Catholic News Service: Pope says labor unions important in resolving financial crisis

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0900492.htm

By John Thavis
Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI said labor unions have an important role to play in finding a way out of the global financial crisis and establishing a new culture of solidarity and responsibility in the marketplace.

"The great challenge and the great opportunity posed by today's worrisome economic crisis is to find a new synthesis between the common good and the market, between capital and labor. And in this regard, union organizations can make a significant contribution," the pope told directors of the Confederation of Italian Labor Unions Jan. 31.

The pope emphasized that the inalienable dignity of the worker has been a cornerstone of the church's social teaching in the modern age, and said this teaching has helped the movement toward fair wages, improvement of working conditions and protection of vulnerable categories of employees.

Workers are facing particular risks in the current economic crisis, and unions must be part of the solution, he said.

"In order to overcome the economic and social crisis we're experiencing, we know that a free and responsible effort on the part of everyone is required," the pope said.


FULL story at link.

[dcsmart]

1. sometimes the church is right on

which i like, being an ex-catholic, and other times it makes me cringe. its social teaching encyclicals are very important, not the no birth control, not the no women priests, but many other social justice issues. there are many elements within the church that are positive....but for me, the bad parts overpower the good. i am glad the pope is speaking out about unions. good for him....and i am glad you posted this.

[SharonAnn]

2. Wow! Something on which I agree with the Roman Catholic Church!

[Zynx]

3. In the fine tradition of my favorite Pope, Leo XIII.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rerum_Novarum