Pope St. John Paul II wrote in Laborem Exercens, “It is certainly true that work, as a human issue, is at the very center of the ‘social question’ to which, for almost a hundred years, since the publication of the above-mentioned encyclical (Rerum Novarum), the Church's teaching and the many undertakings connected with her apostolic mission have been especially directed” (#2). A few paragraphs later, he continues: “Work is a key, probably the essential key, to the whole social question, if we try to see that question really from the point of view of man’s good. And if the solution. . . must be sought in the direction of ‘making life more human,’ then the key, namely human work, acquires fundamental and decisive importance” (#3). Pope St. John Paul II is saying that you, as a business leader – through your co-creating products and services, which in turn creates work for others – hold the key to the social question posed by Pope Leo XIII in Rerum Novarum. But what exactly is “the social question”? I’m certain very few executives have even heard of this term, much less know what it means or, if they were honest, even care about “the social question.” The term became prominent in the mid-1800s during the Industrial Revolution. It was a time of significant economic growth and social upheaval due to the transition from an agrarian to an industrial society. This migration from the field to the city resulted in the exploitation of those new workers and the creation of a vast disparity between the rich and the poor. The "social question," according to the Catholic Church, refers to a range of complex societal issues. In plain English, the social question is this: “How can society be organized both justly and ethically to promote and uphold the dignity of the human person and make a positive contribution to the common good?” In response to the crisis at the time, the Catholic Church began to systematically address these issues through a series of teachings and encyclicals, forming the basis of what is now known as Catholic Social Teaching (CST). Rooted in Sacred Scripture and including reflections on humanity, society and social morality, this rich tradition was inherited and developed over time by the popes, particularly in response to the modern social issues created by the Industrial Revolution. Within the framework of CST, the Church's timeless and true examination of and response to the issue of work has continually evolved as work’s nature evolves. The irony is that although Pope St. John Paul II identifies work as the essential key or the answer to the social question, business leaders don’t even know they hold the key. Due to this disconnect, they underestimate how important their vocation is as both a business leader and as a practicing Catholic. Work is the key, the answer to the social question, because work directly impacts human dignity, economic justice and society’s overall well-being. Work is the key to the social question if CST is used as the framework to address work-related issues and create a just, ethical society that promotes and upholds human dignity and positively contributes to the common good. Work is the key if well-formed Catholic business leadership provides the practical implementation of the principles of CST in their workplace and the broader economy. That’s a lot of ifs. But Catholic business leadership can only use CST as a framework if they have heard of it! Ironically called the Catholic Church’s best-kept secret, too many are unfamiliar with CST and its principles. Let’s take a moment to get to know this hidden gem given to us by the Church. Even if it hasn’t been mentioned in homilies or Catholic school classes and its complexity is difficult to grasp theoretically or practically, CST has lots to teach business leaders. Boiled down, the general framework of CST is built upon four pillars: the dignity of the human person, the common good, solidarity and subsidiarity. The dignity of the human person is to be emphasized in everything. Every person is created in the image of God and thus possesses inherent dignity. This first pillar highlights the Church's support for fair wages, safe working conditions and workers' rights to organize, among other things (see Rerum Novarum). The common good refers to efforts to ensure that all people have their basic needs fulfilled and are given opportunities and the environment to flourish based on their God-given talents and ambitions. (see Gaudium et Spes). Solidarity emphasizes that society should be built on mutual support and a sense of responsibility towards one another (see Sollicitudo Rei Socialis). Business decisions must be made considering the decision’s impact on our neighbors. Subsidiarity requires that decisions be made at the most local level possible, empowering smaller communities while larger institutions support them as needed (see Quadragesimo Anno). Business leaders, especially those who are practicing Catholics, are the key to addressing the social question by applying CST principles in their work, impacting economic justice and overall societal well-being.
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