Page:The Great Encyclical Letters of Pope Leo XIII.djvu/487



CHRISTIAN DEMOCRACY. 481

There were working men's societies and other enterprises for work or beneficence. Thus under the auspices of the Church, united action of Cathohcs was secured as well as wise discrimination exercised in the distribution of help for the poor who are often as badly dealt with by chicanery and exploitation of their necessities, as they are oppressed by indigence and toil. These schemes of popular benevolence were, at fi st, distinguished by no particular appellation. The name of Christian Socialism with its derivatives which was adopted by some was very properly allowed to fall into disuse. Afterwards some asked to have it called The Popular Christian Movement. In the countries most concerned wdth this matter, there are some who are known as Christian Socialists. Else- where the movement is described as Christian Democracy, and its partisans Christian Democrats, in contradistinction to those who are designated as Socialists, and whose system is known as Social Democracy. Not much ex- ception is taken to the former, i.e.. Christian Socialism, but many excellent men find the tenn Christian Democracy objectionable. They hold it to be very ambiguous and for this reason open to two objections. It seems by im- plication to covertly favor popular government, and to disparage other methods of political administration. Secondly, it appears to belittle religion by restricting its scope to the care of the poor, as if the other sections of society were not of its concern. More than that, under the shadow of its name, there might easily lurk a design to attack all legitimate power either civil or sacred. Where- fore, since this discussion is now so widespread, so exag- gerated and so bitter, the consciousness of duty warns Us to put a check on this controversy and to define what Catholics are to think on this matter. We also propose to describe how the movement may extend its scope and be made more useful to the commonwealth.

What Social Democracy is and what Christian Democ- racy ought to be, assuredly no one can doubt. The first,