The new encyclical, 'Caritas in Veritate' (Love in Truth) is 'obviously' validates conservative views: it contains a 'call to reform the United Nations.'
"Obvious?" Only if You Don't Read the Whole Letter
The point is, 'Caritas in Veritate' (Love in Truth) is not an expression of liberal thought, it is not an expression of conservative thought, and it isn't an expression of moderate thought. It's part of the teaching of the Catholic Church: an institution which was around when the Roman Empire ceased to exist, and which may very well be around when today's "conservative" and "liberal" labels are as well-known as "populares" and "optimates" are today.Knights of Columbus Leader: Don't Politicize Love in Truth
"The head of the Knights of Columbus, Carl Anderson, has responded to Pope Benedict’s newly-released encyclical, 'Caritas in Veritate' (Love in Truth), by denouncing attempts to use it to further political agendas rather than viewing it from the Church’s comprehensive understanding of the human person.
In an interview with CNA on Tuesday morning, Carl Anderson, leader of the world’s largest lay Catholic organization, decried the 'spin masters who will try to spin the encyclical in one direction or the other' and emphasized that 'the Catholic reader should read the encyclical in its entirety' in order to understand the underlying ethical and anthropological foundations that guide it...."
(CNA)
Here's an Idea: Read Love in Truth Yourself
This will involve a little more work than listening to what CNN or CBS News has to say about the encyclical, or reading about it in Time or Newsweek. I think it'll be worth the effort though: Read the Pope's letter yourself! It's addressed "to the Bishops Priests and Deacons, Men and Women Religious, the Lay Faithful, and All People of Good Will, on Integral Human Development, in Charity and Truth". My guess is that, particularly if you're reading this post, you're in at least one of those categories.I've put another link to 'Caritas in Veritate' (Love in Truth) at the bottom of this post, under "Background." The paragraphs are a bit on the long side, but I think you'll find it quite readable. Remember: this letter is addressed to you. I think it's better to find out what it says yourself, than read what someone else thinks it should say.
Here's a sample from 'Caritas in Veritate' (Love in Truth):
"INTRODUCTIONMe? It's getting late in my time zone, but I'll be spending a few minutes with 'Caritas in Veritate' (Love in Truth) tonight: and pick up where I left off, tomorrow.
"1. Charity in truth, to which Jesus Christ bore witness by his earthly life and especially by his death and resurrection, is the principal driving force behind the authentic development of every person and of all humanity. Love — caritas — is an extraordinary force which leads people to opt for courageous and generous engagement in the field of justice and peace. It is a force that has its origin in God, Eternal Love and Absolute Truth. Each person finds his good by adherence to God's plan for him, in order to realize it fully: in this plan, he finds his truth, and through adherence to this truth he becomes free (cf. Jn 8:22). To defend the truth, to articulate it with humility and conviction, and to bear witness to it in life are therefore exacting and indispensable forms of charity. Charity, in fact, 'rejoices in the truth' (1 Cor 13:6). All people feel the interior impulse to love authentically: love and truth never abandon them completely, because these are the vocation planted by God in the heart and mind of every human person. The search for love and truth is purified and liberated by Jesus Christ from the impoverishment that our humanity brings to it, and he reveals to us in all its fullness the initiative of love and the plan for true life that God has prepared for us. In Christ, charity in truth becomes the Face of his Person, a vocation for us to love our brothers and sisters in the truth of his plan. Indeed, he himself is the Truth (cf. Jn 14:6)...."
(Caritas in Veritate)
Related post:
- "Conservative? Liberal? Democrat? Republican? No, I'm Catholic"
(November 3, 2008)
- "Supreme Knight criticizes use of Pope's encyclical for political agendas"
Catholic News Agency (July 7, 2009) - "Cardinal George Welcomes Caritas in Veritate, Says Message on Global Economy, Politics, Environment is Helpful Guide for Today"
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (July 7, 2009)
- "Encyclical Letter Caritas in Veritate, of the Supreme Pontiff
Benedict XVI, The Vatican (June 29, 2009)- Don't worry: this link is to the English-language translation.
Links to other posts about my study of Caritas in Veritate:
A tip of the hat to catholicism and jagKnight, both on Twitter, for drawing attention to the Catholic News Service article.
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