Catholic Social Ministry Gathering – USCCB

This year’s Catholic Social Ministry Gathering theme Protecting Human Life and Dignity: Promoting a Just Economy, observes the 120th anniversary of Pope Leo XIII’s release of the encyclical “Rerum Novarum.”  The Vincentian Family has been very present in recent...

2010 Labor Day Statement – A New “Social Contract”

The United States Catholic Conference 2010 Labor Day Statement “A New “Social Contract” for Today’s “New Things” echos the title of Leo the XIII’s “Rerum Novarum” (Of New Things”).

It calls for Americans “to protect the life and dignity of each worker in a renewed and robust economy”. As a Vincentian footnote some might be surprised to know that it was a member of the Vincent de Paul Society who advised Leo the XIII on this first of the great Social Encyclicals and that Ozanam anticipated, and actually prepared the ground for, the recognition of the social issues in calling for a living wage.