Locating Business Ethics within Catholic Social Thought

Abstract

The article describes the main features of the pontifical document The Vocation of Business Leader: A Reflection, noting its origins and objectives. However, it also presents the weaknesses in the text. First, the author criticizes the way in which labor issues are addressed, since there
are not significant references to the concept of “indirect employer” by Pope John Paul II. Then, he argues about the absence of the problem of labour organization, treated both by Pope Pius XI and John Paul II. Moreover, the author also argues that the document refers to the right to a fair wage but still fails to provide ideas about how the relationship between business owners and workers should be articulated. Finally, the author maintains that the document omits the problem of lobbying that affects the morality of the market.