Love, Charity, & Pope Leo XIII: A Leadership Paradigm for Catholic Education

Abstract

The treatment of workers is an ongoing social issue. No organization is immune to questionable employee practices, including Catholic educational institutions. To fully embody its intended justice-based role, Catholic leadership must first be aware of the social teachings put forth by the Roman Catholic Church. In this study, the researcher posits Pope Leo XIII's social writings as a guiding presence for beginning this formation, starting with the concepts of love and charity within labor. Analysis of Leo's work reveals love and charity as interchangeable virtues that enhance one's God-given dignity by acknowledging other people's inherent worth. In turn, educational leaders are called to make decisions centered on love and charitable acts that actively pursue their employees' best interests without irreversibly depleting the institutional resources needed for overall survival. (English) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]