The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers

Sisters and brothers, I use a rare word. Rerum Novarum. Rerum Novarum was the first social encyclical published by Pope Leo the 13th in the 1890s.
It was the calling for us to begin to reflect on the role of the worker, labor, and capital—those words that were used in the era because of the teachings of Karl Marx.

The questions of labor unions and workers’ rights. The Catholic Church, through its Catholic Social Doctrine, has advocated and been champions of workers, but also responsibly reflecting on the role of those who own and manage businesses as well.

One of the questions that has been a part of that Catholic social teaching and doctrine has been the question of labor unions: are labor unions good or labor unions bad?
 The reality is the Church says that workers have a right to gather together to advocate for the rights of workers. And so the Church has over the years looked at unions very positively, particularly from the lens of the European experience of unions during the time of industrialization.

Now, the Church isn't saying everything about unions, just like the Church wouldn't say everything about so many things isn't always perfect.
 Rather, the Church says that the rights and the dignity of workers are there for us to respect and to honor.

The challenge for us in every period of history is to determine what's the right way to do that.

And so Catholic Social Doctrine invites us to honor work. Pope John Paul the Second, in his great encyclical Laborem Exercens, talked about human persons as co-creators—as those who, through their work, be it blue collar, be it white collar, be it artistic—we all in some way contribute to the common good and add to the beauty and the value of creation.

And we do that as workers. And for that, all should be honored. So if we honor workers, brothers and sisters, there’s the opportunity for us each day to be renewed.

Reflection Questions:

1. How do I view my daily work as a form of participation in God’s creation?
   
   

2. How can I advocate for the dignity and rights of workers in my community?
   
   

3. How does Catholic Social Teaching shape my understanding of justice in the workplace?