The Earth is the Lord’s (Emory University Studies in Law and Religion), Liam de los Reyes. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing (ISBN: 9780802885203) 2025.

Summary: Property rights in view of natural law over against Lockean theory, and its application in Catholic Social Teaching.

If “the earth is the Lord’s” then how may the ownership, public or private, of property be justified? If the earth is meant for the sustenance and flourishing of all God’s creatures, how may some of us claim exclusive access to portions of the earth? In this book, Liam de los Reyes, associate professor of moral theology at Mount Angel Seminary in Saint Benedict, Oregon, explores these questions. He considers the development of natural law theory by twelfth and thirteenth century scholastics. He evaluates the theory of property rights propounded by John Locke in light of this tradition. Furthermore, he shows the relevance of scholastic developments of natural law to Catholic Social Teaching.

The author’s discussion begins Gratian’s Decretum and how this shaped Scholastic discussions of property. He argues that the scholastics, while recognizing common dominion over the earth, treated property as a social convention. Thus, the understanding of this social convention within common dominion established moral boundaries for property ownership: equity and equality, sufficiency, and liberty.

He then addresses Lockean theory in which property is viewed as a right of personal use based in one’s labor to obtain it. Unlike natural law theory, a concern for the common good, while voluntary, is not inherent in his theory of property. Finally, under Catholic Social Teaching, he argues that natural law does not dictate one economic system. Rather, it shapes the understanding and practice of property conventions in all systems. All systems must uphold human dignity, communal responsibility and sustainable distribution of goods. Property ownership, rather than an absolute personal right, is a social convention. It supports the exercise of stewardship that reflects moral self-development and serves the common good.

I’ve outlined in broad strokes a fine-grained, intellectually rigorous and detailed argument. The author demonstrates the contribution and continuing relevance of the scholastics’ application of natural law to property. He shows how a Christian theory of property, rather than critiquing one economic system, might both judge and inform various systems. Rather than argue against property rights and ownership, he argues for how this might lead to societal flourishing. This is important reading for all who care about property rights and economic justice. They need not be mutually exclusive.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review.