Peace & Justice

This is the blog of the Commission on Peace and Justice for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, New York.

Monday, May 17, 2010

Is union busting a sin?

Catholic News Service reports that a group of Catholic scholars argues that efforts by management to break labor unions are tantamount to committing mortal sin, by violating the First, Fifth and Seventh commandments, which deal with idolatry, scandal and theft. The scholars issued a document titled "Union Busting in Mortal Sin" earlier this month.
Joseph Fahey, professor of religious studies at Manhattan College in New York City and chairman of the scholars group, told Catholic News Service May 14 that the statement analyzes the criteria for mortal sin much like a priest would during the sacrament of reconciliation. "We said, 'What commandments does (breaking a union) violate? What specific matters of Catholic teaching does it go against? Is it a grave matter? If it is, is there an objective case for mortal sin?" Fahey explained.

The rest of the article is here.