Of Social Doctrine and New Things – “It is all too tempting to try to use Catholic Social Doctrine as a policy platform with which to bludgeon one’s political opponents. Pope Leo XIV’s address is a good sign that he seems to understand what is at stake.” Doctrine, Not Indoctrination: Pope Leo XIV and the Transpolitical Nature of Catholic Social Doctrine (The Public Discourse)
Discussion of Fatherhood – “Men in particular appear to benefit from the transition to parent life, with research showing men experience an uptick in well-being from fatherhood.” Men Are in Trouble. Maybe Fatherhood and Bigger Families Are a Solution (Institute for Family Studies)
Recognized by China – “The Holy See announced Wednesday the appointment of Bishop Joseph Lin Yuntuan as auxiliary of Fuzhou.” Leo names underground bishop as auxiliary, Beijing agrees (The Pillar)
When Life Begins – “Anglican theologian and former bishop of Durham N. T. Wright has landed himself in hot water following remarks that abortion is acceptable in ‘some circumstances,’ such as rape, incest, or disability.” The Problem with N. T. Wright’s Abortion Remarks (First Things)
Federal Action Required – “Riots are not like criminal activity of the kind best dealt with patiently and subtly. Of their nature they require an immediate and severe response.” Suppress the Riots, Mr. President (Postliberal Order – Substack)
An Alarming Campaign – “The sheer scale of the attacks forces Christians into hiding, with many facing imprisonment, violence or death for their faith … ”
Persecution Against Christians – “One can hardly watch the news or scroll through social media without hearing another story of Christians being discriminated against for their faith.” Nigeria is a killing field, and Christians are the prey (The Christian Post)
The State of Fatherhood – “It would be wonderful if studies showing obvious truths were unneeded, but too much of the modern world has cast off common sense because of ideological commitments.” Dads Matter: Study Proves What Common Sense Already Knew
Healing Disunity – Pope Leo has countless opportunities to pursue renewed unity at the global level and at the Vatican. Pope Leo XIV: A Unifying Figure (Public Discourse)
Last Resort – “As the world processes reports of Israeli airstrikes against the Iranian regime’s military and nuclear weapons program, Christians should think carefully about how to respond.” 6 Reasons Why Israel’s Strike against Iran Was Justified (Washington Stand)
(*The posting of any particular news item or essay is not an endorsement of the content and perspective of said news item or essay.)
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@ Of Social Doctrine and New Things
Essential readings are this article on the nature (too often distorted) of Catholic Social Teachings (CST) together with the linked address to the Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice Foundation by Pope Leo XIV: https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/speeches/2025/may/documents/20250517-centesimus-annus-pro-pontifice.html
Even the title to the Foundation conference is instructive: “Overcoming Polarizations and Rebuilding Global Governance: The Ethical Foundations.” The difference between ethical and many-faceted global “governance” and any ideological notion of a global “government.” (We ask, for example, how to do Solidarity and Subsidiarity, both together?)
The CST does include inviolable moral absolutes drawn from the natural law and the transcendent dignity of the human person but then, on so many other also concrete and more complex issues, insists on the exercise of the moral virtues—especially the virtue of prudential judgment. On such matters the CST is not a ready-made and simplistic answer book imposed from above.
@ Of Social Doctrine and New Things
Natural and Revealed Law. “Indoctrination is immoral. It stifles critical judgement and undermines the sacred freedom of conscience, even if erroneous” (Address of Leo XIV To Members of the Centissimus Annus).
Pope Leo has an intellectually refined understanding of doctrine, that understood as such can be a synonym of science, discipline’ and knowledge. Although here’s the catch 22, “Doctrine, then, is not a static code of behavior imposed from above”. We’re caught between two opposing principles, the ordained mission to teach what is revealed, and the pluralism of a secularized world.
That conflict of interests may presumably be resolved in appeal to natural law, that which we all share by nature.
Appositioned to that is the law of God that requires a life committed to principles that surpass the natural law, particularly when focusing on the Address’s theme “Overcoming Polarizations and Rebuilding Global Governance: The Ethical Foundations”. What do we contribute as a Church with the commission to convert Mankind if our contribution to globalization does no more than to reinforce its secularization?
What do we contribute other than reinforcing secularization? While not restoring a sacral universe and the sacramental and Eucharistic life, here are four points:
FIRST, somewhere in his recent comments, and as an overview, Pope Leo has said clearly that history is NOT the source of revelation.
Which is great relief from the more exploitable “principles” imprinted (imposed?) on the Gospel by Pope Francis: “time is greater than space” (historicism?), “realities are more important than ideas” (nominalism?), “unity prevails over conflict” (synodal clericalism?), and “the whole is greater than the part” (globalism?) (Evangelii Gaudium, 2013). I read Pope Leo as intent on rescuing the intermingled truth from the mess…
SECOND, that is, doctrine is permanent with regard to MORAL ABSOLUTES. The Catechism and the Magisterium (nn. 2033-5) identify intrinsically evil acts which are immoral under all circumstances and non-negotiable. These include: intentional killing of the innocent (n. 2273), infanticide (n. 2268), abortion (n. 2273), euthanasia (n. 2277); and sexual immorality (nn. 2352, 2353, 2356, 2357, 2370, 2380, 2381).
THIRD, then, for what is not doctrinal and what are called “MIXED AREAS,” the Council already said it this way:
“The Church guards the heritage of God’s Word and draws from it religious and moral principles, without always having at hand the solution to particular problems. She desires thereby to add the light of revealed truth to mankind’s store of experience, so that the path which humanity has taken in recent times will not be a dark one” (Gaudium et Spes, n. 34).
FOURTH, adding to the second point, above:
“Furthermore, whatever is opposed to life itself, such as any type of murder, genocide, abortion, euthanasia, or willful self-destruction, whatever violates the integrity of the human person, such as mutilation, torments inflicted on body or mind, attempts to coerce the will itself; whatever insults human dignity, such as subhuman living conditions, arbitrary imprisonment, deportation, slavery, prostitution, the selling of women and children; as well as disgraced working conditions, where men are treated as mere tools for profit, rather than as free and responsible persons; all these things and others of their like are infamies indeed. They poison human society, but they do more harm to those who practice them than those who suffer from the injury. Moreover, they are a supreme dishonor to the Creator” (Gaudium et Spes, n. 27).
SUMMARY: I read Leo as not a Francis II, because fully in step with the best of the Council: “Contemplating this melancholy state of humanity, the Council wishes to recall first of all the permanent binding force [!] of universal natural law [!] and its all-embracing principles [!]. Man’s conscience itself gives ever more emphatic voice to these principles.” (Gaudium et Spes, n. 79).
@ Recognized by China
The Pillar’s announcement, Leo names underground bishop as auxiliary, Beijing agrees, makes it appear that Leo XIV ignored the Vatican CCP agreement made by Vatican Secretary of State Piero Parolin that the CCP first selects candidates from which the Pope may make his selection was bypassed by the Pope. That is highly doubtful.
That the selection was previously ‘underground’ doesn’t ensure he wasn’t reeducated by the CCP. If Leo XIV acted independently of the prearranged accord with the CCP, then that agreement is no longer in effect. That would require a major announcement by the Vatican with acknowledgement from the CCP.
I’m hoping that his mild-mannered persona might be an effective cover for eventually doing more of the right things as though no one would notice.