CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING AND THE MARKET

Authors

  • Charles E. Curran Southern Methodist University

Keywords:

Anthropology, Capitalism, Catholic Social Teaching, Common Good, Justice and Rights, The Market, Socialism

Abstract

Catholic social teaching (CST), the hierarchical church teaching on social issues, claims no expertise in economics, as such, but judges economic issues such as the market on the basis of important moral principles and values. CST recognizes both the dignity and the solidarity (social nature) of all human beings. CST, since its origin in the nineteenth century, has recognized the fundamental importance of justice, especially distributive justice. As the twentieth century developed, CST gave greater emphasis to freedom and human rights, including economic rights. Only with Pope John Paul II and the fall of Communism was more attention given to the role of the market as such. John Paul II recognized positive aspects about the market based on free, responsible human action, but still strongly opposed a onesided individualism which makes profit primary and forgets about the common good and the needs of the poor. Popes Benedict and Francis often criticized the excesses of the market.

Author Biography

Charles E. Curran, Southern Methodist University

Charles E. Curran is the Elizabeth Scurlock University Professor of Human Values at Southern Methodist University. He has authored and edited more than 50 books in the area of moral theology. His most recent publications are: Tradition and Church Reform: Perspectives on Catholic Moral Teaching (Orbis Books, 2016); The Development of Moral Theology: Five Strands (Washington: Georgetown University Press, 2013); The Social Mission of the U.S. Catholic Church: A Theological Investigation (Washington: Georgetown University Press, 2011). He has co-edited and edited the eighteen volume series Readings in Moral Theology from Paulist Press. Curran has served as president of three national professional societies — the American Theological Society, the Catholic Theological Society of American, and the Society of Christian Ethics. He was the first recipient of the John Courtney Murray Award for distinguished achievement in theology given by the Catholic Theological Society of America. The College Theology Society gave him its Presidential Award for a lifetime of scholarly achievements in moral theology. Recently, the Society of Christian Ethics gave him its Lifetime Achievement Award. He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Email: ccurran@mail.smu.edu.

References

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Published

2018-03-31

How to Cite

E. Curran, C. (2018). CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING AND THE MARKET. Asian Horizons, 12(01), 147–164. Retrieved from https://dvkjournals.in/index.php/ah/article/view/2164

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 01 (2018): ASIAN HORIZONS

Section

Articles