''Quod apostolici muneris'' is the second
encyclical
An encyclical was originally a circular letter sent to all the churches of a particular area in the ancient Roman Church. At that time, the word could be used for a letter sent out by any bishop. The word comes from the Late Latin (originally fr ...
of
Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII (; born Gioacchino Vincenzo Raffaele Luigi Pecci; 2March 181020July 1903) was head of the Catholic Church from 20 February 1878 until his death in July 1903. He had the fourth-longest reign of any pope, behind those of Peter the Ap ...
. It was published on 28 December 1878.
Contents
The encyclical opposes "socialism, communism and nihilism", regarded as three aspects of a single ideology that is opposed to moral values, natural institutions and the principles of authority and property. This is contrasted with the Church's own social theory which respects social distinctions while stressing the importance of helping the poor. This was not a new battle for the Pope. He was continuing the war which had been waged for years against these enemies of the Catholic Faith beginning with Pope
Clement XII
Pope Clement XII (; ; 7 April 16526 February 1740), born Lorenzo Corsini, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 12 July 1730 to his death in February 1740.
Clement presided over the growth of a surplus in the papal ...
(1730-1740).
The form of
socialism
Socialism is an economic ideology, economic and political philosophy encompassing diverse Economic system, economic and social systems characterised by social ownership of the means of production, as opposed to private ownership. It describes ...
that the encyclical opposes is one whose proponents "strive to seize and hold in common whatever has been acquired either by title of lawful inheritance, or by labour of brain and hands, or by thrift in one's mode of life". To this is opposed the Church's teaching that "the right of property and of ownership, which springs from nature itself, must not be touched and stands inviolate. For she knows that stealing and robbery were forbidden in so special a manner by God, the Author and Defender of right, that He would not allow man even to desire what belonged to another, and that thieves and despoilers, no less than adulterers and idolaters, are shut out from the Kingdom of Heaven".
In “Quod Apostolici Muneris”, Leo condemned the Socialists' attack on marriage and property, two topics he will devote entire encyclicals to later in his pontificate ( in 1880 and
in 1891).
See also
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References
{{Reflist
External links
Text of Quod Apostolici Muneris
Anti-Marxism
Documents of the Catholic Social Teaching tradition
Encyclicals of Pope Leo XIII
1878 documents
1878 in Christianity
December 1878