Charity in Truth

The Seven Themes of Catholic Social Teaching are sometimes called the church's best kept secret. I have a theory about that. When we talk about them we often use abstract terms like solidarity, subsidiarity, man's dignity, and option for the poor and vulnerable. We know what those concepts are but we have to stop and think about them. They aren't words and phrases we use in ordinary conversation or necessarily see application for in everyday life, and they can serve to obscure more than clarify.

US bishops say that if we really want to understand Catholic Social Teaching we should read the foundation documents, mostly papal encyclicals and conciliar documents from the Vatican. But these documents would put most of us to sleep. The men who write them are theologians and they write in language designed for the consumption of other theologians, a language very difficult for laymen like me to understand. I can get through it but it takes some effort.

In theory it is the task of bishops to interpret these ideas for their flocks. They have done well in some areas, most notably in respect for human life from conception to natural death, less well in others like man's entitlement to a life of dignity as a creature made in God's image. But all of this teaching is important for us to understand if we are to work for genuine justice in this world.

Caritas in Veritate is a case in point. Pope Benedict XVI is trying to get us to broaden our view of a subject we think we already understand. We all know what charity is, right? Well no, not according to Benedict. In truth charity is far more than alms giving, donating to worthy causes, and doing nice things for people. He begins by citing the perfect example of charity, Jesus' death and resurrection. Now that's a pretty heavy concept and Benedict is just getting started. He goes on to develop a number of themes that I frankly have trouble getting my arms around. At the risk of over simplifying I'm going to try to lay some of them out in words I can understand.

Benedict equates charity with love, and God is love, still too deep for me but he goes on to define it as love of neighbor. Easier for me to handle. We all know we are commanded to love our neighbor, especially the poor and vulnerable. When we love someone we wish them well and do what we reasonably can to see to it they do well. So far so good.

The pope then turns to truth. There are two sources of truth; faith and reason. He says Jesus is truth. There he goes again. Benedict has done this before. He likes to use the word "logos," the Greek word John used in the opening of his gospel, usually translated as "the word." In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. There is a lot of theology here I don't fully understand but I've heard it often enough I can accept it as a matter of faith.

Here is where I am. Charity in truth is love of neighbor through faith and reason. I don't quite yet have this down.

Benedict refers repeatedly to Populorum Progressio, Pope Paul VI's encyclical on the development of people. Charity in truth leads to authentic development of the whole man and every man. The whole man includes body, mind, and soul. Authentic charity leads to progress in the complete development of people and the communities they live in. A healthy man or woman has a fully developed body, intellect, and relationship with God. A healthy community offers an environment that is conducive to that development. True charity fosters that development and those sorts of communities. It is the responsibility of us all, as individuals, families, communities, and nations to work toward justice in true charity.

OK, I think I'm ready to read Caritas in Veritate again.