systematic introduction to the encyclical Quadragesimo anno. In: ders .: Works in eight volumes. Edited by Berthold Wald. Supplementary volume 1, p. 61 ff., Felix Meiner Verlag, Hamburg 2004, ISBN 3-7873-1637-X (In the same volume The labor law of the New Reich and the encyclical Quadragesimo anno (1934) , p. 338, with a strongly positive interpretation the social doctrine of the NSDAP).

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