When an earlier generation of Caux Round Table members discussed and settled upon certain ethical principles for a moral capitalism, the encyclical of Pope John Paul II, Centesimus Annus, provided welcome guidance. Encyclicals provide the Catholic Church with social thought or as some say, social teachings.
The 1991 encyclical was written by Pope John Paul II to mark the 100th anniversary of the first encyclical – authored by Pope Leo XIII to provide moral guidance for the post-feudal economic system of capitalism.
Such advocacy of what should be for the best in our earthly ambitions, ideals and daily practices reflects theology and intuitions of the divine, but confronts the realities of human-ness.
When, some years after presenting ethical principles for moral capitalism, under the leadership of then-chair Winston Wallin, former CEO of Medtronic, the Caux Round Table published ethical principles for moral government. These principles were designed to provide moral capitalism with legal and regulatory foundations, drawing forth personal and social endorsement of and the actual practice of the fitting behaviors that would further moral capitalism’s idealism in business and finance.
No reliance was made then on Catholic social teachings.
However, several days ago, Pope Leo XIV spoke to a plenary session of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences convened to consider the uses of power: legitimacy, democracy and the international order.
I attach a copy of the Pope’s message (apologies for it being a little crooked on the page).
I also attach a copy of our Principles for Moral Government.
I am encouraged and reassured by the harmony between our principles and Catholic social teachings as presented by Pope Leo XIV.
Providing foundational rationality for moral government, in all cultures and religious traditions, empowers humanity to rise above abuses of power and the use of political governance as a tool of intolerance and oppression.