[Vaquero]

This is where the church loses me.

[Petronski]

This is where the church loses me.

Wouldn't you rather read it first? Even a digest of it?

[melsec]

I think that you will find a balanced approach and that the Pope is an encourager of righteous behaviour rather than a dictator of what countries should do. I would not rely on the general media’s take on this - better to get a more abbreviated highlights package from some of your fellow Freeper Catholics who are avid readers and reliable interpreters.

Blessings

Mel

[bdeaner]

Please don't jump to conclusions. The word in the Italian press, where some of the encyclical has been leaked, is that the Pope has written a very balanced theological work on economics. He is calling for personal social responsibility -- e.g., “true development is impossible without honest men, without financial operators and politicians who strongly feel in their own consciences the call to [serve] the common good” -- not socialism. I also hear there is strong endorsement of the pro-life position, which is really the core ethical principle governing the statement on economics, and therefore, really, more a coup for the Right than the Left at least on that issue. Be careful not to buy into the press' hype that somehow the Pope's encyclical will be a coup for the Left. That's just not the case. The press would love to cause dissent in the Church, so let's not allow them that satisfaction and wait patiently for the Holy Father's statement.

God bless.