The Catholicity of the Middle Class: Reflections on Caritas in Veritate

• Published in: Notre Dame journal of law, ethics & public policy Vol. 24; no. 2; pp. 379 - 398
• Main Authors: Gregory, David L, Martir, Stephen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01-01-2010
• Subjects: Income Inequality; Middle Class; Papacy; Religiosity
• ISSN: 0883-3648

The question at the beginning of this article poses an insightful query re labor and the global dimension of the human condition: 'How important is Caritias in Veritate ('Charity in Truth')? The focus being on the encyclical written by Pope Benedict late June 2009, and given to President Obama just a week and a half later during their meeting at the Vatican. From this standpoint the author introduces the socio-economic and political realities applied to the middle class, highlighting the definitions of the class-structure, and the instances of the structural decline. Next, the article delves into a discussion on the background leading to Pope Benedict's foundation and thinking; noting a change in the balance of wealth and the processes re downsizing worker's securities; and recognizing the urgency for cooperation at both international, as well as local institutional levels. Then, the author looks at the 'synthetic chronology' or the marking of the rise and fall of the working middle class and organized labor; examines implementations such as the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and other Roosevelt era instruments; and presents historical highs and lows of unionized labor, as well as other socio-political factors from post WWII America to the Obama administration. In conclusion, the author questions the results of the Great Recession; examines the effects on the middle class; and assesses the culmination given thus far, to gauge the possibility of bringing about a renewal in both labor and status re the middle class. M. Diem