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EXCERPTS
FROM THE ENCYCLICAL POPULORUM
PROGRESSIO (1967) by
Paul VI I.
MAN 'S COMPLETE DEVELOPMENT 6.
Today we see men trying to secure a sure food supply, cures for diseases,
and steady employment. We see them trying to eliminate every ill, to
remove every obstacle which offends man's dignity. They are continually
striving to exercise greater personal responsibility; to do more, learn
more, and have more so that they might increase their personal worth. And
yet, at the same time, a large number of them live amid conditions which
frustrate these legitimate desires. Moreover,
those nations which have recently gained independence find that political
freedom is not enough. They must also acquire the social and economic
structures and processes that accord with man's nature and activity, if
their citizens are to achieve personal growth and if their country is to
take its rightful place in the international community. Authentic
Development 14.
The development We speak of here cannot be restricted to economic growth
alone. To be authentic, it must be well rounded; it must foster the
development of each man and of the whole man. As an eminent specialist on
this question has rightly said: "We cannot allow economics to be
separated from human realities, nor development from the civilization in
which it takes place. What counts for us is man—each individual man,
each human group, and humanity as a whole.'' (15) Issues
and Principles 22.
In the very first pages of Scripture we read these words: "Fill the
earth and subdue it."(19) This teaches us that the whole of creation
is for man, that he has been charged to give it meaning by his intelligent
activity, to complete and perfect it by his own efforts and to his own
advantage. Now
if the earth truly was created to provide man with the necessities of life
and the tools for his own progress, it follows that every man has the
right to glean what he needs from the earth. The recent Council reiterated
this truth: "God intended the earth and everything in it for the use
of all human beings and peoples. Thus, under the leadership of justice and
in the company of charity, created goods should flow fairly to all."
(20) All
other rights, whatever they may be, including the rights of property and
free trade, are to be subordinated to this principle. They should in no
way hinder it; in fact, they should actively facilitate its
implementation. Redirecting these rights back to their original purpose
must be regarded as an important and urgent social duty. Programs
and Planning 33.
Individual initiative alone and the interplay of competition will not
ensure satisfactory development. We cannot proceed to increase the wealth
and power of the rich while we entrench the needy in their poverty and add
to the woes of the oppressed. Organized programs are necessary for
"directing, stimulating, coordinating, supplying and
integrating" (35) the work of individuals and intermediary
organizations. It
is for the public authorities to establish and lay down the desired goals,
the plans to be followed, and the methods to be used in fulfilling them;
and it is also their task to stimulate the efforts of those involved in
this common activity. But they must also see to it that private initiative
and intermediary organizations are involved in this work. In this way they
will avoid total collectivization and the dangers of a planned economy
which might threaten human liberty and obstruct the exercise of man's
basic human rights. Three
Major Duties 44.
This duty concerns first and foremost the wealthier nations. Their
obligations stem from the human and supernatural brotherhood of man, and
present a three-fold obligation: 1) mutual solidarity—the aid that the
richer nations must give to developing nations; 2) social justice—the
rectification of trade relations between strong and weak nations; 3)
universal charity—the effort to build a more humane world community,
where all can give and receive, and where the progress of some is not
bought at the expense of others. The matter is urgent, for on it depends
the future of world civilization. The
Obstacles of Nationalism . . . 62.
There are other obstacles to creation of a more just social order and to
the development of world solidarity: nationalism and racism. It is quite
natural that nations recently arrived at political independence should be
quite jealous of their new-found but fragile unity and make every effort
to preserve it. It is also quite natural for nations with a long-standing
cultural tradition to be proud of their traditional heritage. But this
commendable attitude should be further ennobled by love, a love for the
whole family of man. Haughty pride in one's own nation disunites nations
and poses obstacles to their true welfare. It is especially harmful where
the weak state of the economy calls for a pooling of information, efforts
and financial resources to implement programs of development and to
increase commercial and cultural interchange. .
. . and Racism 63.
Racism is not the exclusive attribute of young nations, where sometimes it
hides beneath the rivalries of clans and political parties, with heavy
losses for justice and at the risk of civil war. During the colonial
period it often flared up between the colonists and the indigenous
population, and stood in the way of mutually profitable understanding,
often giving rise to bitterness in the wake of genuine injustices. It is
still an obstacle to collaboration among disadvantaged nations and a cause
of division and hatred within countries whenever individuals and families
see the inviolable rights of the human person held in scorn, as they
themselves are unjustly subjected to a regime of discrimination because of
their race or their color. Welcoming
the Stranger 67.
We cannot insist too much on the duty of giving foreigners a hospitable
reception. It is a duty imposed by human solidarity and by Christian
charity, and it is incumbent upon families and educational institutions in
the host nations. Young
people, in particular, must be given a warm reception; more and more
families and hostels must open their doors to them. This must be done,
first of all, that they may be shielded from feelings of loneliness,
distress and despair that would sap their strength. It is also necessary
so that they may be guarded against the corrupting influence of their new
surroundings, where the contrast between the dire poverty of their
homeland and the lavish luxury of their present surroundings is, as it
were, forced upon them. And finally, it must be done so that they may be
protected from subversive notions and temptations to violence, which gain
headway in their minds when they ponder their "wretched plight.''
(58) In short, they should be welcomed in the spirit of brotherly love, so
that the concrete example of wholesome living may give them a high opinion
of authentic Christian charity and of spiritual values. 68.
We are deeply distressed by what happens to many of these young people.
They come to wealthier nations to acquire scientific knowledge,
professional training, and a high-quality education that will enable them
to serve their own land with greater effectiveness. They do get a fine
education, but very often they lose their respect for the priceless
cultural heritage of their native land. 69.
Emigrant workers should also be given a warm welcome. Their living
conditions are often inhuman, and they must scrimp on their earnings in
order to send help to their families who have remained behind in their
native land in poverty. |