Call for society to address failings through Catholic Social Teaching

Leading academic Anthony McClaran has urged society to look at the morals of Catholic social teaching to inspire the creation of “an informed social consciousness”. 

He was speaking at the recent launch of both St Mary’s University Press and its debut book, Catholic Social Thought, the Market and Public Policy: Twenty-first Century Challenges, edited by Professor Philip Booth and André Azevedo Alves.

McClaran, vice chancellor and a representative of the board of St Mary’s University Press, announced the opening of the press to spread innovation and social consciousness to the widest possible readership, covering topics such as theology, education, philosophy and social sciences. McClaran said that he was inspired by St John Henry Newman’s idea that “all knowledge is interrelated”. He also referred to the core values of St Mary’s University – inclusivity, respect, generosity of spirit, excellence – which have influenced the mission of St Mary’s University Press. 

Booth quoted Pope Francis’ idea that “choosing virtue in business is the key to a common good”. Booth, who is director of Catholic Mission and a professor of finance, public policy and ethics at St Mary’s University, Twickenham, is currently researching Catholic social teaching and ethical behaviour in business. He is co-editor of the online blog Catholic Social Thought, a Templeton World Charity Foundation funded project on the impact that Catholic social teaching has on 21st-century challenges. The aim is to bridge the gap between academia and the general public. He emphasised the “importance of stimulating a public debate” and said that he hoped the book would encourage this.

Booth addressed the recent halt in economic progress following 40 years of relative success, attributing it to a lack of Catholic moral social teaching in current society. He said that we were entering an era of declining economic progress in the developed world and regretted the “signs of regression” because of the onset of what Pope Francis has described as the “demographic winter”. Booth argued that a well-ordered business economy with strong, Catholic-inspired provision of healthcare and education is a requirement for prosperity and well-being.