Our Youth

Youth Views: Reflect upon the Catholic teaching of labor before capital.

Destany Batista, sophomore St. Agnes A.H.S.Destany Batista, sophomore
St. Agnes A.H.S.

God gave humans souls, and this automatically puts humans above the interest of capital. That is why I always make sure to tell cashiers: “I hope you have a wonderful day.” Cashiers are often treated as machine operators, when in reality they are God’s children —just like us.

.

.

mk_cmyk

Megan King, senior
St. Edmund Prep

Labor before capital allows people to understand their self worth and that they are not only working to make money. This can inspire people to follow their dreams rather than follow dollar signs.

 

 

Emma Kegal, freshman St. Agnes A.H.S.

Emma Kegal, freshman
St. Agnes A.H.S.

Laborers should have a fair wage for a fair day’s work. Capitalists and investors are needed to expand their business, but in doing so, they forget about the people that actually do the work. They must take labor rights into consideration before increasing profit.

 

 

 

Edward Carr, freshman St. Edmund Prep

Edward Carr, freshman
St. Edmund Prep

The principle of labor before capital tells me that having dignity is more important than having money. Being generous and helping others with little to no pay is more important than ignoring others who are in need and making a lot of money.

 

 

 

Amanda Dellavecchia, junior St. Edmund Prep

Amanda Dellavecchia, junior
St. Edmund Prep

 

I think labor before capital means that everyone’s job has value and each job should have respect no matter the wage. A job that has meaning should be respected just as much as a high-wage job.

 

 

tp_cmyk

Tristan Pacific, senior
St. Edmund Prep

Work is hard and must be done in service to others. Jesus taught us to serve others. Giving back to the poor is important.

 

 

 

 

Sylvia Ayoub, junior St. Agnes A.H.S.

Sylvia Ayoub, junior
St. Agnes A.H.S.

Before anybody works, they live. Treating workers with basic human rights is the just thing to do. In order for one to commit and accomplish a task, one must have the necessary tools and respect and trust to complete that task with efficiency and accuracy.

 

 

 

 

Amanda Mattioli St. Edmund Prep

Amanda Mattioli
St. Edmund Prep

It is more important to be happy and make an honest living, rather than always being worried about living.

 

 

 

Megan Burns, freshman St. Agnes A.H.S.

Megan Burns, freshman
St. Agnes A.H.S.

Business owners do have the right to some profit but should not take more if it affects the worker’s profit. I feel that people who are waiters or do not have their own business should still be treated with respect and not be taken advantage of. ­­­

 

 

Ryan Harkin, sophomore St. Edmund PrepRyan Harkin, sophomore
St. Edmund Prep

Capital, or any other form of material possession, matters very little in the greater scope of life. What actually matters is who we are as people and how we do God’s work. The most important labor that we will ever do is service to God’s people.