11.2: Work and Employment

The Catholic Church teaches that work is:

A duty.
God made people in his image and, as God is a creator, humans should continue God's work of creation by working. Jesus worked as a carpenter and so Christians, as followers of Jesus, should be prepared to work. The Church takes seriously the words of St Paul 'If anyone will not work, let him not eat.' 2 Thessalonians 3:10.

A way of becoming holy.
The way people work honours the gifts of God's creation and can bring Christ's love into the world
'Work can be a means of sanctification and a way of animating earthly realities with the Spirit of Christ.'
Catechism 2427.

A way of providing for what is needed to live and a way of Christian service.
'Everyone should be able to draw from work the means of providing for his life and that of his family, and of serving the human community.' Catechism 2428.

Employment

Catholics should be employed in jobs that aim to improve human life and be a part of God's moral order. This means that Catholics should not be employed in jobs aimed at immoral ends or which promote immorality, e.g. Catholics should not work in the pornography industry or in abortion clinics

Economic activity, conducted according to its own proper methods, is to be exercised within the limits of tire moral order, in keeping with social justice so as to correspond to God's plan for man.' Catechism 2426.

Catholic employers are expected to:

• pay a just wage to their employees;
• make sure there is no discrimination on grounds of race, sex, colour or disability;
• think of the effects of their business on the environment and their workers;
• never put profit before people. However, they also have the right to make profits:

'Those responsible for business enterprises are responsible to society for the economic and ecological effects of their operations. They have an obligation to consider the good of persons and not only the increase of profits. Profits are necessary, however. They make possible the investments that ensure the future of a business and they guarantee employment.' Catechism 2432.

The Church teaches that everyone has the right to work, and that unemployment is a great evil. The state and employers should work together to make sure everyone has a job.

'Unemployment almost always wounds its victim's dignity and threatens the equilibrium of his life.. Besides the harm done to him personally, it entails many risks for his family.' Catechism 2436.