Slide 1:Charity in truth [the inverse of “Veritas in Caritate” (Eph 4:15)] Caritas in Veritate


SOCIAL DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH :SOCIAL DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH “Salt & Pepper” booklet, pp. 4-5. PRINCIPLE OF THE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON. Do we recognize the human dignity of every person? Of every job? How do I see others? Do I sometimes treat others as faceless objects, or as children of God?


CARITAS IN VERITATE :CARITAS IN VERITATE LOVE = CHARITY  GOD [=LOGOS] So the origin of any enterprise, any commitment has to be God and his doing. Charity is the guideline of the social doctrine of the Church. But charity needs the truth (ethics), in order to make man and society really good.


CARITAS IN VERITATE :CARITAS IN VERITATE LOVE = CHARITY  GOD [=LOGOS] If the logos (thought) were just subjective sensations, feelings, then we would never reach the objective truth, and we fall into relativism. Man becomes an instrument, a commodity, deprived of dignity. “Salt & Pepper” booklet, p. 15


CARITAS IN VERITATE (Intro) :CARITAS IN VERITATE (Intro) Justice is first. Charity goes beyond justice. Common good: the relational good; the social good of people. Technological progress is good. But it needs charity (with the lights of reason and faith).


CARITAS IN VERITATE (Intro) :CARITAS IN VERITATE (Intro) Rather than simply “giving others their due”, recognising and respecting their legitimate rights, love goes beyond justice by giving what is one’s own ‐ it also forgives. It is marked by relationships of gratuitousness, mercy and communion (6).


CARITAS IN VERITATE (Ch 1) :CARITAS IN VERITATE (Ch 1) To update the message of “Populorum Progressio” (Pope Paul VI). The need of the Gospel in order to build up a society according to freedom & justice. Why still underdevelopment in the XXI Century? Due to the lack of fraternity among men & peoples.


CARITAS IN VERITATE (Ch 1) :CARITAS IN VERITATE (Ch 1) “Salt & Pepper” booklet, pp. 33, 35.


CARITAS IN VERITATE (Ch 2) :CARITAS IN VERITATE (Ch 2) “Human development in our time”. If there is corruption, there is no search for the common good as its last end; and the good will be destroyed, creating more poverty, more differences between the rich & the poor. E.g.: speculative financial activities; migration not properly conducted; exploitation of natural resources without limits; food shortages due to political irresponsibility, etc.


Principles :Principles Introduction: Dignity of the person, work Chapter 1: Common good Chapter 2: Universal destination of goods Chapter 3: Solidarity, gratuitousness Chapter 4: Dignity of creation Chapter 5: Subsidiarity Chapter 6: Promotion of peace


CARITAS IN VERITATE (Ch 2) :CARITAS IN VERITATE (Ch 2) “Human development in our time”. The Pope proposes specific solutions: improvements in rural infrastructures and politics, with the right understanding and respect for human life, culture and religion. “Salt & Pepper” booklet, pp. 38 & 40.


CARITAS IN VERITATE (Ch 2) :CARITAS IN VERITATE (Ch 2) “Human development in our time”. While increased labour mobility has positive aspects, uncertainty over working conditions is also creating ‘new forms of psychological instability, giving rise to difficulty in forging coherent life‐plans, including that of marriage.’ (25) Unemployment entails new forms of marginalisation today – it undermines the freedom and creativity of people, familial and social relationships, and causes great psychological and spiritual suffering (25). Integral human development is not just a technical question or an economic question, it has a spiritual and a moral dimension, and so an interdisciplinary approach is needed. Moral evaluation and scientific research must go hand in hand (31).


CARITAS IN VERITATE (Ch 3) :CARITAS IN VERITATE (Ch 3) “Fraternity, economic development & civil society”. Principle of gratuitousness: expression of fraternity. It is often neglected due to utilitarianism and productivity at all cost. Solidarity in economy (Centessimus Annus, John Paul II, 1991). Globalization, a priori, is neither good nor bad. It will be what people make of it. But it needs a personalistic orientation, open to transcendence. (n.42)


CARITAS IN VERITATE (Ch 3) :CARITAS IN VERITATE (Ch 3) “Fraternity, economic development & civil society”. Benedict holds that friendship, solidarity and reciprocity can have a place within economic activity itself. Gratuitousness and the logic of gift, together with traditional principles of social ethics such as transparency, honesty and responsibility must ‘find their place within normal economic activity’ (36). ‘Every economic decision has a moral consequence’ (37). “Salt & Pepper” booklet, pp. 45-46.


CARITAS IN VERITATE (Ch 4) :CARITAS IN VERITATE (Ch 4) “The development of people; rights & duties; the environment”. Population growth, and problems associated with it. Sexuality cannot be reduced to hedonism.


CARITAS IN VERITATE (Ch 4) :CARITAS IN VERITATE (Ch 4) “The development of people; rights & duties; the environment”. Countries should develop orientations centered in the family. Economy and International Cooperation needs Ethics. To re-think the costly international bureaucracy. ENERGY: care for nature; solidarity; investigate on alternative energies. “Salt & Pepper” booklet, pp. 54-55 & 59.


CARITAS IN VERITATE (Ch 5) :CARITAS IN VERITATE (Ch 5) “The cooperation of the human family”. We are not just groups of people who happen to live side by side. One human race. Solidarity rather than marginalization. Deeper understanding of the category “relation” (using social sciences but also metaphysics and theology): man’s transcendent dignity. Development needs religions and cultures of different peoples.


CARITAS IN VERITATE (Ch 5) :CARITAS IN VERITATE (Ch 5) “The cooperation of the human family”. Religious freedom ≠ religious indifferentism (not all religions are equal). We need discernment to see the contribution of religions & cultures. Criterion? “The whole man // and all men”. Christianity contains that criterion since it is the religion of the God who has a human face.


CARITAS IN VERITATE (Ch 5) :CARITAS IN VERITATE (Ch 5) “The cooperation of the human family”. Principle of Subsidiarity: to help the person through the intermediate bodies. Problems of lack of education; sexual tourism; migrations. Need to reform International Economy & U.N. “Salt & Pepper” booklet, pp. 23 & 24.


CARITAS IN VERITATE (Ch 6) :CARITAS IN VERITATE (Ch 6) “The development of peoples & technology”. TECHNOLOGY is not an absolute value & does not enjoy absolute freedom. It is in need of moral responsibility through BIOETHCS. “We are unveiling all secrets of life” and our culture is leading us to have control over everything technically. But “technology is a response to God’s command to till and to keep the land that He has entrusted to humanity.” Both professional competence & moral consistency are necessary for development.


CARITAS IN VERITATE (Ch 6) :CARITAS IN VERITATE (Ch 6) “The development of peoples & technology”. When technology is allowed to take over  confusion between ends and means; to maximize profit; consolidate power; anything in research might be ok. No room for ethics in medicine. BIOETHIS: open to transcendence. The scourge of abortion


CARITAS IN VERITATE (Ch 6) :CARITAS IN VERITATE (Ch 6) “The development of peoples & technology”. U.S.A.: abortions Today twenty-two percent of all U.S. pregnancies end in abortion. 2005 approximately 1.21 million abortions 2002 1.29 million 2000 1.31 million 1996 1.36 million From 1973 through 2005, more than 45 million legal abortions have occurred in the U.S. (AGI).


CARITAS IN VERITATE (Ch 6) :CARITAS IN VERITATE (Ch 6) “The development of peoples & technology”. CHINA: 13 million abortions performed in China every year. About 62 percent of the women who have abortions are between 20 and 29 years old. About 10 million abortion-inducing pills, used in hospitals for early-stage abortions, are sold every year in the country,


CARITAS IN VERITATE (Ch 6) :CARITAS IN VERITATE (Ch 6) “The development of peoples & technology”. PEACE: a goal though all diplomatic means, but also, for long lasting effects, based on values rooted in the truth of human life. MEANS OF SOCIAL COMMUNICATION: count with the right vision of human person & common good (otherwise they will serve political agendas). “Salt & Pepper” booklet, pp. 60-1.


CONCLUSION :CONCLUSION Spiritual and moral welfare has to be taken always taken into account in any development. “Without God man neither knows which way to go, nor even understands who he is” (n. 78) Rom 12: 9-10: “Let love be genuine; hate what is evil; hold fast to what is good: love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honour”.