Bible Study Evangelista - 06 Dignity of Work & the Rights of Workers

Category: Social Justice Tag: Bible reading, faith, faith and works, social justice

For us as believers the dignity of work comes out of the whole theology of creation. Work is part of human dignity and written in natural law. As the parables of the talents and vineyard illustrate, every human being is created and gifted with special privileges – physical privileges, spiritual privileges, mental privileges, economic privileges, social privileges – precisely in order to use and work in them as God’s hands and feet on behalf of others, to make the world a more just and loving place. 

The economy must serve people, not the other way around. Work is more than a way to make a living; it is a form of continuing participation in Gods creation. If the dignity of work is to be protected, then the basic rights of workers must be respected–the right to productive work, to decent and fair wages, to the organization and joining of unions, to private property, and to economic initiative.

Topics Discussed:

Catholic social justice principle #5, the dignity of work and the rights of workers

Pope Benedict XVI, Charity in Truth (Caritas in Veritate)

Equity vs. equality

Privilege 

Overview:

Minutes 00:12:00 – The dignity of work and theology of creation, the parable of the talents

Minutes 12:01-24:00 – Equality vs. equity, privilege

Minutes 24:01-36:00 – The parable of the vineyard

Minutes 36:01-48:00 – Ways to protect and defend the dignity of work and the rights of workers

Additional Resources:

More on the Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers from the Bible and Church documents 

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Seven Themes of Catholic Social Teaching

Book, Amazon: Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and USCCB