Pope Leo XIII's 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum examines the situation of workers in industrialized societies. It outlines that workers often experienced poverty, exploitation by greedy employers, and that the common good should be everyone's goal. The document establishes that both workers and employers have rights and duties - workers have rights like just wages while employers have duties to not treat workers as slaves and uphold their dignity.

1. R ERUM N OVARUM
Prepared by Jonald Justine Umali Itugot

2. O VERVIEW
 Author: Pope Leo XIII
 Release Date: May 15, 1891
 Examines the situation of poor people and
workers in industrialized countries
 Articulates everyone’s role in working together to
build a just society
 Employers are seen as “agents for change”

3. H ISTORICAL NOTE
 Poverty and exploitation of workers were
prevalent towards the end of the 19th
century
 European and American bishops requested
for an influential stand of the Church

4. S ITUATION OF W ORKERS
 Most workers experience poverty
 There is a decline in public morality
 Greedy employers exploit workers
 Government does not give attention
to the poor

5. G UIDING P RINCIPLES
 Everything starts and ends with God;
everything belongs equally to all
 Different talents exist among persons, but
everyone is equal in dignity
 Man is a gifted with reason
 Common good should be everyone’s goal;
everyone has a right to social participation

6. G UIDING P RINCIPLES
 Laws are obeyed if they conform with right
reason and eternal law
 National wealth originates from human
labor
 Everyone has the right to private property as
long as it helps in the attainment of common
good
 Profit should be used for the benefit of all
 Wealth is hindrance to eternal life

7. R OLE OF THE C HURCH
 The Church has the right to speak
since social matters affect religion
and morality
 Gospel principles help reconcile and
unify classes
 The Church can educate people to act
justly

8. R IGHTS OF W ORKERS /P OOR
 Private property
 Care
 Just wage
 Family
 Freedom of action
 Join unions which uphold values

9. D UTIES OF W ORKERS /P OOR
 Work well
 Protect the property of the employer
 Refrain from violence and rioting
 Be thrifty

10. R IGHTS OF
E MPLOYERS /W EALTHY
 Private property
 No crushing taxes
 Private societies

11. D UTIES OF
E MPLOYERS /W EALTHY
 Not to treat workers as slaves
 Uphold dignity of workers
 Let workers attend religious and family obligations
 Not to impose work more than a person’s strength
can endure
 Pay a just wage; not to tamper with worker’s savings
 Give to the poor after personal needs have been met

12. R OLE OF G OVERNMENT
 Defend and foster the rights of families
 Support both private property and common
good
 Safeguard the rights of workers
 Intervene when necessary to prevent harm to
individuals or common good
 Give special consideration to the poor
 Uphold social and religious rights of people