Katolička crkva i sindikati. Na primjeru enciklike Rerum novarum
The Catholic Church and Trade Unions. On the example of the encyclical Rerum novarum

Author(s): Ivan Markešić
Subject(s): Christian Theology and Religion, Labor relations, Socio-Economic Research, Sociology of Religion
Published by: Durieux
Keywords: Catholic church; pope Leon XIII; encyclic Rerum novarum; working class; workers’ movements; unions;
Summary/Abstract: The Catholic Church was not “born yesterday”, it is a century-old co-creator of social, political, economic, cultural, religious processes in European societies. It existed long before free laborers, workers and unions emerged in 19th century Europe as a completely new and unknown reality of the Church, as a reality that began to change the existing world, based on the feudal world. However, despite longevity and extensive experience in working with the religious population, it took the Church a long time to find suitable answers to the questions posed after the French Revolution of 1789 by these new, in many ways crucial times, especially the 19th century that brought labor and labor movements. In this paper, the author wants to answer the question of what are the beginnings of the relationship between the Catholic Church, labor and trade unions, and were the two earthly realities rivals or inseparable partners from those very beginnings?

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