Modern Catholic Social Documents and Political Economy

by Albino F. Barrera

Overview

As western economies have moved from feudalism to industrialism to the information age, Catholic social thought has kept pace, responding to the economic realities of the day. Linking Catholic social teaching with modern economic theory, Albino F. Barrera examines the changing political economy embedded within the moral theology and social justice documents issued by the Church during the last hundred years.

Barrera discusses the evolution of Catholic social teachings, from scholastic thinking on the concept of the "just price" to a modern emphasis on the importance of a living wage. As the conduct of economic life according to traditional custom and common law has given way to institutional and impersonal market forces, these teachings have moved from a preoccupation with personal moral behavior to an intense scrutiny of the structures of society. Amidst these changes, the Church's social documents have sought to address systemic shortcomings as a means of promoting the common good through economic justice.

Barrera also looks ahead to the challenges posed by a postindustrial society characterized by a global, knowledge-based economy, arguing that Catholic social thought will likely shift its focus from advocacy of the living wage to demands for greater equality of socioeconomic participation. Written for scholars and students of economics, theology, and political science interested in religious social thought, this book bridges the gap between moral theology and economic theory.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780878408566
Publisher:	Georgetown University Press
Publication date:	08/28/2001
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	356
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.03(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Albino F. Barrera, OP, is associate professor of humanities teaching theology and economics at Providence College.

Table of Contents

Preface

Abbreviations

Part I The Economics of the Modern Tradition Balancing Competing Labor-Management ClaimsAgriculture and the Import-Substitution StrategyDevelopment and Solidaristic Egalitarianism

Part II Retrospective: Evolution from Scholastic Economic ThoughtExchange-Value Determination: From Scholastic Just Price to the Modern Living WageFrom Organic Hierarchy to Individual Rights

Part III Contrast with Normative Mainstream Economic ThoughtAnthropological Presuppositions in Economic ThoughtFelicific Calculus and Transcendent EndTwofold Objectives

Part IV Postindustrial Social Questions: Participative EgalitarianismMarket-Driven Redistribution of Burdens and BenefitsThe Universal Access Principle: Its Evolution and Role in a Knowledge-Based EconomySuperfluous Income Criterion Refined

Part V Conceptual Synthesis First-Order PrinciplesSecond-Order PrinciplesThe Common Good as Due Order and Due Proportion

Appendix The Economics of Quadragesimo Anno's Vocational Groupings

ReferencesIndex

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"A well balanced and carefully annotated study of the Catholic social documents on political economy within their historical context. I highly recommend it on several scores."—Rev. Monsignor George G. Higgins

"Father Albino Barrera opens up [the tradition] for serious readers interested in serious reflection on the content of Catholic social teaching, and in relating it to contemporary economic problems."—William J. Byron, SJ, pastor, Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Washington, D.C.; former president of The Catholic University of America

Rev. Monsignor George G. Higgins

A well balanced and carefully annotated study of the Catholic social documents on political economy within their historical context. I highly recommend it on several scores.

William J. Byron

Father Albino Barrera opens up [the tradition] for serious readers interested in serious reflection on the content of Catholic social teaching, and in relating it to contemporary economic problems.

Editorial Reviews

A distinctive contribution of moral theology to the analysis and discussion of differing views of justice relevant to the social and economic order.. a bravo perfomance .

Forum for Social Economics

A praiseworthy volume. . .. in his search for intelligible patterns in the economic ethic of official Catholic social documents, Barrera's work is most original, quite balanced and well researched.

Theological Studies

Effectively combines the insights of economics and moral theology. . ..a significant book.

Horizons

An interesting and provocative introduction to the literature, which. . .has had. . .significant influence in the formulation and execution of economic policy. It will be especially valuable to Catholic economists and other social scientists (as well as theologians) seeking to understand and improve the economic reasoning behind Catholic social teaching.

Faith & Economics

One should be able to see from this review that Modern Catholic Social Documents is a thought-provoking book, one to be taken seriously and one that raises many issues that Catholic scholars need to address.

Recensioni

A well balanced and carefully annotated study of the Catholic social documents on political economy within their historical context. I highly recommend it on several scores.

Rev. Monsignor George G. Higgins

Father Albino Barrera opens up [the tradition] for serious readers interested in serious reflection on the content of Catholic social teaching, and in relating it to contemporary economic problems.

William J. Byron

"A praiseworthy volume. . .. in his search for intelligible patterns in the economic ethic of official Catholic social documents, Barrera's work is most original, quite balanced and well researched."—Theological Studies

"A distinctive contribution of moral theology to the analysis and discussion of differing views of justice relevant to the social and economic order.. a bravo perfomance ."—Forum for Social Economics

"Effectively combines the insights of economics and moral theology. . ..a significant book."—Horizons

"An interesting and provocative introduction to the literature, which. . .has had. . .significant influence in the formulation and execution of economic policy. It will be especially valuable to Catholic economists and other social scientists (as well as theologians) seeking to understand and improve the economic reasoning behind Catholic social teaching."—Faith & Economics

"One should be able to see from this review that Modern Catholic Social Documents is a thought-provoking book, one to be taken seriously and one that raises many issues that Catholic scholars need to address."—Recensioni

From the Publisher