Society is skeptical about business, in part because often it is thought that business tends to be self-interested, self-serving, and generally not concerned for others. The Economy of Communion (EoC) provides a fresh and inspiring alternative to this way of thinking about business by which entrepreneurs operating in free markets freely choose to leverage their business practices to help the poor and foster communion between people. EoC originated from the Focolare movement, a Catholic ecumenical worldwide movement whose fundamental value and charism is unity. So, EoC seeks to inspire unity among all people of all strata of society through free economic engagement and the natural societal power of business.
Business need not be selfish. It can be a gift, a means of living out one’s values and spiritual commitments to humanity through our entrepreneurial business practices when one can choose to do so in a free market economy. Our project will promote the entrepreneurial values and practices of the EoC with a 3-year project at the Institute for Business, Faith, and the Common Good in our college of business at Creighton University. Through the development of a website, creation of online resources for students, faculty, and entrepreneurs, as well as the publication of three books, we will help spark the vision of faculty, students, and entrepreneurs worldwide to embrace the EoC approach to business.
