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New Encyclical Released

July 09, 2009

On July 7, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI released his new social encyclical, Caritas in Veritate (Charity in Truth). This is the Pope’s third encyclical since becoming Pope in 2005. The encyclical marks an important chapter in Catholic social teaching, and its lessons can and should have a bearing on the issue of health care reform in the United States.

Caritas in Veritate extends a general tradition, in which social encyclicals are released in proximity to anniversary dates of other major social encyclicals. Thus Quadragesimo Anno, Mater et Magistra, Laborem Exercens, and Centesimus Annus were released on the 40th, 70th, 90th, and 100th anniversaries, respectively, of Rerum Novarum (1891), the first social encyclical. Sollicitudo Rei Socialis was released on the 20th anniversary of Pope Paul VI’s encyclical Populorum Progressio (1967), and Caritas in Veritate follows in proximity to its 40th. Caritas in Veritate takes Populorum Progressio as a point of departure and devotes significant attention to recalling and extending its analysis.

Caritas in Veritate has six chapters, as well as a significant introduction and conclusion. Here, only a brief summary can be given (for a sampling of other interesting analyses, click here):

• The Introduction sets the structure and important themes for all that follows, above all explaining the intrinsic connection between love and truth in all social questions and the indispensability of Revelation and grace in solving complex human social challenges;
• Chapter One recalls the teachings of Populorum Progressio and how these must be viewed in relationship to the other major teachings of Pope Paul VI, particularly his understanding of the integral nature of the human person and his vision of the Church in service to true human development in the world;
• Chapter Two examines current challenges around the globe, ranging from food shortages to the globalization of financial markets and labor pools in light of the teaching of Populorum Progressio, noting again the significance of both charity and truth in successfully addressing them;
• Chapter Three addresses fraternity and economic development, noting that while profits, markets, and competitive business enterprise shaped by justice, transparency, and trust are necessary for human development, they are not sufficient. The human tendencies to individualism and selfishness must be transformed by faith-inspired vision;
• Chapter Four covers a wide range of topics, ranging from the recent tendency to create arbitrary human rights to a proper balance in environmental ethics;
• Chapter Five examines a number of challenges, ranging from increased migration, poverty and unemployment, lack of education, and even international tourism, and calls for greater collaboration and solidarity, continued aid for poor countries, and reform of international organizations;
• Chapter Six addresses the importance of technology in development – on the one hand, noting the increased importance of technology for communications, work and prosperity and, on the other hand, the danger of defining human development or happiness in terms of technical factors alone.
• The Conclusion reaffirms the centrality of faith, hope and love, and the witness of Christians actively engaged in prayer to any progress in human development.

Caritas in Veritate is a rich and complex social encyclical, drawing explicitly on the long and unified tradition of Catholic social teaching and the deep theology of Pope Benedict XVI in order to address the complex global social challenges of our time, including the recent economic crisis. Understanding its core insights in context will require multiple readings and careful analysis. Here are three key points that I think should be of particular interests to members and friends of the Catholic Medical Association:

1. The indispensable, intrinsic connection between charity and truth. This line of thought occupies much of the Introduction, but is carried forth throughout the entire encyclical. Einstein famously said, “Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.” Benedict XVI even more incisively demonstrates here that charity, without careful attention to the truth of nature, man and Revelation quickly devolves into a useless sentimentality or desire for power to pursue ideologically determined ends. This is a particularly important relationship to recall in our own, relativistic culture.
2. The indispensable, intrinsic connection between “life,” “social" and “environmental” issues. This theme is introduced in Chapter One, as Benedict recalls the profound and comprehensive teaching ministry of Pope Paul VI – explicitly noting the connection between Humanae Vitae and Populorum Progressio, and recurs in Chapter Six. Too often these topics are viewed in total isolation from one another, and Catholics focus their claim to fidelity on one or the other area of Church teaching.
3. The indispensability of revelation and grace, and a human response characterized by faith, hope and love, for addressing complex global social challenges. Too often, in looking at the problems in the world around us, we think that they could be solved if only we had more laws, more data, more money, or more energy. A consistent theme of this encyclical is that even earthly systems (economic, legal, financial, and technological) founded in truth, while necessary, are insufficient to address the challenges we face either conceptually or practically (workably). For Benedict, revelation and grace (received in faith and implemented with hope and charity) are indispensable.

I cannot help but think how each one of these insights and themes is critical to bear in mind and implement as we focus on challenges facing us in our own country and time – particularly the challenge of health care reform. This challenge, in which factors including the art and science of medicine, business organization, finances, technology, governmental structures and several other factors all combine, desperately requires the essential elements sketched out by Benedict XVI in Caritas in Veritate.