Paper/Proposal Title
Pope Francis and Alternative Economic Visions
Start Date
11-10-2017 8:30 AM
Keywords
Catholic social teaching, Pope Francis, economic democracy, capitalism, ecology
Abstract
Pope Francis has expressed deep concern about the injustices and ecological harms of the current global economic system: “[L]et us not be afraid to say it,” Francis proclaimed to a worldwide gathering of grassroots social movements in Bolivia. “We want change, real change, structural change. This system is by now intolerable.” In this paper I explore Francis’ multifaceted critiques of our current global economic system, including the empirical evidence that supports such critiques. I will both highlight continuities in the views of Francis and previous popes—especially Paul VI and John Paul II—and highlight several ways that Francis articulates important new or enhanced emphases in Catholic social teaching. Among these new emphases are a more central awareness of the profound depths of the world’s ecological crises and Francis’ stress on grassroots action and popular movements as the manner in which CST is to be implemented—a welcome change from more top-down visions of social change present in most prior CST documents. I will also suggest several ways that CST could be yet further enhanced, particularly in developing a clearer notion of what viable alternatives to current dominant policies might entail. This will include dialogue with the work of prominent proponents of “economic democracy” and “ecological economics.”
Included in
Pope Francis and Alternative Economic Visions
Pope Francis has expressed deep concern about the injustices and ecological harms of the current global economic system: “[L]et us not be afraid to say it,” Francis proclaimed to a worldwide gathering of grassroots social movements in Bolivia. “We want change, real change, structural change. This system is by now intolerable.” In this paper I explore Francis’ multifaceted critiques of our current global economic system, including the empirical evidence that supports such critiques. I will both highlight continuities in the views of Francis and previous popes—especially Paul VI and John Paul II—and highlight several ways that Francis articulates important new or enhanced emphases in Catholic social teaching. Among these new emphases are a more central awareness of the profound depths of the world’s ecological crises and Francis’ stress on grassroots action and popular movements as the manner in which CST is to be implemented—a welcome change from more top-down visions of social change present in most prior CST documents. I will also suggest several ways that CST could be yet further enhanced, particularly in developing a clearer notion of what viable alternatives to current dominant policies might entail. This will include dialogue with the work of prominent proponents of “economic democracy” and “ecological economics.”
