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Labor Day gives us the chance to see how work in America matches up to the lofty ideals of our Catholic tradition.
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<h5 style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-top: 15px; margin-bottom: 2px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(153, 153, 153) !important; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif !important;">
Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski of Miami<br />
Chairman, Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development<br />
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops<br />
September 1, 2014</h5>
<p style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 8px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">This year Pope Francis canonized Saint John XXIII and Saint John Paul II. Both made immense contributions to the social teaching of the Church on the dignity of labor and its importance to human flourishing. St. John Paul II called work "probably the essential key to the whole social question" (<em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: normal; font-family: arial; font-weight: inherit !important; color: inherit !important;">Laborem Exercens</em>, No. 3) and St. John XXIII stressed workers are "entitled to a wage that is determined in accordance with the precepts of justice" (<em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: normal; font-family: arial; font-weight: inherit !important; color: inherit !important;">Pacem in Terris</em>, No. 20).</p>
<p style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 8px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Pope Francis added to this tradition that work "is fundamental to the dignity of a person.... [It] 'anoints' us with dignity, fills us with dignity, makes us similar to God... gives one the ability to maintain oneself, one's family, [and] to contribute to the growth of one's own nation." Work helps us realize our humanity and is necessary for human flourishing. Work is not a punishment for sin but rather a means by which we make a gift of ourselves to each other and our communities. We simply cannot advance the common good without decent work and a strong commitment to solidarity.</p>
<p style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 8px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><a href="http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/labor-employment/labor-day-statement-2014.cfm">MORE>></a></p>
Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski of Miami<br />
Chairman, Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development<br />
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops<br />
September 1, 2014</h5>
<p style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 8px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">This year Pope Francis canonized Saint John XXIII and Saint John Paul II. Both made immense contributions to the social teaching of the Church on the dignity of labor and its importance to human flourishing. St. John Paul II called work "probably the essential key to the whole social question" (<em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: normal; font-family: arial; font-weight: inherit !important; color: inherit !important;">Laborem Exercens</em>, No. 3) and St. John XXIII stressed workers are "entitled to a wage that is determined in accordance with the precepts of justice" (<em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: normal; font-family: arial; font-weight: inherit !important; color: inherit !important;">Pacem in Terris</em>, No. 20).</p>
<p style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 8px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Pope Francis added to this tradition that work "is fundamental to the dignity of a person.... [It] 'anoints' us with dignity, fills us with dignity, makes us similar to God... gives one the ability to maintain oneself, one's family, [and] to contribute to the growth of one's own nation." Work helps us realize our humanity and is necessary for human flourishing. Work is not a punishment for sin but rather a means by which we make a gift of ourselves to each other and our communities. We simply cannot advance the common good without decent work and a strong commitment to solidarity.</p>
<p style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 8px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><a href="http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/labor-employment/labor-day-statement-2014.cfm">MORE>></a></p>