Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Catholic
Careers, Workplace and Religion
Leo XIII Blesses Labor Unions

Leo XIII Blesses Labor Unions

Last updated on: June 23, 2025 at 3:09 pm by William Droel

0 Comments

Leo XIII Blesses Labor Unions 2025-06-23T15:09:34-06:00 William Droel

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Pope Leo XIII and Controversy in the United States by Bill Droel

Our new Pope Leo XIV chose his papal name to pair his interest in our high-tech economy with Pope Leo XIII’s (1810-1903) interest in the industrial revolution. Today’s social questions, particularly “developments in the field of artificial intelligence pose new challenges for the defense of human dignity, justice and labor,” says Chicago-born Leo XIV.

In his 1891 encyclical, On the Condition of Labor, Leo XIII famously endorsed labor unions as one bulwark against the harshness of industrial capitalism. To do so, however, Leo XIII had to clarify his thinking and put aside an opinion about the Noble Order of the Knights of Labor.

Founded in 1869, the Knights of Labor was a large movement in the U.S. It was quite decentralized, with many chapters throughout the country. It also counted a few chapters in Canada and Great Britian. The Knights of Labor rarely achieved labor relations contracts. More often its job actions resulted in an isolated pay raise or a safety improvement. It was better known for campaigns, including support for an eight-hour workday and prohibitions on child labor. The Knights of Labor attracted Catholics, probably most of its members. Its longtime president, Terence Powderly (1849-1924), was Catholic.

The Vatican was long suspicious of secret societies. The fear was over plots of violence, of anti-Catholic indoctrination and of dark rituals. Catholic leaders in Europe favored fraternal groups and guilds over which there was a level of Catholic influence. In 1734 Catholicism formally prohibited membership in the Masons. In subsequent years, bishops penalized Catholics known to be Masons or members in other secret societies. For a time, the Knights of Labor used secrecy to help prevent employers from firing its members. Thus, Cardinal Eleazar Taschereau (1820-1898) of Quebec explicitly condemned the Knights of Labor in 1884. Five U.S. bishops were prepared to ban the movement in this country. Leo XIII considered joining them.

Cardinal James Gibbons (1834-1921), a bishop since age 34, knew the situation of working families. “The Savior…never conferred a greater temporal boon on [people] than by ennobling and sanctifying manual labor, and by rescuing it from the stigma of degradation which had been branded upon it,” Gibbons said. Christ “is the reputed son of an artisan, and his early manhood is spent in a mechanic’s shop… Every honest labor is laudable, thanks to the example and teaching of Christ.” Gibbons was not about to allow a condemnation of the Knights of Labor to stand. He met with Powderly and negotiated changes to the Knights of Labor, including dropping The Noble Order from its name. He then fashioned an argument in favor of the union, saying “It is the right of laboring classes to protect themselves, and the duty of the whole people to find a remedy against avarice, oppression, and corruption.”

In early 1887 Gibbons went to Rome and impressed upon Leo XIII the danger of losing working families to the faith if the pope were to condemn labor unions. Gibbons was persuasive. The pope blessed labor unions. Leo XIII said that unions and government intervention can be countervailing forces against the “misery and wretchedness” that industrial capitalism tends to press “unjustly on the majority of the working class.”

Gibbons’ effort on behalf of the Knights of Labor is considered the great achievement of his leadership in the U.S. To be continued…

Droel is editor at National Center for the Laity (PO Box 291102, Chicago, IL 60629), which distributes a new edition of Leo XIII’s On the Condition of Labor; $7.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

June 16, 2025

Catholicism, Islam and Mary

Next Post

June 30, 2025 Papal Controversy in the United States

Recent Comments

0 | Leave a Comment

"Bill-I observe that subsidiarity/localism is actually a big issue. Some of the alienation that is ..."

Chicagoan

Localism

"l think that this commentary by Bill Droel offers a perspective that can help the ..."

Chicagoan

Turning To Politics

"Droel commits the sin of lying to the innocent and unable to defend themselves. He ..."

I Love Libertarians

Strikes

"I propose that the best way to help working class people in the US is ..."

bill wald

Extreme Capitalism

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 May 2022 April 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 June 2021 May 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the ____ of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

Select your answer to see how you score.

Blessing Reward Crown Gift