The Lone Star Catholic (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 49, No. 13, Ed. 1 Sunday, July 24, 1960 Page: 5 of 24
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What should
government do?
REV. JOHN F. CRONIN, S.S.
30220
JULY 24, 1960
l
E
SCAEGDLEQ
Its inherent duty is to seek common good of
citizens while asserting minimum of power
-
VOL. XLIX—NO. 13
■
Governments and political parties like individuals must be governed by the moral code
expressed in the Ten Commandments,
the middle of the twentieth century,
we were plagued with the totalitarian
state.
In terms of Catholic political
teaching, two fundamental principles
are involved. One is the inherent
HI
II
■
The Lone Star Catholic
MAGAZINE SECTION
&.
W E are hearing a great deal
about the duties and powers of gov-
ernment this year. There is debate
about the proper course of action in
dozens of spheres. There are charges
of socialism and the welfare state,
and countercharges that vital needs
of the people have been neglected.
It is no secret that the ‘Republicans
play down the function of the federal
government. By contrast, Demo-
crats tend to enlarge the scope of its
activity.
Is this great debate purely po-
litical? Or are there moral issues
also involved? Those familiar with
the social encyclicals of recent popes
would have no difficulty in answering
these questions. One of th key sub-
jects that have preoccupied popes,
when writing on social problems in
the last 70 years, is the proper posi-
tion of government.
This does not mean that the
Church tells us, even by implication,
how to choose between the two major
political parties in the United States.
Even if we were to try to match
papal writings against political plat-
forms, we would face a difficult task.
Of course, we could be dishonest and
• pull statements out of historical con-
text. By such methods partisans on
either side could find ammunition.
But the serious student of Catho-
lic political teaching will not indulge
in such doubtful tactics. He realizes
that papal moral teaching is' not
formulated in a vacuum. Principles
do not change, but emphasis and ap-
plication can differ widely because
of changed circumstances.
For example, when Pope Leo
XIII wrote “On the condition of
Workers” nearly 70 years ago, he was
confronted with some of the worst
effects of the industrial revolution.
He felt that in many nations govern-
ment was watching with indifference
while workers were being ruthless-
ly exploited. In consequence, he
stressed the need for social legisla-
tion and the duty of the state to pro-
tect and help the poor.
By contrast, when Pope Pius
XII gave his renowned radio ad-
dresses and peace messages, the
pendulum had swung to the other
extreme. Two forms of statism were
disturbing the peace of the world:
Nazism and Fascism on one side, and
Communism on the other. In many
nations some form of the welfare
state had replaced the indifferent
type of nineteenth century govern-
ment.
Obviously in this context there
would be a considerable difference
in emphasis between the two popes.
In 1891, governments as a rule did
not sufficiently control the abuses
that flourished in economic life. In
the 1940’s and 1950’s, quite a few
nations went much too far in the op-
posite direction. Understandably the
reaction from the Vatican was dif-
1 ferent.
We repeat that this does not
mean any shift in principle. A wise
parent does not use the same tech-
niques with a timid child and one
that is outgoing and even boisterous.
The basic approach of loving control •
is the same. But in the one ease en-
couragement is needed, and in the
other restraint is the order of the
day. The nineteenth century state
was timid in the social sphere. By
OUR
SUNDAY
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i-.
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r
VISITOR
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The national Catholic Action weekly
duty of government to seek the com-
mon good of its citizens. The other is
the obligation to assert the minimum
of power needed to fulfill its func-
tions. Sound political leaders will
keep both these aims in mind. When
either is neglected, a nation is being
misruled.
Another way of stating these
guides of conduct is to note that the
state should be the servant, not the
master, of its citizens. Its main pur-
pose is to maintain orderly condi-
tions, so that individuals and families
prosper in peace. It errs in the op-
posite direction when it interferes
with citizens’ basic human rights.
A GLANCE at nineteenth cen-
tury history shows the abuses toler-
ated by socially weak governments.
Children went to work in factories
in their earliest years. At times
youngsters of six or seven worked
log hours in spinning mills. Women
toiled in mines. Men labored 12 or
more hours a day, often seven days
a week. When panics, caused by
greedy speculation, prevailed, the
millions out of work were often left
to starve. There was no workmen’s
compensation for injured workers.
When banks failed, and they often
did, depositors lost their savings.
When all these things were hap-
pening, many persons justified the
situation as inevitable. They argued
that this was the nature of industrial
production. Any effort to change it
by government action would make
conditions worse.
Such arguments were decisively
rejected by Popes Leo XIII and Pius
XI. They insisted that the welfare
of citizens was the first concern of
government. They could not accept
the contrasts between extreme
wealth and bitter poverty as willed
by God. On the contrary, the bounty
of the earth was created for all. It is
the duty of government to provide,
by wise rules and laws, for a more
fair distribution of this bounty.
In this connection, all the recent
popes have upheld the principle of
union organization and social legisla-
tion. They have spoken out on unem-
ployment, housing conditions, the
special needs of women and children,
and many other related topics. In
particular they sought a living wage
for families, so that the wage-earner
could provide the basic needs in
terms of housing, food, clothing,
medical care, and savings for emerg-
encies.
■ Yet, in seeking these goals, we
must be careful not to use methods
that would make the situation only
worse. Pope Leo XIII denounced
Socialism and the class struggle as
replacing one set of evils by another.
The same warnings were repeated
by Pope Pius XI. Indeed, his con-
demnation of Communism in 1937 is
a masterpiece that seems to defy the
passing of time.
The late Holy Father was even
more (Continued on page 3)
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Francis, Dale. The Lone Star Catholic (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 49, No. 13, Ed. 1 Sunday, July 24, 1960, newspaper, July 24, 1960; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1528576/m1/5/?q=a+message+about+food+from+the+president: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting St. Edward’s University.