It is good to work and to be invested in our work. Distributism fits well with traditional Anabaptist values, even though it has largely been articulated by Catholic thinkers. Stephen Russell urges us to “look at distributism and see how it fits with what we have traditionally tried to do, and learn from it”. These themes include valuing craftsmanship, family businesses, and widespread ownership of the tools and infrastructure needed for business. 

Recommended Resources:

The Hound of Distributism edited by Richard Altman:

What’s Wrong with the World by G.K. Chesterton:

Economic Policy Institute, “CEOs were paid 351 times as much as a typical worker in 2020.”  

Mandragora Corporation

Guild of St. Joseph and St. Dominique: “Men rich in virtue studying beautifulness living in peace in their houses.”

Social Credit Party

Barbara Peter’s Observations about Mondragon

Pope Leo’s Statement on Distributism 

“Men always work harder and more readily when they work on that which belongs to them; nay, they learn to love the very soil that yields in response to the labor of their hands, not only food to eat, but an abundance of good things for themselves and those that are dear to them. That such a spirit of willing labor would add to the produce of the earth and to the wealth of the community is self evident.” 

Pope Prius XI’s statement on subsidiarity

 “Just as it is gravely wrong to take from individuals what they can accomplish by their own initiative and industry and give it to the community, so also it is an injustice and at the same time a grave evil and disturbance of right order to assign to a greater and higher association what lesser and subordinate organizations can do. For every social activity ought of its very nature to furnish help to the members of the body social, and never destroy and absorb them.  

Watch Stephen’s testimony about exiting political engagement on YouTube.

This is the 152nd episode of Anabaptist Perspectives, a podcast, blog, and YouTube channel that examines various aspects of conservative Anabaptist life and thought. 

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The views expressed by our guests are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Anabaptist Perspectives or Wellspring Mennonite Church.