Detailed Commentary on Rerum

Novarum
The Social Problem
Essence of Social Problem
• The wealth of society is monopolized by a few, while the majority of the
people wallow in poverty and hopeless.
Origin of Social Problem
a) The Machine as Cause of Problem
• The products of feudal industries are no match to the mass produced merchandise
of the machines.

b) Capitalism as Cause of Problem

• Personal gain was considered the only valid motive or economic activity.
Social Problem in The First Capitalist Nation
• England was the first capitalist country
• Bigger and bigger factories mean massive unemployment
The Rise of Socialism
Socialism’s Answer
a) Pre-Marxist Socialism
• Social Thinkers = Utopian Socialists
• “In Utopia, where there’s no private property, people take their duty to the public
seriously.”

b) Marxist Socialism
• A.K.A. Scientific Socialism
• It analyses in a systematic manner the causes of poverty, the policies and
mechanism used to perpetuate poverty, the means for toppling down the
oppressive system, and it likewise delineates the features and characteristics of the
future society.
Socialism is Condemned
• Marxist Socialism does away with private property, giving all
productive property to the State.
Critique on Pope’s Concept of Socialism
a) First in Working for the Masses
• Marxist Socialism was too far ahead in trying to solve the poverty of the workers.

b) Good Doctrines of Marxism

• Analysis of Capitalism
• Proposal for the overthrow of Capitalism
• Concept of the future society to be established
Property
Private Property
• Private ownership is a natural right.
Weak Points
a) Exaggerated Defence of Private Property
• The private ownership being practiced was the reason for the great poverty of the
people

b) Legitimacy of Existing Private Property

• Violates the rights of lawful owners

c) Obligation from Charity Not Justice

• The obligation to share with the poor masses comes only through charity
Just Wages
Consent and Just Wage
• The consent of the worker is certainly a determinant factor

• The life needs of the worker are to be taken into consideration

Consent Must Be Free
• For consent to be valid, it must be done in all freedom with no
constraints nor compulsion
Drastic Implications
• If real freedom is needed for any valid contract, then virtually all wage
contracts between employers and employees, particularly in Third
World countries, are invalid
The State
Goal of State – Common Good
• The goal of the State is the common good of all, and in particular of the
poor who constitutes the great majority of society
Defects in Concept of State
1. The modern State’s capital task to defend private property against the
masses who have nothing
2. The State is neutral
Class Struggle
Class Struggle is Condemned
• “We are discussing to take for granted that the one class of society is of
itself hostile to the other”
Defect of Pope’s Teaching
• Capital and Labour do have interests that conflict, interests that are
contrary and antagonistic to one another
Resignation
Defect of Pope’s Teaching
• If the poor listen to the teachings of Rerum Novarum and thus resign to
their poverty, how could they ever remove the chains of poverty into
which their oppressors have shackled them?
Unions
Unions are Recommended
• The principle of association impels a human being to group with others
to achieve the perfection which alone he cannot obtain
Misgivings on Pope’s Teaching
• Pope Leo XIII makes unions virtually toothless, prohibited as a rule
from fighting it out vigorously with their adversaries, the capitalists.