Session 9: Dignity & Rights of Workers

The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers is one of the seven principles of Catholic social teaching. During the Industrial Revolution, Pope Leo XII wrote an encyclical, (“Rerum Novarum”), that emphasized the dignity of work and called for changes that would protect the rights of workers.

Last session we focused on Solidarity, the idea that we share in the joy and suffering of

others in our human family. Today we are going to continue to look at the Catholic social

teachings, focusing more closely on the Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers. As you 

may have noticed, the Catholic social teachings are closely connected with one another.

What did Jesus say about the rights of workers? Let’s look in the Gospel of Luke.

Read: Luke 3:10-14

Discuss: Which of Jesus’ commands struck you the most? Ex. “Stop collecting more than is

prescribed.”

How does Jesus’s commands relate to fair treatment of workers? What is Jesus’ opinion about

sharing? 

In the 1800’s the Industrial Revolution changed the way people lived. The development of

machinery and mass production created unsafe conditions, a demand for longer work hours 

and child labor. In 1891 Pope Leo XII wrote an encyclical, (letter from the Pope to the Church),

about this injustice. His letter emphasized the dignity of work and called for changes that 

would protect the rights of workers.

Think About It: Pope Leo XIII urged the State ‘to induce as many as possible of the 

people to become owners’ so working people would have a larger share in the 

distribution of wealth. How did this idea become a reality for the people featured in 

the CRS video? 

 

Before you leave this lesson, share your thoughts in this Exit Ticket.