Religion Assessment FINAL

The Church: On Modern Slavery and Industrialisation

By Honey Ward

Introduction

- The Church has been involved in hundreds of social issues throughout history including Modern Slavery which followed the Industrial Revolution.- Through the synesis of research this presentation analyses the Church's position, strategy, and action in response to Modern Slavery.

Background

Of the Industrial Revolution

Rerum Novarum

- Pope Leo XIII wrote the encyclical, Rerum Novarum, which outlined the working conditions in the Industrial Revolution and advocated the need for change (Pope Leo XIII, 1891).- This document was inspirational as well as controversial like many others around the time.

Timeline of the Industrial Revolution

Third Revolution:Electronics and Nuclear in 1969

First Revolution:Coal

Modern Time

1756

1969

2000

1870

Second Revolution:Gas

Fourth Revolution: Internet and Renewable Energy

Working Conditions of the early 20th century

Cons

Pros

1. Unhealthy and Unsafe working conditions 2. Poorly ventilated factories 3. No safety regulations 4. Injuries were common 5. Factories where in lower-class towns and polluted the air and water with chemicals (St Albans Secondary College, 2023)

1. A Guaranteed basic wage2. An eight-hour day 3. Pension for 65 year olds and older

VS

Modern Slavery

Estimated prevalance of Slavery in 2021: - North Korea = 104.6 per 1,000 people - Eritrea = 90.3 per 1,000 people - Mauritania = 32 per 1,000 people - Saudi Arabia = 21.3 per 1,000 people - Turkey = 15.6 per 1,000 people

Gottbrath, L., & Feng, A., 2023

Perspective

Church's view

Repercussions

The Church believed that due to the Industrial Revolution the following happened:

• Industrialization influenced politics and the economy
• Expansion of industrial pursuits and scientific discoveries

• Individual's fortunes grew, and the masses' poverty increases
• An increase in slavery

(Pope Leo XIII, 1891)

Position

Church's Sentiment

Against modern slavery

Slavery is an infringement to the churches principles

Position

The Church, as well as its leaders, believe that the harsh working conditions today are comparable with slavery due to the low wages and disrespect the workers are given. This directly conflicts with the Holy Scriptures and humane morals (CCC, 2022).

Lack of workers union contributed to an unjust situation

Modern Slavery disobeys simple human rights

All people should be treated with respect, but working conditions make it increasingly difficult.

Industrial Revolution has contributed to the terrible working conditions nowadays

" Every human being, man, woman, boy and girl, is made in God's image... Every person, and all people, are equal and must be accorded the same freedom and the same dignity ."

- Pope Francis

Actions

Church's strategy

ACAN

-The Australian Catholic Anti-Slavery Network (Anti-Slavery Taskforce, 2020). - ACAN's objective is to eradicate all forms of Modern Slavery - The program supplies: -Sector-specific Modern Slavery Action Plans - Model modern slavery policy - Supplier awareness presentation - Procurement Risk Taxonomy and supplier risk analysis tools - and 13 other tools

Caritas

- Caritas is a worldwide organisation that assess social threats and gain support within the community to raise money, awareness, and help for the people affected by the threat.- One of their principles to to prevent human trafficking, which is the sale of humans into slavery. - Caritas mission is to serve the poor and promote justice, and, by working with the church, also spreads the expectations followed by people to become more like Jesus.

(Caritas, 2023 )

Argument

Past and Present

Previously

- Pope Leo Xll, attacked socialism through the Rerum Novarum and provided a new insight into slavery and industrialization.- Stating "no laws either human or divine, permit them [the owners] for their own profit to oppress the needy and the wretched or to seek gain from another's want." (CUA, n.d.) - This quote helps demonstrate how workers should not be taken for granted and forced to work in horrid conditions. - He further mentions that the average wage should not be less than enough to support a worker's life.

Presently

- Pope John Paul II suggested that Christians should seek the abolishment of modern slavery as human trafficking and forced labor is seen as evil.- Pope Benedict also insists that the Church and its supporters need to combat modern slavery and stated "trafficking in human beings, especially women, that flourishes where opportunities to improve their standard of living or even to survive are limited." (USCCB, 2023). - Pope Francis also reinforced these beliefs and stated “All of us are called [by God] to be free, all are called to be sons and daughters, and each, according to his or her own responsibilities, is called to combat modern forms of enslavement. From every people, culture, and religion, let us join our forces,”.

Principles

Workers rights

Principles

Help the poor

Living Wage

People come first

Employees are people too and cannot be treated as units of labour

Workers have the right to safe conditions and a fair minimum wage

Underpaid, or unemployed people deserve special aid and dignity

Balance life

Unions are good

Workers must have time for rest, recreation, community and family time.

They are important as it creates human connection and strengthens community

Follow these Principles

In Australia, The Church has advocated for these principles to change unjust working conditions, harmful encroachment of work, the high unemployment rate of Indigenous Australians and the unfairness of the minimum wage that creates poverty (ACBC, n.d.) .

Conclusion

Synthesis of Information

Summary

In summary, throughout history, the Church has responded to and acted upon the social issue of modern slavery due to the Industrial Revolution. They believe that modern slavery is a sin and is against the teachings of Jesus. To reduce the number of slaves the Church runs organisations like ACAN to inform others about the issue and raises funds to benefit the enslaved. The Church suggests multiple principles that workers must be granted so they avoid slavery including a sustainable minimum wage, the right to form unions, and to be recognised as human beings. By supporting the enslaved the Church has shown respect and love for the poor and has displayed the work of God upon them.

Thank you!

References

• Anti-Slavery Taskforce. (2020, April 27). Proposal: Modern Slavery Risk Management Program. Sydney.
• Anti-Slavery Taskforce. (n.d.). The Catholic Perspective on Slavery. Sydney.
• Australian Catholic Bishops Conference. (n.d.). Catholic Social Teaching on Work. Justice and peace office. https://justiceandpeace.org.au/catholic-social-teaching-on-work/
• California Catholic Conference (2022, January 13). Rerum Novarum (of new things). https://www.cacatholic.org/article/rerum-novarum-new-things#:~:text=Pope%20Leo%20XIII%20wrote%20the,even%20though%20they%20worked%20hard
• Ending poverty, promoting justice, and restoring dignity. Caritas. (2023). https://www.caritas.org/
• Gottbrath, L., & Feng, A. (2023, May 25). Mapped: The countries where modern slavery is most prevalent. Axios. https://www.axios.com/2023/05/25/modern-slavery-countries-rank-list-forced-labor
• National Catholic Reporter. (2015, January 19). Pope’s quotes: End modern slavery. https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/francis-chronicles/pope-s-quotes-end-modern-slavery
• Pope Leo XIII. (May 15, 1891) Rerum Novarum https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_l-xiii_enc_15051891_rerum-novarum.html
• St Albans Secondary College. (2023). Libguides: Study Guide : Australia (1750-1918): Living & Working Conditions in Australia (1900). Living & working conditions in Australia (1900) - Study Guide : Australia (1750-1918) - LibGuides at St Albans Secondary College. https://libguides.stalbanssc.vic.edu.au/australia-1750-1918/living-conditions#:~:text=Working%20Conditions%20%3A%20In%20the%20early%20years%20of%20the%2020th%20century&text=Many%20factory%20workers%20worked%20in,Injuries%20were
• The Catholic University of America (n.d.). American Catholic history classroom https://cuomeka.wrlc.org/exhibits/show/industrial/background/background--catholic-responses
• The Guardian (2015, January 1). Pope Francis uses New Year Mass to condemn slavery and human trafficking. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/01/pope-francis-new-year-mass-slavery-human-trafficking#:~:text=%E2%80%9CAll%20of%20us%20are%20called,our%20forces%2C%E2%80%9D%20he%20said.
• United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2023). Catholic social teaching and the church’s fight to end trafficking. Catholic Communication Campaign. https://www.usccb.org/offices/anti-trafficking-program/catholic-social-teaching-and-churchs-fight-end-trafficking