Charity in Truth: Caritas in Veritate [Hardcover]

Pope Benedict XVI (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 15, 2009

Benedict XVI has something for everyone in Charity in Truth-from praising profit to defending the environment, from calling for a role for government in the economy to insisting on the necessity of moral transformation and "gratuitousness" in economic life, from the issue of immigration to the importance of technology. However, he also insists on discernment and the purification of our ideas by faith and reason, in order to temper any immoderate and one-sided enthusiasms.

Charity and Truth was expected to be-and is-the Pope's encyclical on "social justice." And indeed "justice" and "rights" find their proper place. But "charity" and "truth" are shown to be the fundamental principles. "Charity is at the heart of the Church's social doctrine", he writes. "Without truth, without trust and love for what is true, there is no social conscience and responsibility, and social action ends up serving private interests and the logic of power".

Benedict calls for "integral human development," which promotes "the good of every man and of the whole man", including the spiritual dimension, "the perspective of eternal life". Without this, "human progress in this world is denied breathing-space."

What's more, true development requires "openness to life". ""If there is lack of respect for the right to life and a natural death," he writes, "if human conception, gestation and birth are made artificial, if human embryos are sacrificed to research, the conscience of society ends up losing the concept of human ecology and, along with it, that of environmental ecology. It is contradictory to insist that future generations respect the natural environment when our educational system and laws do not help them to respect themselves."

With respect to economics, the Pope insists "every economic decision has a moral consequence." He avoids the extremes of an unbridled capitalism and socialism. Instead, he holds that "the logic of the market and the logic of the State"-free economic exchange with political oversight and restraint-are not enough to secure human flourishing. There must be a generosity and "gratuitousness" among citizens and nations that goes beyond economic and political systems. "Charity" is necessary for "justice" to be "justice".

Benedict also argues that technology must not be seen as automatically providing solutions to problems, without the need for morality. Nor must man seek to avoid responsibility for overcoming social problems by rejecting technological development as inevitably evil. Benedict insists that man must be humble yet confident that he can, through faith and reason, make true progress in human development.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 157 pages
• Publisher: Ignatius Press (August 15, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1586172808
• ISBN-13: 978-1586172800
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #214,626 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

A former publishing executive, John F. Thornton is a literary agent and co-editor of Tongues of Angels, Tongues of Men: A Book of Sermons. He lives in New York City. Susan B. Varenne holds an M.A. from the University of Chicago Divinity School and a Ph.D. from Columbia University. She is a New York City teacher and a freelance writer specializing in religion.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love of Truth, August 1, 2009

By 

Dr. Bojan Tunguz (Indiana, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Charity In Truth (Kindle Edition)

This is the first papal encyclical eighteen years that addresses social teaching of the Catholic Church, and the first such encyclical by the Pope Benedict XVI. The title is modeled on Ephesians 4:15, and in some way implies a continuation with the previous encyclical "God is Love" ("Deus caritas est"). The basic thesis of this encyclical is that love is not just an individual and personal attitude limited to one's circle of friends and relatives, but a universal guiding principle that ought to order the society at large. This is particularly evident when the synonym for love - charity - is used in the English translation. All the connotations of that word then become manifestly obvious. And yet, charity by itself, unless it is based and fortified by truth, can be little distinguished from emotionalism that is useless in promoting greater social and cultural development. It is precisely this truth that enables charity to have an impact and effect in social context.

This encyclical draws on earlier encyclicals that deal with social teaching of the Catholic Church, but in particular it views itself as a continuation and building upon of ideas presented in Pope Paul VI's "Populorum Progressio." It is a response to an increasingly globalized world in general and to the current economic crisis in particular. It addresses two dangerous extremes of the current debates on progress of society: the overreliance on technology on one hand, and the denial and rejection of any progress on another. It reemphasis one of the cornerstones of Catholic social teaching: the fact that life ethics and social ethics are inexorably connected. Authentic development requires adherence to truth and charity. Devaluing human life is contrary to it on both accounts.

Putting human life and human dignity at the very center of all economic and social development is seen as crucial for all development and social justice. The development and right ordering of all other human institutions is considered under the principle of subsidiarity: the appropriate level at which issues need to be addressed is the lowest lever at which they can be addressed effectively. This becomes especially relevant and urgent in the modern, increasingly interconnected, world.

In this encyclical Pope Benedict has given us another clear expression of Catholic social teaching, appropriated and updated to address the most pertinent social issues of today. It is a valuable resource and a source of teaching and guidance on matters that affect us all.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Truly Marvelous!, September 6, 2010

By 

Joseph P. Tevington - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Charity in Truth: Caritas in Veritate (Hardcover)

Many people are absolutely ignorant of the dramatic drop in birth rate in the United States. I particularly like the Holy Father's beautiful & appropos comments in paragraph 44 about the sanctity of life, marriage/family, demographics, & the economy:

"....Morally responsible openness to life represents a rich social and economic resource. Populous nations have been able to emerge from poverty thanks not least to the size of their population and the talents of their people. On the other hand, formerly prosperous nations are presently passing through a phase of uncertainty and in some cases decline, precisely because of their falling birth rates; this has become a crucial problem for highly affluent societies. The decline in births, falling at times beneath the so-called 'replacement level', also puts a strain on social welfare systems, increases their cost, eats into savings and hence the financial resources needed for investment, reduces the availability of qualified labourers, and narrows the 'brain pool' upon which nations can draw for their needs. Furthermore, smaller and at times miniscule families run the risk of impoverishing social relations, and failing to ensure effective forms of solidarity. These situations are symptomatic of scant confidence in the future and moral weariness. It is thus becoming a social and even economic necessity once more to hold up to future generations the beauty of marriage and the family, and the fact that these institutions correspond to the deepest needs and dignity of the person...."

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A read that should not be missed, December 15, 2009

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Charity in Truth: Caritas in Veritate (Hardcover)

Where does the current Pope stand on the many social problems of the modern world? "Charity in Truth: Caritas in Veritate" is a treatise on current social issues from Pope Benedict XVI. Technology, economics, the free market, charity, and so much more are spoke on, giving much to consider for many Catholics. For any well read follower of the Pope, "Charity in Truth" is a read that should not be missed.