Charity in truth is a commentary written by Archbishop John Vlazny on Pope Benedict XVI's new social Encyclical....
Earlier this summer Pope Benedict XVI promulgated his new social encyclical, Caritas in Veritate Charity in Truth. This occurred at the same time that we were experiencing a change in leadership here in the archdiocese in our Office of Peace and Justice. The Pope’s encyclical should give us much to ponder as we attempt to maintain an appropriate involvement of our faith community in these important matters that so significantly affect the lives of our people. Pope Benedict, as a teacher of faith, understandably stresses the need for spiritual development as an essential component for all development. In all circumstances we must turn to God’s love as the ultimate solution of all our problems.
This papal letter is lengthy, more than 30,000 words. Pope Benedict analyzes our current global economic crisis in light of some traditional moral principles. He acknowledges that progress has been made in world development but notes that other challenges exist as the result of newly emerging problems in today’s world. In his letter, the Pope urges us to heed the relationship between human and environmental ecologies. He asks us to link charity and truth in the pursuit of justice, the common good and authentic human development. He goes on to state that “the current crisis obliges us to re-plan our journey, to set ourselves new rules and to discover new forms of commitment to build on positive experiences and to reject negative ones. The crisis thus becomes an opportunity for discernment, in which to shape a new vision for the future.”
Some people might be surprised when the Pope states that charity is to be at the heart of the church’s social doctrine. He states that “it is the principle not only of micro-relationships (with friends, with family members or within small groups) but also of macro-relationships (social, economic and political ones).” We tend to separate charity from justice, but the Pope brings them together and reminds us that charity must be understood and practiced in the light of truth, hence the title of the encyclical.
Pope Benedict notes that the world’s wealth is growing in absolute terms, but inequalities are on the increase. Even in rich countries, many are becoming impoverished, often in new forms. Even in poor nations there are those whose wasteful and consumerist behaviors result in an unacceptable contrast with the ongoing situations of dehumanizing deprivation.
Pope Benedict also encourages wealthy people to look upon themselves as stewards of the wealth they possess and to be eager to put it in service for the good of others. This, of course, is a strong biblical theme, one that can be so easily forgotten when surrounded by the blessings of life. Affluence is a blessing, but one that can be deceptive when people ponder its impact.
Justice demands right relationships between people. In this respect, the Pope clearly supports labor organizations but, at the same time, he stresses the need for responsibility on the part of both management and labor to care for and be responsible for all persons involved. He also calls for sharing the earth’s resources equitably. This is necessary if we are to safeguard the environment for future generations. He criticizes all those who would horde non-renewable fossil fuels. He advocates greater energy efficiency, using alternate forms of energy and cutting fossil fuel use. This should help free up enough energy resources for poor nations to use toward development.
The Pope does not subscribe to concerns about excessive population. He says there’s enough room for all of us, including future generations, to live with dignity. Furthermore, the Pope states that if society doesn’t respect human life from conception to its natural end, “if human conception, gestation and birth are made artificial, if human embryos are sacrificed for research, the conscience of society ends up losing the concept of human ecology and, along with it, that of environmental ecology.”
Recently some here in the archdiocese have been critical of my efforts to promote respect for life as a justice issue. They do not want our Office of Peace and Justice to be involved in calling for respect for all human life from conception to natural death. They prefer a separate Pro-Life office. They are probably surprised that the Pope in his encyclical points out the inner-connectedness of life issues and justice issues.
Frankly, as a church, we have not done a good job of promoting the gospel of life. In my judgment we fail because we allow the opposition to describe our human life values as simply religious ones, not to be “imposed” upon today’s secular world. This, of course, is a terribly misguided approach. All destruction of human life is wrong, not because of religious values but because of the demands of justice which are clearly relevant, even in a highly secular society, when dealing with matters of life and death.
Before the summer ends, I encourage you to take the time to review the Pope’s latest message “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.” For him, true human development definitely requires the involvement of Christians with their arms raised toward God in prayer. In all such critical matters we wisely turn to God’s love.
