Discussions

Pope's Encyclical Letter on Modern Capitalism

Posted by Agit8r • 7/09/09 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: anarcho-capitalism, corporate responsibility, deregulation, encyclical letter, exploitation, globalism, labor arbitrage, pope

www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_en...

"Even if the ethical considerations that currently inform debate on the social responsibility of the corporate world are not all acceptable from the perspective of the Church's social doctrine, there is nevertheless a growing conviction that business management cannot concern itself only with the interests of the proprietors, but must also assume responsibility for all the other stakeholders who contribute to the life of the business: the workers, the clients, the suppliers of various elements of production, the community of reference." -- Excerpt from the text

Much as it pains me to admit, I have to agree with the Pope here

User Comments

7/09/09

Epicharis

Wow...he said something that wasn't incredibly stupid!

[reply]
7/09/09

lisleman

isn't google motto/rule
do no evil

That makes sense.
Corporations are created to make money. But being a good neighbor, ethical, well liked helps PR which helps make money.

I find a problem with Corporations in certain areas. One of which is healthcare.

[reply]
1. 7/09/09
  
  Agit8r
  
  charters are supposed to enforce ethics. that's what they are there for
7/09/09

Stillthinking

I am so happy they made this statement. Will it make a difference? I doubt it.

[reply]
7/09/09

IntoTheAzureSea

Well I do not see in the near future that this excerpt of his letter will be placed into effect soon.

[reply]
1. 7/09/09
  
  Agit8r
  
  You never know. Pope John Paul II has been credited (rather exageratedly) for the calls for reform in Soviet Russia.
2. 7/10/09
  
  jeremyjanson
  
  @Agit8r: The way you make religion powerful in this regard is to repress it. Religion has not been significantly repressed, for better or worse, in the United States of America. It has been in China, but they're Evangelical Protestants, not Catholics.
7/10/09

jeremyjanson

Honestly I really don't think following the way of the Catholic Church is generally wise. The market may not be perfect, and there certainly are some gruesome and obvious ethical violations out there (like not putting a safety mesh in front of carpet rollers), but the kind of thinking that the Pope has suggested has been tried many times and failed every time it has been tried, including by the Catholic Church.

The majority of humanity are not children of light, and if they were, you wouldn't have to send them a letter, for they would already know. Besides, children of light are engaged in more meaningful pursuits like art, science, engineering, community leadership, et cetera, the stuff that will actually make a difference in a hundred years or more, as the Gospel itself points out. ("Make friends for yourself in the world of business...")

[reply]