Joseph Cardinal Höffner CHRISTIAN SOCIAL ... - Ordo Socialis

medium-sized and small-scale companies must be created for the production of consumer
goods (textile factories, furniture workshops, companies manufacturing household equipment,
and the like), so that the wages earned in building up the infrastructures may be matched by a
corresponding supply of consumer goods. Otherwise, prices rise, and the misery remains the
same.
c) Agrarian Reform
In many developing countries such as those of Latin America, an agrarian reform (overcoming
the latifundium and minifundium structure) is urgently necessary. In carrying out such a
reform, indemnification according to commercial value is neither possible nor required by
Christian social teaching. If the soldier must stake his life for the common weal without indemnification,
man can be obligated all the more to renounce property assets for an indemnification
appropriate to current conditions (Cf. Gaudium et spes, 7l). Entrepreneurs and largescale
owners in developing countries seriously offend against the common weal when they
„allow their resources to remain unproductive“ or „deprive the community of the material and
spiritual aid it needs“ by transferring their capital, for example, to foreign countries (ibid., 65).
In the encyclical „Sollicitudo rei socialis“ John Paul II examines the socio-ethical dimensions
of development aid from today's point of view. (I) He criticizes the inadequacy of the
development aid provided by the rich nations and certain unjust structures in the economic
relationships between rich and poor countries. Nonetheless, he sees the key to truly successful
development in the legal, political and economic structures of the developing countries themselves
(Cf.44.5; see also supplement 13). (2) Another important conclusion is that „in today's
world, among other rights, the right of economic initiative is often suppressed. Yet it is a right
which is important not only for the individual, but also for the common good. Experience
shows us that the denial of this right or its limitation in the name of an alleged 'equality' of
everyone in society diminishes or in practice absolutely destroys the spirit of initiative, that is
to say, the creative subjectivity of the citizen. As a consequence, there arises not so much a
true equality as a 'leveling-down. In the place of creative initiative there appears passivity,
dependence and submission to the bureaucratic apparatus which, as the only 'ordering' and
'decision-making' body - if not also the 'owner' - of the entire totality of goods and the means
of production, puts everyone in a position of almost absolute dependence, which is similar to
the traditional dependence of the worker-proletarian in Capitalism“ (15.2). In his positive
approach the Pope proposes that the „countries of the Third World“ adopt the model of a
social market economy „which recognizes the fundamental and positive role of business, the
market, private property and the resulting responsibility for the means of production, as well
as free human creativity in the economic sector“ (Centesimus annus 42,2; see also supplement
I3). (3) The Pope also calls for consideration of the ecological interactions and cycles,
and especially of the fact „that natural resources are limited“(34.1).
Man, he says, has no absolute right „to use or misuse“ nature as he pleases (34.3) „Using
them as if they were inexhaustible, with absolute dominion, seriously endangers their availability
not only for the present generation but above all for generations to come”(34.1).
3. The Contribution of the Church
a) Appeal to the Conscience
The Church will appeal to the consciences of the faithful and all people of good will.
b) Help of the Church
The Church will also implement self-help measures (Cf. the operation MISEREOR). In doing
so, it will turn in a particular way to educational aid and establish, for example, professional
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