Pamela Denise Hilario

January 20, 2015

STRATMA V24

Going back to history, the principles of Catholic Church had not been effectively
communicated to the business community. For many businesses people, the Catholic
Church only provides abstract principles and were viewed as idealistic and irrelevant, or
when provided with more detailed prescriptions, they were criticized for speaking outside of
their expertise. However, through their paper Vocation of the Business Leader it seems
that the Catholic Church has already moved its way forward.

The Vocation of the Business Leader has opened my eyes to proper business
ethics. I may have studied several business subjects in the previous terms, however, it is
only now when I have encountered this kind of article which gives not only an overview of
the field of business, but also to the things beyond it. While I was reading the article, what
first popped in my mind was the idea that business people should not aim for the success
of themselves alone but also for the success of everyone in the company. Just like the
song Price Tag by Jessie J, its not all about the money. Whats more important in
business is to be able to build good relationships and connections within the circle of
people around. Business leaders can put aspiration into practice when their vocation is
motivated by much more than financial success.

The reflection includes a healthy discussion on profit, saying: The Church

acknowledges the legitimate role of profit as an indicator that a business is functioning
well, but cautions profit is a good servant, but it makes a poor master.

Regarding the appropriate use of profits, the reflection notes the conscientious
business persons decisions aim not at an equal but at a just distribution of wealth, which
meets peoples needs, rewards their contributions and risks, and preserves and promotes
the organizations financial health. The strength of the document, in my opinion, is the way
it personalizes the business enterprise, by calling business people of all stripes into a
deeper relationship with Christ.

The writers warn against a divided life where employees and managers leave
their moral compass at home when they leave for work. We are all aware that it is of great
value to teach our families good values at home and to teach them well in school.
However, most of us spend most of their time and energy in social and moral contact with
their co-workers. With this, we should always strive to be righteous not only to our own
families but to other people, especially the ones whom we work with. The article may speak
on the perspective of a religious, however, in my analysis, it did not mainly focused on
religion, but to a wider frame of reference, which is upholding ethical standards to
business. The author just used religion as a benchmark of what business ethics is and
should be. It teaches us to value our workplace and our careers as equally important as
our families and education in forming our moral lives. Business people must learn to weigh
and balance by offering practical, ethical principles that teach them to face problems in the
light of Catholic social teaching.

Vocation of the Business Leader recognizes the social mortgage on the worlds
resources and discusses the legitimate role of profit, a good servant, but a poor master. It

stresses the need for stewardship of the environment, and the just distribution of wealth
through just wages to employees, just prices to customers and suppliers, just returns to
owners, and just tax rates for a reasonable contribution to the entire community. It notes
that when business people avoid living the divided life, one that separates Gospel
principles from work life, business has the potential to become vehicle of cultural
engagement and a force for peace and prosperity, that has a special role to play in the
unfolding of creation, and that through creative work, people dont just make more but
become more.

Nothing is permanent except change, as they say. Rapid change in society is

very evident as reflected in our culture today. People who were given the chance of power
would usually abuse it -- using it to gain more, even though it entails to step on someones
foot. Promoting common good may be a complicated proposition because sometimes
doing the right thing requires sacrificing your own happiness. However, doing the right thing
wont be hard, as it may seem if we only practice doing it often. The mantra for the
common good should be repeated over and over again, because it is through this simple
way we could remind ourselves to always choose what is ethically and morally right.

The interesting moral call here is not to only give back to your religious
community but to also give back to your work environment. We should allow eternal values
shepherd our everyday actions.