distributism

Essay | News

Archbishop Wester: Faith Leaders Need to Step Up Call to Abolish Nuclear Weapons
ByCatholicWorker.org February 22, 2024February 22, 2024

Archbishop John Wester of Santa Fe, New Mexico, addressed the immorality of nuclear weapons and the moral imperative to abolish them in his sermon at the Mass for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons, sponsored by the Dorothy Day Guild, at Our Savior Church in New York City. The event was held on November 29, 2023—the anniversary of Day’s death—and Wester cited Day’s early witness against nuclear weapons. Wester called on faith leaders, and Catholics in particular, to step up efforts to abolish nuclear weapons.

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1950s | Dorothy Day | Dorothy Day's Writings

Distributism Is Not Dead
ByDorothy Day July 1, 1956September 17, 2025

Summary: Reaffirms the distributist economic vision of property and work against critics, while acknowledging “It needs to be constantly rewritten, re-assessed, restated…” Comments on Chesterton and Dickens in relation to renewing distributism. (DDLW #244). The Catholic Worker, July-August 1956, 4.

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1950s | Dorothy Day | Dorothy Day's Writings

Poverty Without Tears
ByDorothy Day April 1, 1950September 10, 2025

Summary: Reviews several books on voluntary poverty, especially Poverty by Fr. Regamey. Elaborates on the joy of, objections to, and purpose of voluntary poverty. Rejects capitalist and communist solutions to real poverty, pointing to decentralization and distributism as the answer. (DDLW #230). The Catholic Worker, April 1950, 1, 3, 6.

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1940s | Dorothy Day | Dorothy Day's Writings

Articles on Distributism — 2
ByDorothy Day July 1, 1948September 26, 2025

Summary: Argues that distributism is the only alternative to the US economy. Distributism is an alternative to capitalism and socialism built around “the village economy” and a more just distribution of wealth. Quotes four modern Popes in its support. Summarizes its principles with the following statements: “land is the most natural form of property” “wages should enable man to purchase land” “the family is the most perfect when rooted in its own holdings” “agriculture is the first and most important of all arts.” (See also DDLW #159 and DDLW #161) (The Catholic Worker, July-August 1948, 1,2, 6. DDLW #160).

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1940s | Dorothy Day | Dorothy Day's Writings

All the Way to Heaven Is Heaven Or, Articles on Distributism—1
ByDorothy Day June 1, 1948August 22, 2025

Summary: First of a series of articles on distributism (see DOC #160 & DOC #161). Against the backdrop of harsh city life, she points to life on the land as a way to find zest in life. Distributism is a third point of view, neither Communism or capitalism. “The aim of distributism is family ownership of land, workshops, stores, transport, trades, professions, and so on.” Recommends reading Belloc and Chesterson as an introduction to it. (DDLW #159) The Catholic Worker, June 1948, 1, 2, 7.

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1940s | Dorothy Day | Dorothy Day's Writings

On Pilgrimage (May 1948)
ByDorothy Day May 1, 1948July 31, 2025

Summary: 16th anniversary recapitulation of distinctive CW positions, especially pacifism and distributism. Explains the C.W.’s philosophy of labor as serving others. Argues that the problem of unemployment originates from the machine and advocates Gandhi’s economic program. Emphasizes a philosophy of work and a philosophy of poverty. (DDLW #158) The Catholic Worker, May 1948, pp. 1, 3, 8

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1940s | Dorothy Day | Dorothy Day's Writings

On Pilgrimage: January
ByDorothy Day January 5, 1948February 24, 2022

Summary: Deep in winter at her daughter’s farm in West Virginia they await the birth of Tamar’s third child. Reflects on country life and a woman’s spirituality in the midst of small children and housework. Describes her efforts at prayer. Reflects on the handicrafts Tamar practices and the worth of a country economy, a way to be co-creators with God. Notes the duty to find joy and resist despair. Long quotes from Eric Gill on a decentralized economy. Keywords: family, poverty, personalism, distributism, capitalism, socialism, communism. (DDLW #476: Catholic Worker Books, New York, 1948, pp. 3-26.)

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1940s | Dorothy Day | Dorothy Day's Writings | Peter Maurin

Background for Peter Maurin
ByDorothy Day February 1, 1945March 28, 2023

Summary: A chapter from her unpublished book “Peter Maurin.” Comments on P. Maurin’s thoughts on capitalism and socialism and the idea that Papal Encyclicals try to make an “acquisitive society functional.” (DDLW #151). The Catholic Worker, February 1945, 3,7.

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distributism

Archbishop Wester: Faith Leaders Need to Step Up Call to Abolish Nuclear Weapons

Distributism Is Not Dead

Poverty Without Tears

Articles on Distributism — 2

All the Way to Heaven Is Heaven Or, Articles on Distributism—1

On Pilgrimage (May 1948)

On Pilgrimage: January

Background for Peter Maurin

Let us create a society in which it is easier for people to be good.

attributed to peter maurin

“God meant things to be much easier than we have made them.”

Dorothy day

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