Replies

I have not seen any quotes, however, in which Pope Francis is calling for state-enforced redistribution of property as the solution to the vexations of poverty. I could have missed something that's out there, of course. Could you supply such a quote, with the accompanying paragraph for context?

As the essay suggests, Pope Francis has not openly advocated state enforced redistribution in so many words. It's very difficult, however, not to infer such a sentiment from Evangelii Gaudium:

While the earnings of a minority are grow¬ing exponentially, so too is the gap separating the majority from the prosperity enjoyed by those happy few. This imbalance is the result of ide¬ologies which defend the absolute autonomy of the marketplace and financial speculation. Con¬sequently, they reject the right of states, charged with vigilance for the common good, to exercise any form of control. A new tyranny is thus born, invisible and often virtual, which unilaterally and relentlessly imposes its own laws and rules. (56)

Now, what does he mean by "they reject the right of states, charged with vigilance for the common good, to exercise any form of control"? Pope Francis certainly is too smart to put up such an obvious strawman to take his phrase "any form of control" literally. I know of no one advocating for capitalism without any governmental "control". Government enforced regulations to counter fraud, provide consumer health and safety protections, and ensure robust and fair competition are universally accepted as proper governmental activities. Additionally, the context of the paragraph is inequality. So, it's difficult not to deduce that the "control" of which he speaks is redistributional in nature. Finally, the problems he sees causing the inequality ("absolute autonomy of the marketplace and financial speculation") are factors that exacerbate wealth inequality by making the rich richer, not the poor poorer. So, the only additional type of government "control" which the government could apply which might decrease inequality would be "redistrubutional" type controls, be they overt transfer payments or covert redistribution such as minimum wage laws or price controls. Of course, we know those type of "controls" tend to hurt the poor disproportionately and exacerbate the situation

Understand that the charism of infallibility does not extend to papal diplomacy

Yes, that is understood. However, as V2 taught, every Papal teaching must be respected:

"This religious submission of mind and will must be shown in a special way to the authentic Magisterium of the Roman Pontiff, even when he is not speaking ex cathedra; that is, it must be shown in such a way that his supreme Magisterium is acknowledged with reverence, the judgments made by him are sincerely adhered to, according to his manifest mind and will. His mind and will in the matter may be known either from the character of the documents, from his frequent repetition of the same doctrine, or from his manner of speaking" (LG 25)

Peace to you as well, Mrs. D!

Well, this was a well-spoken response, armydoc. I myself have been wondering why Pope Francis has been critiquing laissez-faire economics, arguing against those who oppose "any form" of government regulation, when there haven't been any actual laissez-faire national economies for the past 100 years or so, anywhere that I am aware of.

It's like articulately rebutting those who are "against any form of hydration" while all around you, everybody is chin-deep in flood water. Who, what, is he actually reacting against?

Still, I'd be careful with the inferences.

Without, as I say, analyzing the whole 48,000 word Apostolic Exhortation --- only a couple of paragraphs of which dealt with economic generalities --- I will say this: since I first started looking at this stuff decades ago, I have noticed that people infer "the state" where popes are saying "society."

For instance,

"The social order must respond..."
"We have an obligation to..." "
"Mankind must not turn its back ..."
"People must take responsibility for..."
"Humanity is called to care for..."
"Nations which have enjoyed great prosperity should..."
And so forth.

None of these words means "the State." The social order, mankind, people, even nations, indicate civil society in all its dimensions, including myriad intermediary institutions: families, parishes, professional associations, businesses, nonprofits, labor organizations; philanthropic trusts, profit-making enterprises, fraternal and charitable societies, educators, entertainers, the news media,city-township-county governments, etc. etc.

In many "social justice" documents, particularly papal ones, you get a whole different sense if you consistently read the subject of the sentence, the subject of the "ought," as "society, not the state."

The mind is inspired by wide, exciting new vistas of -- the word is "subsidiarity."

A word I'd like to hear on a 50/50 basis with "solidarity.". Especially from Pope Francis.