A conference at the Vatican focused on politics and the role the Church plays, not as being active in politics, but as helping in the formation of those who are, and for this reason the tool recently developed by the Church—the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church—is very helpful.
An excerpt from the article from Zenit:
"It is necessary to give new impetus and hope to politics," the Vatican official affirmed "A politics is needed that puts the human person at the center, respecting his fundamental rights, especially that of life; a politics that serves the common good, inspired in an integral and solidaristic humanism, which is subsidiary to the intermediate social bodies, especially the family.
"A politics is necessary which pauses when it discovers values that precede it, that is transcendent and that is enriched by the values of truth, justice, liberty and charity."
Social doctrine
“In this connection, the cardinal invited Christian politicians to become familiar with the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, published by his dicastery in 2004.
"Social doctrine is a fundamental 'strategic instrument' in the political task of Christians," as "it links politics to charity, in a network of theological, spiritual, ethical and cultural connections," he stated.
Likewise, the cardinal invited local Churches to consider politics as a "pastoral priority," which must be "enlightened and evangelized." He encouraged Catholic universities to give greater priority to education in politics.
"The Church does not engage in politics, is not part of politics," he affirmed, "but must form and educate for the social and political task."
Lampstand Foundation website, http://www.lampstandfoundation.org/
"The sinner is at the very heart of Christianity. Nobody is so competent as the sinner in matters of Christianity. Nobody, except the saint." Charles Peguy (1873-1914)
About
- David H. Lukenbill
- I am a California native, married, we have one daughter and live close to the American River with two cats and all the wild critters we can feed. I am a management consultant to nonprofit organizations and have an Associates of Arts degree in Administration of Justice from Sacramento City College, a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Behavior from the University of San Francisco and a Master of Public Administration degree, also from the University of San Francisco.