Rerum Novarum

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Leo XIII.

Rerum Novarum is one of Pope Leo XIII. authored encyclical published May 15, 1891. Among the 86 encyclicals of his tenure (1878 to 1903), Leo XIII. as the “worker pope ” went down in papal history , this is considered epochal and the “mother of all social encyclics ”.

instigation

Towards the end of the 19th century, radical changes in the political, economic and social fields, especially in science and technology, split society into two classes. After the dissolution of the professional guilds , the great mass of the working class had no power and no property to oppose the unworthy existence as a needy working class in which human dignity and basic rights were lost. There was a great deal of social injustice. The conflict between liberalism and socialism threatened to culminate in a revolution.

content

Leo XIII. recognized in the "new things" (literal translation), meaning new conditions and developments or, as it is called in the German translation: "spirit of innovation", a danger to society and the state. Its encyclical is divided into two main parts.

In the first part he argues against the socialist theory of the time as a solution to social grievances. The abolition of private property and the transfer of individual property to the general public are not only illegal and contrary to natural laws, but also harm the working class itself (RN 4, 5). Since the existence of mankind, the motivation for work, commitment and diligence has been the acquisition of property in order to cover the necessary livelihood.

After work, people have the right to wages and also the right to dispose of them freely. If the worker invests part of his wages in material goods, these goods are the result of his labor in a new form. The conversion of private property into common property deprives workers of the income from their work and disregards the property claim that “comes naturally to man” (RN 5). This is precisely what should not happen to individuals or families. The family as a community is older than the state and should therefore not be dependent on it. It "has [...] the same rights as civil society" (RN 10) and must remain independent.

The suppression of parental care demanded by the socialists violates the fulfillment of parental obligations and restricts "paternal authority" (RN 11). People would be deprived of their right to marriage and family. Pope Leo XIII. formulated clearly and unequivocally: "The doctrine of socialism [...] contradicts the natural law- Christian property doctrine , brings confusion in the area of ​​responsibility of the state and disturbs the peace of the community" (RN 12).

On the solution of the workers 'question he takes a position in the second main part, in which he determines the share of the church, the state and the workers' organizations. It begins with the indispensability of religion and the church. She is responsible for him, "helping to shape the order of human society". Therefore, their doctrine must be the basis for the solution: equality among people would and should never exist, differences are natural, but the two classes of labor and capital must get along in harmony and peace. The members of the working classes have the duty to keep contracts and to serve the employer with their work.

Pope Leo XIII condemns violence and insurrection. sharp (RN 16). In return, the employer must respect the worker with dignity and must neither use him only to increase wealth nor measure him purely by his physical performance. Protection and consideration for well-being, age and gender are required.

Likewise, the worker must be paid fairly. Pope Leo XIII. describes the violation of this "most important duty of employers" (RN 17) as a "great crime that cries out for vengeance to heaven" (RN 17). Finally, he points to the insignificance of earthly goods for the hereafter and appeals to the use of wealth in the sense of charity. He sees a return to the Christian order and the helping role of the church in caring for the poor (e.g. Caritas ) as the solution.

When it comes to the tasks of the state, the Pope advocates state social policy . Pope Leo XIII sees the " free play of forces ". as failed and concludes from this that the state through individual obligations such as legislation corresponding to the common good , protection of private property, suppression of strikes, protection of human dignity and Sunday rest, monitoring of working conditions - especially for women and children -, fair wages (→ social justice ), protection the spirit of the workers and the promotion of peace and order, its function, namely “to guard and promote the common good” (RN 28), without disregarding the origin in God and the freedom of action of the individual. He grants the employers' associations a natural and necessary role which must be recognized by the state, but which must not exceed that of the state.

rating

Pope Leo XIII. Warnings and demands try to show a path independent of liberalism and socialism (→ third path ). Above all, the socialist doctrine of property was rejected. The participation of the state in solving the social problems is considered necessary. This " Magna Carta " for social problems founded the Catholic social teaching .

In 1931 ( Quadragesimo anno by Pius XI. ), 1961 ( Mater et magistra by John XXIII. ) And 1971 ( Octogesima adveniens by Paul VI. ), Social encyclicals were published on the anniversary of the Rerum Novarum . Pope John Paul II also follows this tradition; he took the ninetieth and centenary as an opportunity to publish social encyclicals as well - Laborem exercens (1981) and Centesimus Annus (1991).

literature

in order of appearance

  • Bruno Moser (ed.): The papacy. Epochs and shapes . Südwest-Verlag, Munich 1983, ISBN 3-517-00809-5 .
  • John Coleman and others (eds.): Rerum novarum. A hundred years of Catholic social teaching . SCM Press, London 1991, ISBN 0-334-03010-2 .
  • Nicolas Michel (Ed.): Rerum Novarum 1891–1991. Cent ans d'enseignement social chrétien / Hundred years of Christian social teaching . University of Friborg (Switzerland), Friborg 1991.
  • Federal Association of the Catholic Workers' Movement (Ed.): Texts on Catholic social teaching. The social circulars of the Popes and other ecclesiastical documents . Kettler, Bornheim 1992, ISBN 3-927494-01-1 .
  • Ursula Nothelle-Wildfeuer : History of the Social Question . In: Clauß Peter Sajak (Ed.): Christian Action in Responsibility for the World (=  UTB . No. 4312 ). Schöningh, Paderborn 2015, p. 169 , (178-180) .
  • Reinhard Marx : Justice and participation for everyone. 125 years of Rerum novarum and the Catholic social doctrine (= Catholic Social Science Central Office [Hrsg.]: Church and Society Green Series . No. 432 ). JP Bachem, Cologne 2016, ISBN 978-3-7616-3134-8 .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Welty 1961, p. 15