Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario

John Paul II has said "human work is a key, probably the essential key, to the whole social question" (Laborem Exercens, No. 3). People are meant to work and they essentially want to work. In a well ordered society they will have the opportunity to work. The work that they do, whatever it is, derives dignity from the fact that it is done by human beings. In justice, it must be rewarding for them, both from the point of view of sustaining them in a decent material life but also from the point of view of assuring them that they are contributing to God's plan for the world and to the common good. Any arrangement of employment which degrades or exploits is a sign of a dysfunctional social order.

The Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario has released a pastoral on this and several other aspects of work. It is related to the Ontario context. It is obtainable from your pastor or diocese and at www.occb.on.ca.

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Work plays several roles in our lives

"...life is built up every day from work, from work it derives its specific dignity, but at the same time work contains the unceasing measure of human toil and suffering...

(Laborem Exercens, Introduction No. 1).

Work provides us with a variety of experiences and plays several roles in the life of each of us. It is a job which should provide people with a wage or salary sufficient to support a family in decency. Under the proper conditions, it becomes a career which allows them to express creativity and develop their talents fully. For all, it can be a calling which lets them contribute to the common good and to God's work of creation.

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The Economy is meant to Serve People

"...we must first of all recall a principle that has always been taught by the Church: the principle of the priority of labour over capital (Laborem Exercens, No. 12).

From this principle it follows that the economy must be developed in the service of people rather than people being conceived as having to live their lives at the dictate of economic forces. No doubt such forces are at play in the world economy but the "invisible hand" is not an irresistible force. As human beings we have free will which we can exercise in our lives, in the organizations to which we belong and in our choice of governments. People shape globalization. By our decisions we will globalize exploitation, disparity and injustice or sustainable development, equality and justice.

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Integrating Work into Living

"Let the Christian who listens to the word of the living God, uniting work with prayer, know the place that work has not only in earthly progress but also in the development of the Kingdom of God, to which we are all called through the power of the Holy Spirit and through the word of the Gospel." (Laborem Exercens, No. 27).

Important as work is in our lives, it is not all important or the only important thing. It is not our highest activity. We are, above all, capable of knowing and loving God. We can participate in family life. We are able to contribute to political activity and various other forms of service to the common good. As intelligent beings, we possess the ability to appreciate what does not come from our work: life, the earth itself, truth and beauty. "Hence, the norm of human activity is this: that in accord with the divine plan and will, it should harmonize with the genuine good of the human race, and allow people as individuals and as members of society to pursue their total vocation and fulfill it'" (Gaudium et Spes 35)

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A Spirituality of Work

"For when people work they not only alter things and society, they develop themselves as well. They learn much, they cultivate their resources, they go outside of themselves and beyond themselves. Rightly understood this kind of growth is of greater value than any external riches which can be garnered." (Laborem Exercens, No. 33)

Let us recall the parable of the talents. We are all given different gifts. What is ultimately important is not what those gifts or talents are. It is what we do with them and the attitude with which we do it that are crucial. In this life we are called to serve our companions on the way and to contribute to the greater glory of God. Those in positions of authority and influence have a grave obligation to ensure that people have opportunities to work to these ends.

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The Fruits of our Labours

The Church has clearly addressed the need of a just wage for work: "just remuneration for the work of an adult who is responsible for a family means remuneration which will suffice for establishing and properly maintaining a family and for providing for its security in the future." (Laborem Exercens, No. 19) But this is only part of justice. All members of human society, female and male, in all the continents and corners of the world, well or ill, young or old are deserving of a just share of the world's abundance. God's gifts must be justly distributed. "..the right to private property is subordinated to the right to common use, to the fact that goods are meant for everyone." (Laborem Exercens, No. 14)

Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario