Latest news with #CatholicSocialTeaching
Herald Malaysia
5 days ago
- General
- Herald Malaysia
Catholic Social Teaching is for everyone
The modern tradition of Catholic Social Teaching (CST) — the toolbox of principles the Church calls us to draw upon to build the just social order — was instigated by Pope Leo XIII (1878-1903). We now have a new pope, Leo XIV, who is reminding us of this corpus of teaching as a resource as the world May 30, 2025 Pope Leo XIII is depicted in this official Vatican portrait. He laid the foundation for modern Catholic social teaching with his landmark 1891 encyclical "Rerum Novarum," addressing the rights and dignity of workers in the face of industrialization. (OSV News photo/Library of Congress) By Jason AdkinsThe modern tradition of Catholic Social Teaching (CST) — the toolbox of principles the Church calls us to draw upon to build the just social order — was instigated by Pope Leo XIII (1878-1903). We now have a new pope, Leo XIV, who is reminding us of this corpus of teaching as a resource as the world is torn by war and faces the challenge of a new digital industrial revolution. This Catholic Social Teaching tradition, however, is not just for Catholics. It can be studied and applied by all people of goodwill because it is a true philosophy of society, rooted in principles such as the common good, the dignity of the human person, subsidiarity and solidarity. Catholic Social Teaching transcends the normal political binaries. This great tradition is effective in bringing together people of all backgrounds to tackle difficult social problems, and how it does so was the subject of a recent Catholic in America podcast (May 19) with internationally renowned economist Jeffrey Sachs. A gift to the world Sachs, who is Jewish, is a Harvard-trained economist and member of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences who has advised two popes (John Paul II and Francis) in the development of papal social encyclicals. He sees in Catholic social teaching a great gift of the Church to the world, and he thinks Catholics should not be sheepish about proposing CST principles to shape public life — not because they are the teachings of a religious community, but because they are true. Pope Francis sought out Sachs because of his work on sustainable development as the former was drafting his encyclical Laudato Si' (On the Care of Our Common Home), which was published ten years ago. The Holy See gathered experts from a variety of disciplines to consider what it means to steward creation while also respecting the human person. In a world that pits humans against the environment, how can the church point the way forward? The great gift of Laudato Si' was to apply the principles of Catholic social teaching to the problem of creation care. The result was the concept of integral ecology, which does justice to both persons and the environment, because everything is connected. Sachs and I discussed how both the words economics and ecology, have the same Greek root word, oikos, which means household. Hence the English title of the encyclical calling us to steward our common home. Economics should put first the well-being of the family and the household. The political community is a family of families, and economic life should promote distribution and social justice, as well as the common good. But while providing for human needs and managing scarce economic resources, we must also work together to promote environmental stewardship and care for our common home. That's a responsibility that transcends every household, community, and nation. Laudato Si' was addressed not just to Catholics, but all people of goodwill, and ten years later it continues to shape the thinking of people from all different backgrounds about how to properly care for creation. Pope Leo XIV's call Although Sachs and I recorded our conversation before Pope Leo XIV's election, the latter is again rekindling interest in Catholic Social Teaching. In his May 16 address to the papal diplomatic corps, Pope Leo XIV stressed that we are called to pursue peace, especially eliminating the violence and destruction that comes from conflict and war. But to achieve peace, he said, we must act justly, and doing so requires knowing the truth. He stated: 'It is the responsibility of government leaders to work to build harmonious and peaceful civil societies. This can be achieved above all by investing in the family, founded upon the stable union between a man and a woman, a small but genuine society, and prior to all civil society. In addition, no one is exempted from striving to ensure respect for the dignity of every person, especially the most frail and vulnerable, from the unborn to the elderly, from the sick to the unemployed, citizens and immigrants alike.' Like Francis, Pope Leo XIV is articulating Catholic Social Teaching's rich philosophy of a just social order built on the oikos of family life and the dignity of every human person. In a world hungry for a way to break out of the false binaries of politics, the principles of Catholic social teaching provide real hope. We need not hide this gift under a bushel but instead, as non-Catholics such as Sachs exhort us, we should bring it confidently into every corner of social life.--OSV (Jason Adkins is host of the new Our Sunday Visitor podcast called 'Catholic in America,' which explores topics related to the missionary imperative of faithful citizenship in our time.)
CNN
08-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
What's in a name? The history of the papal name Leo
Leo is now tied for the fourth most common name chosen by popes, along with Clement. Only John, Gregory and Benedict have proven more popular. But we haven't had a Pope Leo in more than a century. The last Pope Leo was Leo XIII, who was born in French-occupied Rome in 1810. He served as pope from 1878 until his death in 1903, making his 25-year papacy the fourth longest in the church's history. Leo XIII is remembered as a pope of Catholic social teaching. He wrote a famous open letter to all Catholics in 1891, called 'Rerum Novarum' ('Of Revolutionary Change'). The pamphlet reflected on the destruction wrought by the Industrial Revolution on the lives of workers. In a press briefing Thursday after the conclave, Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni said the choice of name 'is a clear reference to the modern social doctrine of the Church, which began with Rerum Novarum.' Bruni said the name Leo was a deliberate reference to 'men, women, their work, and workers in an age of artificial intelligence,' seeming to link the pace of technological change of the current era to that of the nineteenth century. The first Pope Leo, who served in the fifth century, is known as 'Leo the Great,' and is remembered for persuading Attila the Hun to halt his invasion and spare the Roman Empire from destruction. Their meeting was rendered in a 1514 painting by Raphael. The Renaissance work is now displayed in the Vatican's Apostolic Palace, which the 133 voting cardinals – including Cardinal Robert Prevost, now Leo XIV – passed through as they proceeded into the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday for the start of the conclave. In the painting, an unarmed Pope Leo – watched over by St. Peter and St. Paul – calmly confronts Attila and his army. Their meeting is celebrated by Catholics for showing that peaceful agreements can be reached without violence. Leo XIV used his first words as pope to call for peace. 'Peace be with you,' he called out from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica. 'This was the first greeting of the risen Christ,' he said. The name Leo derives from the Latin for 'lion,' suggesting strength and courage. In his address from the balcony, Leo XIV said the church can still hear 'the weak but always courageous voice of Pope Francis,' his predecessor. CNN's Sharon Braithwaite contributed reporting.
CNN
08-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
What's in a name? The history of the papal name Leo
Leo is now tied for the fourth most common name chosen by popes, along with Clement. Only John, Gregory and Benedict have proven more popular. But we haven't had a Pope Leo in more than a century. The last Pope Leo was Leo XIII, who was born in French-occupied Rome in 1810. He served as pope from 1878 until his death in 1903, making his 25-year papacy the fourth longest in the church's history. Leo XIII is remembered as a pope of Catholic social teaching. He wrote a famous open letter to all Catholics in 1891, called 'Rerum Novarum' ('Of Revolutionary Change'). The pamphlet reflected on the destruction wrought by the Industrial Revolution on the lives of workers. In a press briefing Thursday after the conclave, Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni said the choice of name 'is a clear reference to the modern social doctrine of the Church, which began with Rerum Novarum.' Bruni said the name Leo was a deliberate reference to 'men, women, their work, and workers in an age of artificial intelligence,' seeming to link the pace of technological change of the current era to that of the nineteenth century. The first Pope Leo, who served in the fifth century, is known as 'Leo the Great,' and is remembered for persuading Attila the Hun to halt his invasion and spare the Roman Empire from destruction. Their meeting was rendered in a 1514 painting by Raphael. The Renaissance work is now displayed in the Vatican's Apostolic Palace, which the 133 voting cardinals – including Cardinal Robert Prevost, now Leo XIV – passed through as they proceeded into the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday for the start of the conclave. In the painting, an unarmed Pope Leo – watched over by St. Peter and St. Paul – calmly confronts Attila and his army. Their meeting is celebrated by Catholics for showing that peaceful agreements can be reached without violence. Leo XIV used his first words as pope to call for peace. 'Peace be with you,' he called out from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica. 'This was the first greeting of the risen Christ,' he said. The name Leo derives from the Latin for 'lion,' suggesting strength and courage. In his address from the balcony, Leo XIV said the church can still hear 'the weak but always courageous voice of Pope Francis,' his predecessor. CNN's Sharon Braithwaite contributed reporting.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
JD Vance Comments on Being One of Last People to See Pope Alive
Vice President JD Vance thought it was 'crazy' that he was one of the last people to see Pope Francis before he died early Monday morning. 'I thought a lot about that, it's pretty crazy actually,' Vance told reporters while on a visit to Agra, India,on the tarmac on Wednesday. 'Obviously I was able to see him very briefly the morning of Easter Sunday. I knew he was very ill, I didn't realize how sick he was. The thing that I will always remember Pope Francis for is that he was a great pastor. People on the margins, poor people, people suffering from diseases, they saw in Pope Francis an advocate, and I think a true expression of Christian love.' Pope Francis has had a tenuous relationship with Trump, Vance, and the Christian right in America for the entirety of his papacy. He was a noted environmentalist who often chastised the Trump administration on its lack of humanity on immigration and climate change and its misuse of Catholic Social Teaching. Pope Francis's funeral will be held on Saturday, according to the Vatican.
USA Today
07-02-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Catholic bishops must speak to migrant fears, concerns from Trump deportations
Catholic bishops must speak to migrant fears, concerns from Trump deportations | Opinion It is important to point out that those migrants who have committed crimes are a minority. Most immigrants whether legal or not have come here seeking a future which is denied in their home countries. Show Caption Hide Caption Large crowd protests Trump immigration crackdown at Florida Capitol More than 100 people gathered at the Florida Capitol on Monday to protest the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. The new Trump administration has been very busy – and has, not unexpectedly, generated much discussion and to be sure, controversy. Since immigration was a major campaign issue, much of the attention of these first days of the Trump Administration has focused efforts to apprehend and deport criminal migrants who are in the country illegally or have lost legal status. (A U.S. legal resident guilty of a felony can lose his or her 'green card' and also be subject to deportation). Most Americans do want a solution to the perceived chaos on our borders. The U.S. bishops following Catholic Social Teaching do recognize that national sovereignty affords nations' the right to control their borders. We have never advocated for 'open borders' or that 'bad actors' should be admitted indiscriminately or that wrongdoers of any type be free to roam our streets and endanger our citizens. While the ebb and flow of migrants and asylum seekers has been a constant for decades, the apparent ineptness of the Biden Administration seemingly precipitated an unprecedented spike in irregular migration. The fact is deportations have been ongoing for years: Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama Obama and Donald Trump (in his first term) and even Joe Biden have collectively deported millions during the last two decades. More: In DeSantis' Florida immigration fight, Delray Rep. Mike Caruso on losing side | Opinion Bishops support Trump's immigration efforts, but all migrants shouldn't be demonized The U.S. Bishops, among many others, have recognized that our present immigration regime is broken. I doubt that President Trump would disagree. However, the bishops believe that an 'enforcement only' approach will not work and thus have long advocated for a comprehensive immigration reform, one that would address the need for a legal labor force, aid in family reunification and provide a path to citizenship to those who have resided and work here in the U.S. sometimes for decades. In other words, border 'walls' should also have 'doors' that would permit the flow of legal immigrants. Those same Catholic teachings that recognize that nations have a right to control their borders also urge that richer nations be generous in admitting those fleeing persecution or seeking conditions worthy of human life. America has shown such generosity in the past and is certainly capable of continuing to do so. It is important to point out that those migrants who have committed crimes are a minority. Most immigrants whether legal or not have come here seeking a future which is denied in their home countries because of poverty, violence or political oppression. As pastors, we are concerned that rhetoric that would demonize all migrants will have a detrimental effect on the body politic. Immigration enforcement should be carried out in a targeted, proportional and humane way. Carrying out immigration raids in sensitive settings where people receive essential services (schools, places of worship, social service agencies, healthcare facilities), is contrary to the common good. Threats to do so, have left communities where many migrants live, and work, filled with fear and anxiety. To point this out to our political leaders is a civic duty and is meant to open doors to dialog. As bishops we participate in the public square not as politicians but as pastors – and as pastors, informed by the gospel, we do have something to say about human dignity, human flourishing and the common good. Trump's early initiatives align with Catholic teachings In fact, the bishops have not been sparing in their praise of many of President Trump's early initiatives that are consonant with our Catholic Social Teachings. We support his opposition to gender ideology as well as his defense of parental rights – and of parental choice in the education of their children. We have applauded the Trump Administration's decision to end taxpayer funder abortions. Likewise, we were heartened that he restored (and expanded!) the Mexico City Policy which keeps U.S. money from supporting organizations that perform or promote abortions overseas. We are also grateful for the strengthening of policies that protect Catholics and other people of faith from being compelled to participate in activities that would violate our religious freedom and freedom of conscience. Also, Americans who are pro-life have a right to pray in public, to counsel women who are considering abortion, and to peacefully protest. And so, we welcomed the pardons of several pro-life activists who were unjustly jailed during the last Administration for their witness to a culture of life. More: ICE reports 32 arrests of undocumented immigrants in Palm Beach County under Trump crackdown Catholic associations and agencies are part of the civil society that make our democracy so vibrant. We have a long history of partnering with governmental bodies on federal, state and local levels in a variety of endeavors: In education, health care, social welfare, etc. Some have suggested that the bishops' advocacy on immigration does not enjoy wide support among sectors of President Donald Trump's voter base, that they thus may be a convenient and easy target to exploit for partisan reasons. This might explain Vice President JD Vance's harsh and intemperate words about the U.S. Bishops Conference on a recent Sunday news show. This would be unfortunate and mistaken. Thomas Wenski is archbisop of the archdiocese of the Catholic Church in South Florida. It is the metropolitan see for the Ecclesiastical Province of Miami, which covers all of Florida.
