Global capitalism as counter-Evangelization: how should Catholic educators respond?

Abstract

Pope Francis describes the greed-driven global economy as an idol colonising society and enforcing values contrary to the gospel. In this context, education is essential to develop the skills in critical and creative thinking needed to identify, resist, and transform the anti-gospel aspects of global capitalism. But this education must do more than include Catholic beliefs as supplemental to a curriculum intent on enabling students to out-compete others. Instead, we need a return to the broader purposes of education for career, citizenship, and culture, along with personal and institutional witness to inspire students to redeem this global economy.