Caritatis in Veritate: papal encyclical calls for new moral approach to global economy (CWN)

CatholicCulture.org ^ | 07-07-09 | CWN -- comments by Dr. Jeff Mirus

[Salvation]

Caritatis in Veritate: papal encyclical calls for new moral approach to global economy

Jul. 7, 2009 (CWNews.com) -

The Vatican has released the text of Caritatis in Veritate, the long-awaited social encyclical in which Pope Benedict XVI (bio - news) calls for "a profoundly new way of understanding business enterprise" and a global economic system that values the common good above private profits.

Explaining the title of the encyclical, Pope Benedict writes that the social teachings of the Catholic Church offer a means of appraising the secular world, judging social and economic systems against a clear moral standard. The guiding principle of Catholic social teaching is charity, he says. The teaching function of the Church involves explaining how that charity should be applied to practical issues: "A Christianity without truth would be more or less interchangeable with a pool of good sentiments, helpful for social cohesion, but of little relevance."

While the Church "does not have technical solutions to offer" in shaping today's global economy, Catholic social teaching can guide moral decisions. The world's economic system cannot be guided simply by the pursuit of profit, he argues. While acknowledging that the profit motive "is useful if it serves as a means toward an end," he adds: "Once profit becomes the exclusive goal, if it is produced by improper means and without the common good as its ultimate end, it risks destroying wealth and creating poverty."

The 144-page document, released on July 7 just as leaders of the G8 industrial nations gather in Italy for their discussions of the global economy, defies easy categorization. A story in the National Catholic Reporter carried an accurate descriptive subhead, noting that the encyclical "offers something for both the political left and right to cheer… and something to be grumpy about."

The first round of stories in Caritatis in Veritate have sometimes oversimplified the Pope's message. A Reuters report, for example, conveys the impression that the encyclical calls for a centralized authority to govern the world economy. It is true that the Pope calls for reform of the UN to create "a true world political authority… with real teeth." But he does not suggest central economic planning, and in fact he devotes considerable stress to the importance of the subsidiarity principle, which he says is "the most effective antidote against any form of all-encompassing welfare state."

Vatican Radio has provided a short and accurate summary of the main themes in Caritatis in Veritate. The Catholic Culture site will continue to provide analysis and reflections on the encyclical.

Among the many themes that the Pope touches upon in his encyclical are:

• the role of a "largely speculative" approach to finance in precipitating the current worldwide economic crisis;
• the failure of world leaders to cope with the phenomenon of migration-- which is often provoked by intolerable situations in undeveloped countries, and aggravated by the failure of host nations to protect the dignity of immigrants;
• the "unregulated exploitation of earth's resources;"
• the importance of understanding that rights are always attached to corresponding duties;
• the wrongful exploitation of international aid, which "has often been diverted from its proper ends;"
• an "excessive zeal" for maintaining intellectual-property rights in the developed countries, thus suppressing opportunities for growth in the developing countries;
• the anti-life approach that has infected the most advanced countries, producing a society that "ends up no longer finding the necessary motivation and energy to strive for man’s true good;
• the importance of allowing the Christian faith to exert some moral guiding force, which can occur "only if God has a place in the public realm."

[Salvation]

Comments from Catholic Culture below.

[Salvation]

Catholic Discussion Ping!

Comments from Dr. Jeff Mirus:

For the complete text of the encyclical itself, see Caritas in Veritate.

I'll be writing about the encyclical more thoroughly in coming days, but for now please note that it is pointless to read the encyclical the way most people will read it. Most will merely look intently to see whether the Pope endorses positions of the left or the right. Let me say again that Catholics have their own way of thinking which transcends such a fruitless "dialectic".

This encyclical must be read not to figure out which party the Pope secretly supports, but to learn how to think like a Catholic about social issues. Caritas in Veritate is a continuation of a long tradition of Catholic social teaching which began long before our contemporary liberal and conservative categories were born.

Not surprisingly, Diogenes has already spotted the secular press working hard to misunderstand the Pope's message, offering a humorous perspective in No PR Chops.

Note also that one of the more important Catholic principles discussed at some length in the encyclical is the principle of subsidiarity. If you need to brush up, don't forget about our What You Need to Know item on Subsidiarity.

[Salvation]

Before commenting on this — at least read the summary above. The encyclical is also linked.

[Salvation]

Caritas in Veritate

t | t | t | t

by Pope Benedict XVI

INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER ONE — The Message of Populorum Progressio
CHAPTER TWO — Human Development In Our Time
CHAPTER THREE — Fraternity, Economic Development and Civil Society
CHAPTER FOUR — The Development of People, Rights and Duties, the Environment
CHAPTER FIVE — The Cooperation of the Human Family
CHAPTER SIX — The Development of Peoples and Technology
CONCLUSION

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

[Salvation]

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[steve86]

I understand and agree with the encyclical's criticism of current economic woes but feel that the proposed solution as quoted in other threads is way off base.

It is true that a Catholic analysis does and should include a spectrum of views. This often comes up in discussion of welfare issues, immigration, health care, etc.

But when one side or another takes control of the proposed solution it leads to trouble. Sometimes the control takes the form of a committee; other times it involves the thought process in a single person. Unfortunately, the Pope might have been inflicted thusly in this non-infallible document.

[annalex]

What do you think the “the proposed solution” is?

[Salvation]

**I understand and agree with the encyclical’s criticism of current economic woes but feel that the proposed solution as quoted in other threads is way off base. **

What is quoted on other threads is the liberal media taking whacks at the Catholic Church.

Why is it that the Republicans on FReeRepublic denounce the leftist spin of the lamestream media on politics — but when it comes to Catholicism — they believe the leftsists — all of them — rather than the Catholic Church?

I am so sick and tired of people beating up on this wonderful Pope today. I’m going to have to stay off the threads. LOL!

[steve86]

I’m not a Republican if you’re referring to me. I’m a traditional Catholic and social conservative.

[steve86]

I'm off with the kids to swimming class now but it involved the "single world economic authority" or words to that effect.

Is that not a correct quote or attribution from the document?

[annalex]

Well, the Pope clearly called for a global political authority with real teeth. I am simply wondering why is that perceived as “the solution” any more than calling for end of population control policies promulgated by the UN is “the solution”, or local political input in the processes of globalization is “the solution”.

[annalex]

Something like that, but if the purpose of the encyclical were to call for world government, why is it twelve squared pages big?

[Kolokotronis]

It will doubtless come as no surprise that I think the encyclical is MAGNIFICENT...but then again, I’m one of those Eastern-type Christians!

[stockpirate]

Your church is supporting redistribution of wealth from developed nations to poorer nations and within a nation.

And NO I do not need to think like a Catholic to understand what this unholy document means to those of us who love our constitution.

The battle lines are being drawn, soon the socialists here in America will support the death camps for capitalists just like they did in NAZI Germany.

BTW- Nazi was street slang for “nationaling everything”.

Let us not forget that the uber-socialist Obama received 50 percent of the Catholic vote. And ND not only had him speak there but gave him an honorary degree.

And what did your blessed pope say? NOTHING....shame, shame, shame.

[investigateworld]

First, thank you for being so honest in bringing this forth. - But then I'd expect nothing less from a FReeper.

Sounds like the Good Padre is reverting to his Teutonic Roots in bringing about 'Heaven on Earth?'

[Sun]

This is not dogma, though.

I’ll have to study this better. Thanx for posting.

[Salvation]

**Your church is supporting redistribution of wealth from developed nations to poorer nations and within a nation.**

No it isn’t. Read the entire document.

[ex-snook]

I think the greatest good for the greatest number is the keystone of success. Conservatives should use this as their political and economic philosophy. In an voting democracy it is the key to winning. Dogmatic ideologues about government size, tax policies, or for or against war are barking at the moon.

The Pope has shown us a guiding light for the future.