INTRODUCTION
Mr. Kim is a retired chemist. Recently he
patented a pill that cures leukemia. The
production of each pill requires $10 in time and
ingredients. He sells each pill for $100,000 and
produces ten pills a year. He could make more
pills but would only be able to sell them at a
price of $10.40 or a 4% profit margin. However
his bank is paying 6% on savings. Your child is
dying of leukemia but these pills are beyond your
means. What would God want you to do?
According to the principle of "universal
access", God intended that the goods of the
earth are intended for all his children. God
expects responsible stewardship of his gifts and
talents. The Church upholds the right to private
property which includes intellectual property.
QUESTION
List some of the Christian principles at issue in
above anecdote.
1. Universal access
2. Superfluous wealth
3. Legitimacy of market economy
4. Just price
5. Extreme need
6. Rights of ownership
SOCIAL
TEACHING OF THE CHURCH
"For the rest, the right to have a share of
earthly goods sufficient for oneself and one's
family belongs to everyone … If a person is
in extreme necessity, he has the right to take
from the riches of others what he himself needs.
… remember the saying of the Fathers: 'Feed
the man dying of hunger, because if you have not
fed him you have killed him'." Gaudium et
Spes, Joseph Gremillion, The Gospel of Peace and
Justice, Catholic Social Teaching since Pope
John, (Maryknoll, New York: Orbis, 1976) # 69, p.
305.
Distributive Justice: "From this it follows
that the economic prosperity of any people is to
be assessed not so much from the sum total of
goods and wealth possessed as from the
distribution of goods according to norms of
justice, so that everyone in the community can
develop and perfect himself." Mater et
Magistra #54, Joseph Gremillion, The Gospel of
Peace and Justice, Catholic Social Teaching since
Pope John, (Maryknoll, New York: Orbis,1976) p.
159.
“THOU
SHALT THINK”
Sample Answers
Why are patent laws of great
importance?
a. Encourage inventions
b. Reward for hard work
c. Better lives of citizens
d. Discover God's gifts and praise God.
e. Would not have many important
inventions.
f. Requires courage in taking risks
List individuals or groups of
people who might feel that that they have
the right to "steal" right now.
What things might they wish to "steal"?
Which of these thefts do you feel are
justified?
a. Medicine to grow hair
b. Music CD's
c. Patent on AIDS medicine.
d. Pirated Harry Potter books.
e. Text books
f. Sunday Church offerings
g. Computer technology.
Would such persons have a "right
to steal" from you? Why? Why not?
Do I have superfluous wealth? What is my
lifestyle? Which of my purchases are
necessary for the well-being of my
family?. Which of these purchases add
nothing to my family's well-being or
indeed are wasteful and harmful to myself
and others?
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