Two outstanding personalities, G. K. Chesterton and Hilaire Belloc, were the most prominent disseminators of the ideas of Distributism. They were the main advocates of the Catholic’s Social Doctrine of Subsidiarity as expounded by Pope Leo XIII in Rerum novarum (1891), a doctrine that would be re-stated, re-confirmed and reinforced by Pope Pius XI in Quadragesimo anno (1931) and by Pope John Paul II in Centesimus annus (1991). As such, it is important, first and foremost to see Distributism as a derivative of the Principle of Subsidiarity. This principle is clearly described in the Church's Social Doctrine Compendium (186-187) according to which "a community of a higher order should not interfere in the internal life of a community of a lower order, depriving the latter of its functions, but rather should support it in case of need and help to co-ordinate its activity with the activities of the rest of society, always with a view to the common good.” In other words, it states that the rights of small communities should not be violated or usurped by the intervention of larger communities or the state. This principle applies to Distributism on account that property ownership is a fundamental right and the means of production should be spread as widely as possible, including the idea of cooperativism. In a way, distributism seeks to subordinate economic activity to the well being of human life as a whole. The Video that follows took place at the Acton Institute on february 18th with an interesting debate for and against this principle and this doctrine.
A Gentleman’s Debate – Distributism vs. Free Markets with Jay Richards and Joseph Pearce
Jay Richards and Joseph Pearce debated their views on two distinct ideas on economics: Distributism vs. Free Markets. The gentleman’s debate was moderated by Acton Institute President Rev. Robert A. Sirico.
Joseph Pearce, writer in residence at Aquinas College in Nashville, Tennessee, and Director of the college’s Center for Faith and Culture, argued in favor of distributism; Jay Richards, Assistant Research Professor School of Business and Economics at The Catholic University of America, a Senior Fellow at the Discovery Institute, and Executive Editor of The Stream, defended free markets. It was a lively exchange.