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Why Pope Benedict's Encyclical Is a Boost for Catholic Progressives

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"We must promote a dispersed political authority." - Pope Benedict XVI, Caritas in Veritate

PL of IN 2:15PM November 01, 2009

If the catholic church is such love, what happened during
the reformation period. It wasn't the protestants that
murdered all those people, it was the catholic church.
The popes ordered mass murder of all that did not
conform to the teaching of the catholic church. It
was because of the so-called (christain) catholic
church that I stopped going to church. After such
a history that the catholic church has I would be
a fool to trust them now. One thing I have learned
from the catholic church is they don't change
their views on things they just change tacticts.
Changing what they look like on the outside doesn't
mean they changed on the inside. Look at the symbols
of the catholic church, then look at the symbols of
pagianism and you'll find that they are one and the
same.

mdfacer of WA 6:47AM September 05, 2009

The post above, Compassion for the Catholic Church, is right on. The article referred to is not an accurate reflection of the encyclical. The encyclical calls on the writings of several popes over the years to express the Church stand on a number of social issues.
One should lead Fides et Ratio as well as an overall context for Church positions.
The Church has a consistent message, for more than 2,000 years, on issues of faith and morals.
Before anyone laims to understand the Church he or any given issue, he or she should refer to the Catechism of the Catholilc Church.

Oliver Semmes of FL 8:59AM August 10, 2009

I am afraid I agree with Weigel that this encyclical is something of a hodge-podge between genuine Benedictine themes and the "Peace and Justice" themes typical of the 1970's.
A "world authority" to help regulate development more justly is polly-anish nonsense--even if were to help (debatable), just why in God's name would sovereign nations assent to giving away their power? It will never happen, and for that reason, I think it's silly to even suggest.

Johnathan Baker of TN 9:18AM August 03, 2009

I have a real respect for the Catholic Church. Here is what I know about the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church seems to be very open and direct about where they stand on issues. They have an online catechism that spells out where they stand and it is easy to search and understand.
There is not a Conservative Catholic Church and there is not a Progressive Catholic Church. There is not a Republican Catholic Church. There is not a Democratic Catholic Church. There is not a Social, Communist, Nazi, or XYZ Catholic Church. The Catholic Church are not political or politically correct. The Catholic Church is not a buffet. There is only a Catholic Church and they make it very clear where they stand on issues.
The Catholic Church is for Love and Life.
Read the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Abortion is not supported by the Catholic Church.
Here is what the Catechism of the Catholic Church states about abortion:
Catechism of the Catholic Church
2270
"Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person--among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life."
2271
"Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law."
2274
"Since it must be treated from conception as a person, the embryo must be defended in its integrity, cared for, and healed, as far as possible, like any other human being."
I believe that is very clear.
Live, Laugh, and Love

ComPassion of IN 8:29AM July 15, 2009

I can see why you have this opinion of Catholic Conservatives. But try to remember that the teaching of the RC on abortion has been handed down as doctrine through the ages. Whereas comments made in one encyclical may be the opinions of one Pope.
What it really comes down to is a legitimate understanding of the teaching on infallibility. An informed Catholic knows that the teaching does not mean that every word a Pope utters is infallible.

Geoff of OH 1:18PM July 14, 2009

Please take time to read the encyclical yourself and do not expect the secular media to interpret it correctly or fully. Encyclicals are written with great care and copious edits. There is a tendency to pick and choose what supports your political viewpoint and to ignore the rest....for instance, B 16 clearly states that capitalism has brought millions of people out of poverty and socialism has been a net disaster leading to deaths of millions more. You won't hear that from the secular cherry pickers. This is a call to conscience for supporters of capitalism reminding them to not forget about the poor. It is not a denounciation of free markets, hardly. Nice try Mr Gilgoff.

Tim of NE 4:44PM July 10, 2009

I find it amusing that as a progressive Catholic the conservative Catholic's would drone on and on about the infallibility of the Pope when it comes to how to reduce abortions. When His Holiness makes it clear his broader positions regarding poverty, the United Nations, workers rights, are also life issues are intrinsically linked to issues such as abortion, he immediate runs afoul of "conservative Catholics". When the Pope's positions above conflict with their republican ideology, these "orthodox Catholics" have no problem finding him fallible. And they call me a "cafeteria Catholic". What hypocrites, they show their true colors in situations such as this, their positions are not based on what comes from the Vatican, they are cloaking their political ideology and claiming it is adherence to faith. Good luck this time!

Deb of WA 2:29PM July 09, 2009

Which do you support?
Suction Abortion is where they suck the unborn baby out of the mothers womb with a vacuum.
Dismember Abortion is where they take forcepts to dismember the babies parts and pull them out of the mother womb. They rip the legs, arms, and body apart to extract the unborn baby. Then they crush the head of the unborn baby to remove it.
Partial Birth Abortion is where they deliver everything but the head of the baby, They then stick a pair of scissors into the back of the neck of the unborn baby to seperate it's spine. Then they use the vacuum to suck the babies brain out.
Do you support the suction abortion, the dismember abortion, or the partial birth abortion?
Which of the above a choice for the unborn baby?
The Truth:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBOAPleF1t0&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiyxFCASdIg&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyKc6nPw6C4&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJ82p7_q_IA&feature=relate

ComPassion of IN 9:50PM July 08, 2009

There is some extremely bad thinking in this encyclical that is very disturbing. the United Nations is totally incompatible with Catholic teaching. It was formed by U.S. internationalists and outright communists (including Alger Hiss) who intended it to evolve into a socialist world government. The UN documents (unlike our own Declaration of Independence) do not recognize God as the source of our rights and make the UN both the giver (and taker away) of all human rights. The Vatican must have been infiltrated with one-world socialists who intend to use our Church to build their New World Order.

Warren Mass of FL 12:58PM July 08, 2009