QUADRAGESIMOANNO

(The Reconstruction ofthe Social Order)

Historical Notes Quadragesimo Anno is the Latin for “in the 40th year” It is a social encyclical issued by Pope Pius XI on May 15,

1931 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Rerum Novarum.

The encyclical was written during a time of major depression that shook the economic and social foundations of the society.

Purpose to expand on the Church's response to challenging

economic times to advocate for Christian morals to respond to the rise of socialism as an economic

system

Key ThemesContributions and impact of Rerum

Novarum (#1-39)Social Order (#40-98)Communism and Socialism (#99-148)

Contributions and Impact of Rerum Novarum

On the ChurchRN has encouraged and committed many priests and

people to the Church’s social teachings.RN has inspired a truly Christian social science.RN has influence outside the Church.RN has inspired institutions for mutual support and

influenced education and culture.It helped lower classes.

Contributions and Impact of Rerum Novarum

On the Civil AuthorityThe government must protect law, sacred rights

of workers and order and to promote public welfare.

Laws were implemented for the lower classes.Leaders became aware of their obligations.

Contributions and Impact of Rerum NovarumOn other concerned parties

More unions and organizations of workers were formed.

It encouraged Christian workers to find mutual associations according to their various occupations.

Question:Does the Church have a right to

speak on social and economic matters?

Yes. Church is committed with the deposit of truth. (#41) Church has duty to interpret and teach moral law. (#41)

Social OrderRight to Private Property

Pope Pius XI said that the Right to Private Property is essential for the development and freedom of the individual. But the right of ownership is not absolute, it loses its morality if it’s not subordinated to the common good.

The government has the duty to define in detail the duties of ownership.

Individualism and collectivism

Social OrderCapital and Labor

Capital and Labor need each other.Only by the way of labor of workers does the state grow rich. (#53)Capital claimed all the products and profits and left the barest minimum to labor. (#54)There must be just distribution of wealth to serve the common good.

We are presented with two words:

A. Sub Sandwich

B. Solitaire and Slap-jack

C. Solidarity and Subsidiarity

Social OrderJust wage (#63)Employees become sharers in ownership. (#65)More solidarity between employers and employees

through cooperation and communicationNegative view of Capitalism

Communism and SocialismCommunismSupports violence and

abolition of private ownership

Evil and inhuman

Socialism Against private

property No one can be a good

Catholic and true socialist Cannot be reconciled with

the teachings of the Catholic Church

RemediesNo possibility of a compromise between

Christianity and SocialismThe state must guide and promote mutual

cooperation between classesLove and Charity must reinforce JusticeProsperity with Respect for the Laws of GodUnited Under God