Dean Abela Presents A Catechism for Business to Pope Francis

On May 10, 2014, Dean Abela presented a copy of his new book, A Catechism for Business, co-edited with Dr. Joseph Capizzi of the School of Theology and Religious Studies, to Pope Francis.  Dean Abela was in Rome attending the annual conference of the Fondazione Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice, a Vatican organization established by Pope St. John Paul II for the promotion of the Social Doctrine of the Church.

                   Dean Abela presenting his book A Catechism for Business to Pope Francis.                   
Photo @ L'Observatore Romano

The conference was focused on whether solidarity and fraternity can be factors in business decisions.  Explicitly stated was the knowledge that “corporate responsibility,” as it is commonly understood, is not enough to address the economic problems of our age.  Rather, the conference brought together prominent business leaders and members of the academic community to discuss the need for a “more dynamic” understanding of fraternity in economics and the practical implications it would have on the business world.  Dean Abela led an interview of five business executives who discussed the application of Catholic solidarity in business decisions.  

A Catechism for Business draws together the Church’s Social Doctrine on business, organized by topic and question.  It serves as a reference guide for Catholic business leaders who wish to deepen their faith and grow in their understanding of Catholic Social Doctrine as applied to business. 

To learn more about A Catechism for Business, please visit the book’s webpage at http://catechismforbusiness.com/

CUA’s School of Business and Economics at the 10th Annual National Catholic Prayer Breakfast

On May 13, 2014, Feast of Our Lady of Fatima, the School of Business and Economics at The Catholic University of America, sponsored the 10^th Annual National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC.  The National Catholic Prayer Breakfast was formed in 2004 to answer Pope St. John Paul II’s call to begin a New Evangelization.  The breakfast has included many notable speakers over the years, including President George W. Bush and Cardinal Raymond Burke. 

This year’s presenters included Dr. Robert P. George, McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence at Princeton University, and His Eminence Sean Cardinal O’Malley, Archbishop of Boston.  Both spoke about the need for Catholics to be strong witnesses for their Faith.  Professor George focused on the cost of discipleship and encouraged Catholics to live the Gospel and remain strong in their faith in a world which is becoming increasingly hostile to those who truly believe and practice their faith.  Cardinal O’Malley spoke of the need for Catholics to actively evangelize and be missionaries in their communities, often referring to the life of the Servant of God, Dorothy Day. 

CUA’s School of Business and Economics is committed to integrating the Catholic principles of human dignity, solidarity, subsidiarity, and the common good with all aspects of business and economics.  We prepare our students to be the business leaders with integrity and conviction that modern society demands.

Seniors Andrew Kueppers, Madeline Llopis, and Cassandra Lim attended the breakfast on behalf of the School of Business and Economics.  All three seniors have received and accepted job offers.  Madeline and Cassie have accepted jobs with KPMG in Washington, DC.  Andrew Kueppers will be working for Travelers Insurance as an accountant.  Andrew is also the recipient of this year’s President’s Award, the highest university award which is presented to a graduating senior each year.  We congratulate these students as they graduate on Saturday May 17^th.

Copies of the new book A Catechism for Business were also available to attendees who visited the exhibitor tables before the breakfast.  The catechism was co-edited by Dr. Andrew Abela, Dean of the School of Business and Economics, and Dr. Joseph Capizzi of the School of Theology and Religious Studies.  A Catechism for Business draws together the Church’s Social Doctrine on business, organized by topic and question.  It serves as a reference guide for Catholic business leaders who wish to deepen their faith and grow in their understanding of Catholic Social Doctrine as applied to business.  To learn more, visit the book’s webpage here: http://catechismforbusiness.cua.edu/

Profit Is Not the Main Purpose of Business

Many in our society hold a common misconception of the real purpose of business.  This misconception is that the sole reason for business is to make a profit.  Similarly, many also believe that profit is an evil, in some cases maybe a necessary evil, but still an evil.  In the following video clip from the book launch for A Catechism for Business, Dr. Abela discusses the purpose of business and the Church’s views on profit.  
 

Profit is not the purpose of business.  It is legitimate and required, but it is not the purpose of business.  The purpose of business is to do some good for some group of people.  Pope John Paul II said in Centesimus Annus, 35, “The purpose of a business firm is not simply to make a profit, but is to be found in its very existence as a community of persons who in various ways are endeavoring to satisfy their basic needs, and who form a particular group at the service of the whole of society.”

Follow this link or watch the video below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wI-q-kIIfrM

 

The Call to Work in Business Is Not an Amoral Calling

A Catechism for Business and the new School of Business and Economics at the Catholic University of America were featured in a National Catholic Register post by Peter Jesserer Smith.  The article examined the school’s mission to transform the way people think about business from a notion of business is an amoral pursuit to an understanding that business is a moral calling which should be grounded in ethics and moral responsibility.  

 

"CUA’s School of Business and Economics is challenging businesses large and small in the 21st-century economy to anchor their business practices in the Catholic Church’s social teachings. Late last month, the school’s dean, Andrew Abela, along with co-editor and professor of moral theology Joseph Capizzi, unveiled the new Catechism for Business, a handbook for businesspeople who want to know the Church’s social doctrine and their obligations to work for a just society.

Abela told the Register in an interview that the whole purpose of the Catechism for Business and the School of Business is ‘to combat this notion that business is amoral."

You can read the entire article by visiting this page.

Dr. Abela and Dr. Capizzi Interviewed in the National Catholic Register

Peter Jesserer Smith at the National Catholic Register interviewed Dr. Abela and Dr. Capizzi about A Catechism for Business. They discussed the need for a business catechism in the modern business world and how the book can be used by business leaders.

You can read the full interview by following the link below.

https://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/a-free-market-gets-its-long-overdue-catechism

 

Book Launch at the Catholic Information Center

On Wednesday, March 26, Dean Andrew Abela and Dr. Joseph Cappizzi led a discussion for the book launch of A Catechism for Business.  Over one hundred guests came to the Catholic Information Center in Washington, D.C for the discussion and reception following.

Dean Abela and Dr. Capizzi explained how they found that Catholic social doctrine on business has developed over many years as the Church has responded to specific issues.  They found that business leaders who were faced with ethical questions in business did not have a guide directing them to the Church’s teachings on these matters.  A Catechism for Business serves as that guide, drawing together Church teachings on business, organized by topic and question.  

Dr. Joseph Capizzi (left) and Dr. Andrew Abela (right).

As the evening progressed, Dean Abela and Dr. Capizzi took questions about the book from the audience and discussed some of the tough questions business leaders frequently face.  For example, A Catechism for Business includes a section about the Church’s teaching on just wage and the responsibility of the business owner to his employees.  The difficulty is that sometimes market wages are lower than what could be considered a just wage.  How then can the Catholic business leader treat his employees fairly while also staying competitive within his industry?  

Abela and Capizzi signing books at the launch.

The answer to this and similar questions is seldom easy.  As Dean Abela reminded the audience, the book is not intended to address easy questions, it deals with tough ethical questions business leaders are likely to face.  While the Church seldom provides a clear yes or no answer on these questions, it does provide the principles that a business leader must then apply to the particular situation.  The final decision is then up to the reader to prayerfully, and sometimes imaginatively, find a solution to the problem according to Catholic social doctrine and balancing the needs of his or her customers, employees and business.  A Catechism for Business provides a starting point for the business leader who is seeking to better understand how Catholic social doctrine should be applied to their challenging everyday decisions.

You are invited to visit the website in the upcoming week to watch a video of the book discussion or listen to a podcast of the event.

To order A Catechism for Business, please visit the online storefront.  

Hobby Lobby Case and A Catechism for Business

Authors Andrew Abela and Joseph Capizzi speak to The Washington Post and National Review Online about corporations and religious freedom, when Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood cases are heard by the Supreme Court today.

To read the full stories, please click the links above.

A Catechism for Business will launch tomorrow in Washington, DC. To learn more about the book and to meet the editors, all are welcome to attend the book launch event at 6:00pm on Wednesday, March 26, 2014. The event will be held at the Catholic Information Center in Washington, D.C.