<\/p>\n
The State's Role Regarding Economic Activity<\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n <\/p>\n
by CAPP-USA<\/span><\/h5>\n <\/p>\n
To Encourage a Free Economy<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/AdobeStock_138888689-.jpg\")
<\/h3>\n
The State Must Promote a Free Economy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Pope St. John Paul II identifies the role of the state as regards economic activity. What should, and must the state do, and not do, regarding encouraging a free economy?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nWell, the State must<\/strong>: (Centesimus Annus, 48)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n- Guarantee individual freedom.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Guarantee private property rights.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Ensure a stable currency. <\/span><\/li>\n
- Ensure efficient services are provided.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Creation conditions that will ensure job opportunities by:<\/span>\n
\n- stimulating those activities where are lacking, and <\/span><\/li>\n
- supporting them in moments of crisis.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
- Intervene when monopolies create delays or obstacles to development.<\/span><\/li>\n
- In exceptional circumstances, the state should exercise a substitute function in a crisis or when getting started. This, however, must be as brief as possible.<\/span><\/li>\n
- The state should avoid enlarging excessively the sphere of state intervention to the detriment of both economic and civil freedoms.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/span><\/p>\nA Warning Against a Welfare State<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
On this last point Catholic social teaching has a special warning based on recent years where what Pope St. John Paul II called a new \"Welfare State\" and in its worst examples a \"Social Assistance State\" has developed whose malfunctions and defects result from an inadequate understanding of the tasks proper to the state. \"Here again the principle of Subsidiarity must be respected.\"<\/span>\u00a0(Centesimus Annus, 48)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nCatholic social teaching states that: \"By intervening directly and depriving society of its responsibility, the Social Assistance State leads to a loss of human energies<\/strong> and an inordinate increase in public agencies which are dominated more by bureaucratic ways of thinking than by concern for serving their clients, and which are accompanied by an enormous increase in spending. In fact, it would appear that needs are best understood and satisfied by people who are closest to them and who act as neighbors to those in need\". (Pope St. John Paul II, 48)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nPope St. John Paul II went on to state he \u201cfavors and promotes\u201d volunteerism and urged everyone to participate.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nThis theme was echoed by Pope Benedict XVI when he said we need a State that \"generously acknowledges and supports initiatives arising from different social forces and combines spontaneity with closeness to those in need.\" (Pope Benedict XVI, 28)<\/a><\/span><\/span> And, later, \u201csubsidiarity is the most effective antidote against any form of all-encompassing welfare state<\/strong>.\" (Pope Benedict XVI, 57)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nA Divided Government and the Political Divide<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nCatholic Social Teaching is not Left or Right<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nCatholic Social Teaching, Democracy, and Free Markets<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nDemocracy Quotes that Will Make You Think<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nHuman Rights on Which the State Must be Ordered<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nThe Government Must Defend a Culture of Family<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nTop 10 Pope Benedict XVI Quotes on Politics<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nTop 10 Pope John Paul II Quotes on Politics<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nQuotes about Government<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nWhat Does Catholic Social Teaching Say About a \u201cWelfare State\u201d?<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nThe 2025 Government Shutdown<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMore About Politics<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tBack to Articles<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"Three](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Three-Principles.png\")
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThree Key Principles<\/a><\/h2>Catholic social teaching is built on three foundational principles -\u00a0<\/strong>Human Dignity<\/strong>,\u00a0Solidarity\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Subsidiarity.\u00a0<\/strong>Human Dignity, embodied in a correct understanding of the human person, is the greatest. The others flow from it. Good governments and good economic systems find ways of fostering the three principles.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Human-Dignity.png\")
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHuman Dignity<\/a><\/h2>This means a correct understanding of the human person and of each person\u2019s unique value. All Catholic social teaching flows from this: the inherent dignity of every person that comes from being made in God\u2019s image.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Solidarity.png\")
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSolidarity<\/a><\/h2>Solidarity is not \u201ca feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of others. It is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good\u201d. (Pope St. John Paul II, 38)<\/a> Love of God and love of neighbor are, in fact, linked and form one, single commandment.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Subsidiarity.png\")
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
<\/p>\n
To Encourage a Free Economy<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n\n<\/h3>\n
The State Must Promote a Free Economy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Pope St. John Paul II identifies the role of the state as regards economic activity. What should, and must the state do, and not do, regarding encouraging a free economy?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nWell, the State must<\/strong>: (Centesimus Annus, 48)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n- Guarantee individual freedom.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Guarantee private property rights.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Ensure a stable currency. <\/span><\/li>\n
- Ensure efficient services are provided.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Creation conditions that will ensure job opportunities by:<\/span>\n
\n- stimulating those activities where are lacking, and <\/span><\/li>\n
- supporting them in moments of crisis.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
- Intervene when monopolies create delays or obstacles to development.<\/span><\/li>\n
- In exceptional circumstances, the state should exercise a substitute function in a crisis or when getting started. This, however, must be as brief as possible.<\/span><\/li>\n
- The state should avoid enlarging excessively the sphere of state intervention to the detriment of both economic and civil freedoms.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/span><\/p>\nA Warning Against a Welfare State<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
On this last point Catholic social teaching has a special warning based on recent years where what Pope St. John Paul II called a new \"Welfare State\" and in its worst examples a \"Social Assistance State\" has developed whose malfunctions and defects result from an inadequate understanding of the tasks proper to the state. \"Here again the principle of Subsidiarity must be respected.\"<\/span>\u00a0(Centesimus Annus, 48)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nCatholic social teaching states that: \"By intervening directly and depriving society of its responsibility, the Social Assistance State leads to a loss of human energies<\/strong> and an inordinate increase in public agencies which are dominated more by bureaucratic ways of thinking than by concern for serving their clients, and which are accompanied by an enormous increase in spending. In fact, it would appear that needs are best understood and satisfied by people who are closest to them and who act as neighbors to those in need\". (Pope St. John Paul II, 48)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nPope St. John Paul II went on to state he \u201cfavors and promotes\u201d volunteerism and urged everyone to participate.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nThis theme was echoed by Pope Benedict XVI when he said we need a State that \"generously acknowledges and supports initiatives arising from different social forces and combines spontaneity with closeness to those in need.\" (Pope Benedict XVI, 28)<\/a><\/span><\/span> And, later, \u201csubsidiarity is the most effective antidote against any form of all-encompassing welfare state<\/strong>.\" (Pope Benedict XVI, 57)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nA Divided Government and the Political Divide<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nCatholic Social Teaching is not Left or Right<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nCatholic Social Teaching, Democracy, and Free Markets<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nDemocracy Quotes that Will Make You Think<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nHuman Rights on Which the State Must be Ordered<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nThe Government Must Defend a Culture of Family<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nTop 10 Pope Benedict XVI Quotes on Politics<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nTop 10 Pope John Paul II Quotes on Politics<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nQuotes about Government<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nWhat Does Catholic Social Teaching Say About a \u201cWelfare State\u201d?<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nThe 2025 Government Shutdown<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMore About Politics<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tBack to Articles<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThree Key Principles<\/a><\/h2>Catholic social teaching is built on three foundational principles -\u00a0<\/strong>Human Dignity<\/strong>,\u00a0Solidarity\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Subsidiarity.\u00a0<\/strong>Human Dignity, embodied in a correct understanding of the human person, is the greatest. The others flow from it. Good governments and good economic systems find ways of fostering the three principles.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHuman Dignity<\/a><\/h2>This means a correct understanding of the human person and of each person\u2019s unique value. All Catholic social teaching flows from this: the inherent dignity of every person that comes from being made in God\u2019s image.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSolidarity<\/a><\/h2>Solidarity is not \u201ca feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of others. It is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good\u201d. (Pope St. John Paul II, 38)<\/a> Love of God and love of neighbor are, in fact, linked and form one, single commandment.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
<\/h3>\n
The State Must Promote a Free Economy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Well, the State must<\/strong>: (Centesimus Annus, 48)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Catholic social teaching states that: \"By intervening directly and depriving society of its responsibility, the Social Assistance State leads to a loss of human energies<\/strong> and an inordinate increase in public agencies which are dominated more by bureaucratic ways of thinking than by concern for serving their clients, and which are accompanied by an enormous increase in spending. In fact, it would appear that needs are best understood and satisfied by people who are closest to them and who act as neighbors to those in need\". (Pope St. John Paul II, 48)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Pope St. John Paul II went on to state he \u201cfavors and promotes\u201d volunteerism and urged everyone to participate.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n This theme was echoed by Pope Benedict XVI when he said we need a State that \"generously acknowledges and supports initiatives arising from different social forces and combines spontaneity with closeness to those in need.\" (Pope Benedict XVI, 28)<\/a><\/span><\/span> And, later, \u201csubsidiarity is the most effective antidote against any form of all-encompassing welfare state<\/strong>.\" (Pope Benedict XVI, 57)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n A Divided Government and the Political Divide<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Catholic Social Teaching is not Left or Right<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Catholic Social Teaching, Democracy, and Free Markets<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Democracy Quotes that Will Make You Think<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Human Rights on Which the State Must be Ordered<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n The Government Must Defend a Culture of Family<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Top 10 Pope Benedict XVI Quotes on Politics<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Top 10 Pope John Paul II Quotes on Politics<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Quotes about Government<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n What Does Catholic Social Teaching Say About a \u201cWelfare State\u201d?<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n The 2025 Government Shutdown<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div> Catholic social teaching is built on three foundational principles -\u00a0<\/strong>Human Dignity<\/strong>,\u00a0Solidarity\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Subsidiarity.\u00a0<\/strong>Human Dignity, embodied in a correct understanding of the human person, is the greatest. The others flow from it. Good governments and good economic systems find ways of fostering the three principles.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t This means a correct understanding of the human person and of each person\u2019s unique value. All Catholic social teaching flows from this: the inherent dignity of every person that comes from being made in God\u2019s image.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t Solidarity is not \u201ca feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of others. It is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good\u201d. (Pope St. John Paul II, 38)<\/a> Love of God and love of neighbor are, in fact, linked and form one, single commandment.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
Pope St. John Paul II identifies the role of the state as regards economic activity. What should, and must the state do, and not do, regarding encouraging a free economy?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n
\n
A Warning Against a Welfare State<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
On this last point Catholic social teaching has a special warning based on recent years where what Pope St. John Paul II called a new \"Welfare State\" and in its worst examples a \"Social Assistance State\" has developed whose malfunctions and defects result from an inadequate understanding of the tasks proper to the state. \"Here again the principle of Subsidiarity must be respected.\"<\/span>\u00a0(Centesimus Annus, 48)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThree Key Principles<\/a><\/h2>
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tHuman Dignity<\/a><\/h2>
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSolidarity<\/a><\/h2>
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t