Pope Francis Revives the Workers Church

[Willie Pep]

I am not sure if this article has been posted here, but this is a good article about Pope Francis and his attempt to revive the pro-labor social justice element of the Catholic Church. The article discusses issues like the new generation of labor priests and the power of wealthy right-wing Catholic business owners. A good read.

http://prospect.org/article/francis-revives-workers%E2%80%99-church

[Sherman A1]

1. I recall talking with an old friend who was an organizer

he mentioned that the Catholic Church was among the worst to deal with in labor issues regarding their own workforce so hopefully the Pope's push for social justice will also extend to the people it employs.

[Nitram]

2. Lech Walesa was a devout Catholic, and his labor movement was eventually supported by the Church.

from the New York Times, December 5, 1990 article:

...The Roman Catholic Church has thrown its considerable weight behind the presidential candidacy of Lech Walesa, the Solidarity founder, after initially adopting a hands-off attitude toward the race...

For much of the first year of democracy in this overwhelmingly Catholic country, the church has kept its distance from organized politics. It has declined to embrace the embryonic Christian Democratic parties in Poland, reserving its political power for such issues as the pending legislation outlawing abortion or the return of voluntary religion classes to the schools...

...The bishops' statement, which was read in all churches on Sunday, told Poles that they should elect someone who would "continue and consolidate" the course of reforms and "discover anew the meaning of solidarity."

...Mr. Walesa publicly uses the symbols and heritage of the church. His meetings are often graced by crucifixes, and he wears a pin emblazoned with a likeness of the Virgin Mary as depicted in Czestochowa, the site of Poland's holiest shrine. Mr. Walesa has said he supports the church's views on banning abortion in Poland.

https://www.nytimes.com/1990/12/05/world/in-change-church-supports-walesa.html

[Sherman A1]

3. Yes, the Church did support the Solidarity movement

however, my point was with regard to employees of the Church itself and not it's support of Labor organizations in general or specific ones.

[Nitram]

4. Thank you for explaining the distinction. I missed that.

It does seem that the church sometimes places its own interests ahead of those of the laity.

[Sherman A1]

5. In that they are like so many other

employers.

[Nitram]

6. Most employers are not expected to have the understanding and compassion of a Christian institution.