Labor Day and Pope Leo XIII READ THE WHOLE LETTER

This Labor Day I read Pope Leo XIII's encyclical Rerum Novaarum i.e. New Things and without a doubt is more revelant today then when the Pope wrote it. Industrial development had reacheD such a state in 1891 where the wealth of the world was in the hands of the few and where many endured a lot equal to that of slavery. Those who had the wealth felt that this condition was necessary for progress and looked to charities to relieve the plight of the poor. The working classes sought a remedy for this grave injustices in socialized ideals which were beginning to fan a dangeroous revolution. Pope Leo's encyclical letter dealt in a sytematic way with this plight. The solcialissts, working on the poors' envy of the rich, endeavored to destroy ownerhip of private property and make the state administrator of the common property for all. Rerum Novarum states clearly that each worker has a full and real right not only to pay and recompense but also to dispose of that pay as he or she sees fit. The socialist remedy is against"natural justice" for everyone has from his/her nature the right to own and disposse of property. The head of the family has the duty not only to provide for present but also for future family needs, in which property can be transmitted to the children. The state has no right to infringe on the family but the family has the right to call on the state for aid since each family is part of the state.--- the sate has nio right to abolish or absorb paternal authority as the socialist would do for this is going against natural justice. Its consequence is slavery. To the emplyee, the Church says: Respect each contract you have made. Avoid violenc and disorder. To the esmployer the Church says: The laborer is not a slav but is a person with dignity. Wages must be just. The employer is bound by God's law to refrain from fraud and usuary in dealing with the employse. ONE SHOULD READ THT WHOLE LETTER . IT IS EXCELLENT