Posted on 10/24/2011 10:01:03 AM PDT by KOZ.
In a scenario which will surely strike some as deja vu, the liberal jesuit Fr. Tom Reese previewed the contents of the document last week, in much the same way that the liberal jesuit Fr. Charles Curran “previewed” Humanae Vitae for the mainstream media before the document was actually released (the pope overruled Fr. Curran’s claims that the Church would endorse contraception — but the media had already made up its mind and few bothered to actually read what the pope had to say).
Here’s Fr. Reese on MSNBC “explaining” the news:
Notice that Fr. Reese does NOT correct the news anchor that this document comes from a vatican congregation — not the pope! Fr. Reese seems perfectly happy to help the mainstream media fundamentally misunderstand the authority of teaching this document enjoys. He claims that the pope has “more in common with the people at occupy wallstreet” than the tea party, even though he has to immediately walk back that claim when it is pointed out to him how violent (and anti-Catholic!) the Occupy Rome demonstrations were (as I blogged about last week). I think it’s no surprise that Fr. Reese spends so much time talking about the 60′s — that’s still his cultural frame of reference.
Rather than get into the nitty-gritty of the 18-page document (which I may do at a later point), let me focus on the most important point: framing. Here’s how Cardinal Turkson, President of the Congregation for Justice and Peace, and Bishop Toso, the secretary, explained how the document should be received and read (underlining mine):
>> …It is in this spirit of discernment that the Holy See, with the note of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, wishes to make a contribution which might be useful to the deliberations of the G-20 meeting”.
>> Bishop Toso explained that the aim of the note is “suggest possible paths to follow, in line with the most recent social Magisterium, for the implementation of financial and monetary policies…”
>> The Church does not wish to enter into the technical issues behind the current economic crisis, but remains within the ambit of her religious and ethical functions…
I have nothing to immediately add to that, because the very authors of the document make clear how it should be evaluated: namely, as a “contribution” (as opposed to a mandate), as a “possible path” (as opposed to a moral proscription), in line with the Magisterium’s social teaching (as opposed to introducing a new teaching), without getting into the technical issues (because the Church is an expert in humanity, not economics) while fully staying within the Church’s religious and ethical functions.
Liberal Catholic routinely (and in this case) try to read the Church’s social teaching as dogmatic while choosing to view the Church’s moral and religious teaching as optional. In fact, the Church herself is always careful to make clear that her moral and religious teaching is dogmatic and binding while her social teaching –and particularly her economic teaching– is exhortative and prudential.
With those extremely important guidelines in mind, we can more fruitfully read the text.
That said, I am absolutely sure the media cycle for the coming days and weeks will totally miss all these key points and distill this document down to misleading statements such as “Pope Benedict Endorses Central World Bank.” But as I explain above, he didn’t.
Fr. Reese and his liberal Catholic friends would be better served acting as messengers of the Church’s teaching as opposed to creators of it.
I agree. That said, the Catholic Church needs to work on it’s own internal problems before telling the world anything. More specifically, they need to start excommunicating Catholic politicians who openly defy the church’s positions on abortion, and clean house with priests who are abusing children. But then as with most organized religions, the Catholic Church looks the other way when it benefits them either financially or with being able to curry favor with the powerful. The Mormons are doing the same thing with the likes of Harry Reid. Harry directly contradicts Mormon theology nearly every time he opens his mouth!
Thanks for posting this.
Unfortunately, if you scroll down the forum, many have seized this opportunity to Catholic-bash already, including many who identify themselves as “catholics”. Dummies.
The church doesn’t ‘tell the world’ anything.
that was an idiotic rant.
I don’t believe that most of the leaders of the Catholic church care about democracy, a constitutional republic, or even logic when it comes to policy. They operate out of pie in the sky fantasy and emotion, rather than a realistic look at what actually works and what doesn’t. I think the Catholic church would be happy if it ruled by decree and made all the decisions for the masses.
When the Catholic church gets its far left marxist clergy under control, stops encouraging illegal aliens to break the law and stay in the US, quits interfering in US foreign policy, punishes and excommunicates its pedophile priests and cracks down on all the homo’s they seem to encourage to be priests, maybe I will pay attention to what the Catholic church has to say - until then, they should stick to trying to save souls and shut up when it comes to politics.
Thank you for this post.
” . . . a home for the fowls of the air.”
Reminded me about the mustard seed parable, and the contradiction Jesus placed within it at the end. No mustard seed plant can sustain a nest, but that’s precisely what He suggested would happen - that His church would someday provide a home for those devoted to destroying it.
But .... but ....
How can we possibly have a properly vitriolic Hate-the-Church fest if we get the facts straight?
I want to know why Drudge wants to stir up dissension on the right by bannering “Pope says...” when it is eminently clear his Reuters source point to a Vatican office rather than the Holy Father.
And I think you need to know a lot more before offering advice to the Catholic Church, nOOb.
Your “attention” is not required by the Catholic Church, nor anyone else that hasn’t the time for “he can’t even spell ‘potato’” analysis....
LOL, exactly
The sad thing is, so far they're forgetting to bring up the inquisition, crusades, Pope Joan, Galileo, indulgences etc etc etc
Amateurs.
Good question. I’d hope he knows better.
The Council on Justice and Peace is authoritative for the Vatican and Church unless reined in by the Pope.
Yes, the Catholic Church is at least socialist and they do seek to enter the political debate.
They do not support a society with winners and losers and in my book that means they do not support human liberty.
Are you a Bible Christian?
that’s what having a 13th Century media strategy will getcha...
If it comes from the mouth of a Jesuit it’s probably best to assume it’s a lie and go from there.
BINGO!!!!
No it isn't.
J&P has the role of 'promoting justice and peace in the world, in the light of the Gospel and of the social teaching of the Church'. It has no authority - as that word is understood in the Church - because the Church claims no authority in such matters.
Pope John 23rd said that capitalism was the best way man had discovered to create wealth. He was right, but even he wasn't seen as pronouncing authoritatively for the whole Church. It just doesn't work like that.
The Church couldn't *authoritatively* declare Hayek right and Keynes wrong, or vice versa - that would mean going beyond its ambit.
What we have here is some lefty screed from a loser committee in J&P. Not the voice of the Church.
Hope this was helpful.
This isn’t the Pope talking but still it this is an instruction WITHIN the Vatican that is within orthodox Vatican thought, No? I mean they aren’t a bunchy of renegades are they?
It is fair to wonder how influential this point of view is within the Vatican. And it is fair to wonder what are the odds the next Pope (may Benedict live long and health) will agree with this faction.
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