Join Ron and Ed as they sit down with Father Vincent DeRosa for an eye-opening conversation on the enduring relevance of Catholic social teaching in today’s rapidly evolving business landscape. Together, they dive deep into Rerum Novarum, Pope Leo XIII’s seminal encyclical on the rights and duties of capital and labor—exploring its connections to the foundational principles of the free market and contemporary business ethics.
Drawing parallels between the disruptive forces of the Industrial Revolution and the modern AI transformation, the discussion considers how timeless ethical considerations can guide the challenges and opportunities facing businesses today. Discover how the Church’s teachings can provide insight on worker rights, social responsibility, and the delicate balance between innovation and human dignity in the age of artificial intelligence.
Whether you’re a business leader, professional, or curious thinker, this episode offers a thoughtful exploration of the intersection between faith, philosophy, and enterprise, only on The Soul of Enterprise.
SHOW NOTES
Segment one
So what is Rerum Novarum? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rerum_novarum
Here is the full text of “RERUM NOVARUM ENCYCLICAL OF POPE LEO XIII ON CAPITAL AND LABOR” https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_l-xiii_enc_15051891_rerum-novarum.html
Rerum Novarum (“Of New Things”) is the Catholic Church’s first major response to the social upheavals of industrial capitalism. Vatican text: https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_l-xiii_enc_15051891_rerum-novarum.html
Pope Leo XIII wrote Rerum Novarum to address worker exploitation, class conflict, and the moral limits of both capitalism and socialism. Vatican biography: https://www.vatican.va/content/vatican/en/holy-father/leo-xiii.html
Segment two
The encyclical argues that workers deserve just wages, humane conditions, and the right to form labor associations. See §§34–36: https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_l-xiii_enc_15051891_rerum-novarum.html#Workers'_Rights
Father Vincent mentioned Laudato Si' from Pope Francis. More here: https://www.usccb.org/offices/general-secretariat/laudato-si-care-our-common-home#:~:text=The%20encyclical%20is%20divided%20into,Roots%20of%20the%20Ecological%20Crisis%22
Pope Leo XIII rejects socialism for abolishing private property, arguing it harms both families and workers. See §§4–5: https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_l-xiii_enc_15051891_rerum-novarum.html#Socialism
The state, according to Rerum Novarum, should protect the vulnerable without absorbing all social or economic life. See §§28–29: https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_l-xiii_enc_15051891_rerum-novarum.html#Role_of_the_State
"Capital cannot do without labor, nor labor without capital," comes from Pope Leo XIII's pivotal 1891 encyclical, Rerum Novarum. https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_l-xiii_enc_15051891_rerum-novarum.html
Segment three
Father Vincent mentioned Alexis de Tocqueville’s “Democracy in America”. More here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy_in_America
From Google: Subsidiarity in Catholic Social Teaching (CST) is the principle that decisions and responsibilities should be handled by the smallest, lowest, or least centralized competent authority (like families or local communities) rather than a higher, more distant one, with larger entities only intervening to support and coordinate, not to dominate or replace
What is the connection of the current Pope taking Leo IV compared to Pope Leo XIII? Father Vincent went through a GREAT response today in segment three.
Also from the Rerum Novarum, employers are morally bound to respect workers as persons, not treat them as tools for profit. See §20: https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_l-xiii_enc_15051891_rerum-novarum.html#Duties_of_Employers
Segment four
“Human nature tends toward a fall unless otherwise inclined.” —Father Vincent
The encyclical argues that justice, not revolution, is the true path to lasting social peace. See §§22–23: https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_l-xiii_enc_15051891_rerum-novarum.html#Social_Peace
• A big THANK YOU to Father Vincent DeRosa for joining us today! If you are curious, take the time to dig into Rerum Novarum, an encyclical of Pope Leo XIII https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_l-xiii_enc_15051891_rerum-novarum.html
Bonus Content is Available As Well
Did you know that each week after our live show, Ron and Ed take to the microphone for a bonus show? Typically, this bonus show is an extension of the live show topic (sometimes even with the same guest) and a few other pieces of news, current events, or things that have caught our attention.
Click the “FANATIC” image to learn more about pricing and member benefits.