If you want to set off fireworks at your next social gathering, bring up “unions” as a topic of conversation. Chances are you’ll get passionate views on both sides. But where do God and religion stand?

Catholic Scholars for Worker Justice recently published a document saying that:

“Catholic social doctrine is ‘forthright and unambiguous’ in regard to unions. ‘It states boldly that they are essential to the universal common good.’ […] Opposing unions—that is, opposing the workers’ natural right of free assembly and right to decent wages and benefits—harms not only the workers directly involved. It also hurts society at large by lessening overall income and social solidarity and, thus, diminishing the universal common good.”

The impetus for the work was the anti-union activities of certain Catholic dioceses and Catholic organizations that were obviously not following church doctrine.