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Build A Stable Future For All Families

Rereading Rerum Novarum by Pope Leo XIII. It is astonishing how relevant it still is for our modern world. One of the tenets involves our right to own private property. The dignity of the human person is intrinsically linked to the right to private property. When a person engages in labor, they do so with the express intention of acquiring property—whether it's wages, a home, or a piece of land. This right is not merely a social construct; it is a fundamental aspect of human nature that distinguishes us from other animals. Unlike brutes, who live for the moment, human beings possess reason, allowing us to plan for the future. We are able to link the present with the future, and therefore, we need to be able to possess things in a stable and permanent way to provide for our recurring needs. To deny this right is to deny a person the ability to save, invest, and improve their condition in life, ultimately striking at the heart of their freedom and self-determination.

This principle is further rooted in the concept of personal labor. When we cultivate a piece of land or create something with our hands, we leave the "imprint of our personality" on it, making it an extension of ourselves. It is a matter of simple justice that the fruits of a man’s sweat and toil should belong to him and not to another or to the community at large. The right to private property is a natural law, a principle confirmed by the common opinion of mankind throughout history, and even by divine law itself, which forbids us from coveting what belongs to our neighbor. This right is also crucial for the stability of the family, which, as a society older than the state, has its own rights and duties independent of government control.

Action Item for all Catholics: Reflect on the importance of private property as a foundation for human dignity and the family. Actively support and advocate for policies that protect the right to private ownership, especially for the poor and vulnerable, ensuring they can secure their wages and build a stable future for their families.

 

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