Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church

The Church's social doctrine considers the freedom of the person in economic matters a fundamental value and an inalienable right to be promoted and defended. “Everyone has the right to economic initiative; everyone should make legitimate use of his talents to contribute to the abundance that will benefit all, and to harvest the just fruits of his labour”.^{702Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2429; cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et Spes, 63: AAS 58 (1966), 1084-1085; John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Centesimus Annus, 48: AAS 83 (1991), 852-854; John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, 15: AAS 80 (1988), 528-530; John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Laborem Exercens, 17: AAS 73 (1981), 620-622; John XXIII, Encyclical Letter Mater et Magistra: AAS 53 (1961), 413-415.} This teaching warns against the negative consequences that would arise from weakening or denying the right of economic initiative: “Experience shows us that the denial of this right, or its limitation in the name of an alleged ‘equality' of everyone in society, diminishes, or in practice absolutely destroys the spirit of initiative, that is to say the creative subjectivity of the citizen”.^{703John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, 15: AAS 80 (1988), 529; cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2429.} From this perspective, free and responsible initiative in the economic sphere can also be defined as an act that reveals the humanity of men and women as creative and relational subjects. Such initiative, then, should be given ample leeway. The State has the moral obligation to enforce strict limitations only in cases of incompatibility between the pursuit of common good and the type of economic activity proposed or the way it is undertaken.^{704Cf. John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Centesimus Annus, 16: AAS 83 (1991), 813-814.}

The creative dimension is an essential component of human activity, even in the area of business, and it is especially manifested in the areas of planning and innovation. “Organizing such a productive effort, planning its duration in time, making sure that it corresponds in a positive way to the demands which it must satisfy, and taking the necessary risks — all this too is a source of wealth in today's society. In this way, the role of disciplined and creative human work and, as an essential part of that work, initiative and entrepreneurial ability becomes increasingly evident and decisive”.^{705John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Centesimus Annus, 32: AAS 83 (1991), 833.} At the basis of this teaching we can see the belief that “man's principal resource is man himself. His intelligence enables him to discover the earth's productive potential and the many different ways in which human needs can be satisfied”.^{706John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Centesimus Annus, 32: AAS 83 (1991), 833.}