The 6 moral obligations of business executives

Pope Leo XIII wrote an encyclical called Rerum Novarum in 1891 on the "Rights and Duties of Capital and Labor." In it, he describes Catholic social teachings, building on the writings of earlier popes and of the work of St. Thomas Aquinas.

Part of his document enumerates six obligations of employers and five obligations of employees. Sadly, these are rarely ever considered in our era. Catholic leaders have a responsibility to evaluate their own leadership and the conduct of their business against the six moral obligations of employers.

In 1302, Pope Boniface VIII defined the "doctrine of the two swords," which states that all of society should be ordered by God. The doctrine teaches us that Christ, being both God and man, is king of the universe, and as such, His kingship, which includes both individual souls as well as the whole of society, should be officially recognized by all nations. Accordingly, His spouse, Holy Mother Church, is queen, while the sovereign pontiff exercises that kingship on His behalf.
 
The implications of this doctrine imply that today’s business leaders, managers, and politicians must work for the defense and liberty of the Catholic Church. There can be no neutrality.

Cardinal Louis-Édouard-François-Desiré Pie, the 19th-century bishop of Poitiers and a strong defender of the rights of Christ the King, boldly asserted: "The main error, the capital crime of this century, is the pretension of withdrawing public society from the government and the law of God" (Pastoral Works, Vol. VII, pp. 3, 100).

Accordingly, Pope Leo XIII set forth for his time and ours the six moral obligations of employers, which are the following:

Respect employees and recognize their Christian dignity.

Allow the worker time and opportunity to meet their [Catholic] religious obligations.
 
Do not expose employees to corrupting influences.

Do not lead a man from his family and domestic duties.

Do not demand work that exceeds the capacity of the employee.

Protect the stability of wages for the worker.

When civil leaders, including executives of businesses of any size, claim to be Catholic while violating any of these, they cause scandal, which leads others into sin. It also greatly weakens our Christian witness before the world. These leaders put their souls and the souls of many others in jeopardy.
 
If you are managing a team, running a business, or even operating a side gig, you need to take some time to reflect on these obligations as part of your examination of conscience before Confession.

Do you give employees, contractors, partners, vendors, and other stakeholders time to rest and attend the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass on all Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation? 

Do you ensure that all parties are paid promptly and completely?
 
Do you honor your obligations to others based on both verbal promises as well as written ones?
 
Do you provide sufficient wages to support your employees and ensure they have sufficient training to be successful?
 
Do you take a public stand against any serious sins, promote worthwhile charitable causes, and share your faith in a public yet professional manner? 

Do you ensure that you do not fund or do business with any pro-abortion organizations, including ensuring that your medical plans do not cover anything opposed to the dignity of human life?

Above all, the Catholic faith is not just one part of our lives. It must be the core of our entire lives — including our professional lives.