The Poor Who Fight the Rich
Act against Justice & Charity
traditioninaction
A considerable part of Francis' social teaching is based on
egalitarianism. He also preaches the socialist idea that the poor are
poor because of the existence of the rich and encourages the revolt of
the poor.
Doing so, Francis takes a position that contradicts the Catholic
doctrine taught by previous Popes. Indeed, Benedict XV teaches precisely
the opposite. That is, he defends that a well-constituted society needs
to have different classes. He also affirms that when the poor revolt
against the rich, they are acting against justice and charity.
It is useful for our readers to know this excerpt in order to oppose the growing tide of Socialism coming from conciliar Rome.
Doing so, Francis takes a position that contradicts the Catholic doctrine taught by previous Popes. Indeed, Benedict XV teaches precisely the opposite. That is, he defends that a well-constituted society needs to have different classes. He also affirms that when the poor revolt against the rich, they are acting against justice and charity.
It is useful for our readers to know this excerpt in order to oppose the growing tide of Socialism coming from conciliar Rome.
Pope Benedict XV
Who can be surprised, Venerable Brethren, that once the twofold bond of
cohesion of any social body has been weakened or unbound, that is to
say, the union of the members among themselves by mutual charity and
their union with their head by dutiful submission to the authority, then
human society will present itself as if it were divided into two
hostile factions, which impiously and ceaselessly fight each other?
Confronting those who possess goods of fortune, whether by inheritance
or their own industry, stand the proletarians and the workers, inflamed
with hatred and envy because, although sharing the same nature, they do
not enjoy the same condition as the others. Once they have been
infatuated by the lies of the agitators to whom they are submissive, who
will be able to persuade them that having the same nature is not a
reason for all men to occupy the same position in social life? And
further, who will ever make them see that each one, save for adverse
circumstances, has the position that he earned by his own effort?
Thus, the poor who fight against the rich as if the latter would have
usurped the goods of the former, act not only against justice and
charity, but also against reason, particularly considering that they can
improve their fortunes by honest industry, if they so choose.
It is unnecessary to enumerate the many consequences brought about by
this rivalry of classes, as disastrous for the individual as for society
in general.
We all see and deplore the frequent strikes that suddenly paralyze the
course of public and social life in
its most indispensable functions; we see these threatening revolts and
tumultuous crowds, and it not infrequently happens that weapons are used
and blood is spilled.
(Benedict XV, Encyclical Ad Beatissimi of November 1, 1914,
Les Enseignements Pontificaux, Solesmes: Desclee & Cie, 1952, pp. 286-287)
Les Enseignements Pontificaux, Solesmes: Desclee & Cie, 1952, pp. 286-287)