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| Caritatis in Veritate - Effective? | |
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| Topic Started: Saturday, 15. August 2009, 07:15 (81 Views) | |
| Derekap | Saturday, 15. August 2009, 07:15 Post #1 |
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It is now about six weeks since the publication of the above Encyclical. There was limited comment in the media but everything appears to have 'gone quiet'. I do not wish to discourage the Pope but I do wonder whether long encyclicals are the practical way of expressing truths and opinions. It took me about a month to go through it portion by portion from time to time and found I was skipping through some of it. How many people in the pews even know of its existence? How many parish priests knows more than the tit bits published by the media? How many fraudulent financiers know of the Pope's comments? Are the Pope's efforts and time going to gather dust in the archives? I wonder whether much briefer 'letters' published, say monthly, would be more effective? I realise this may horrify very devout scholastic scholars but such, I presume, are already 'converted'. The Church needs to to ensure as much as possible that its messages get through to the people who need them and are most unlikely to study long dissertations, how ever much we think they ought. |
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| PJD | Saturday, 15. August 2009, 08:03 Post #2 |
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"It is now about six weeks since the publication of the above Encyclical. There was limited comment in the media but everything appears to have 'gone quiet'. I do not wish to discourage the Pope but I do wonder whether long encyclicals are the practical way of expressing truths and opinions. It took me about a month to go through it portion by portion from time to time and found I was skipping through some of it." I agree with yoiu Derek. Personally I have only just finished Chapter II; some of the delay is because I always like to red underline anything I find particularly significant - I mean subjectively so for me. I happen to know that OsB is more advanced in his notations; perhaps he might say something here should he be listening at the moment. What you say about limited comment in the media is not unusual; in my opinion it was similarly so with the other encyclicals. Of course the length of the texts do have a bearing - but that should not stop professional commentators, especially within the Catholic Press, from accepting having to 'work a little harder' - they don't arise that often do they? "How many people in the pews even know of its existence? How many parish priests knows more than the tit bits published by the media? How many fraudulent financiers know of the Pope's comments?" From where I am, not many, if any at all Can't comment on fraud - haven't got to those sections yet (smile). And another thing - priests do not always have time to completely digest the encyclicals, let alone discuss them. "I wonder whether much briefer 'letters' published, say monthly, would be more effective? I realise this may horrify very devout scholastic scholars but such, I presume, are already 'converted'. The Church needs to to ensure as much as possible that its messages get through to the people who need them and are most unlikely to study long dissertations, how ever much we think they ought." No I don't think so Derek; serializing would I believe disrupt the Pope's overall flow of 'message'. Precis might be the answer; but that requires hard work and not very satisfying if nobody is very interested in 'old news' and never properly read it themselves. Forums are probably the best answer. PJD |
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| Rose of York | Saturday, 15. August 2009, 12:14 Post #3 |
Administrator
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Encyclicals are addressed to all members of the Church, but no doubt the Holy Father understands that millions cannot read, and many of the laity lack either the time or inclination to study them. I would say a priest has a duty to read encyclicals as they come out, keep them for future reference, and use them in his teaching. They are trained to guide us. I have not had the time to read Caritatis in Verutas, If I spent less time on this forum, I could read it, but like anybody else I need SOME time for relaxation, many could say the same. It would be helpful if our bishops were to issue short precis.
There's the rub. It is left to the laity to set up forums. How can an encyclical become 'old news'? The teaching therein will be relevant for people not yet born. Precis would be hard work, but on official Catholic websites there is plenty of stuff about matters that are not strictly spiritual. IF and I do mean IF I could make the decision, I would seek out a panel of retired teachers of English, get them to work with priests, to produce a precis suitable for persons of average educational attainment. |
  Catholic and proud of it! Talk to God before Mass. Talk to each other afterwards | |
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| James | Saturday, 15. August 2009, 12:49 Post #4 |
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James
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Yes, From source, the document, being universal, must cover as much as possible and by nature be wieldy. I agree access to the documents should be easier without having to read right through as a matter of course. Perhaps an index reference,? . Edited by James, Saturday, 15. August 2009, 12:50.
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| PJD | Sunday, 16. August 2009, 18:48 Post #5 |
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Here is an interesting reminder contained in Chapt.II of the encyclical:- “Ignorance of the fact that man has a wounded nature inclined to evil gives rise to serious errors in the areas of education, politics, social action and morals” PJD |
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| John Sweeney | Friday, 21. August 2009, 22:20 Post #6 |
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I think there is a point to encyclicals in that they lay out the Church's position on major issues of the day and so form a framework for practical action on major issues. However, there is usually no follow -up and the main value of these documents is usually for theologians and others to say things like " As described in Magnifico Lotsavordos..........." I think encyclicals should continue as teaching vehicles. I would like to see them interspersed with more practical documents from the Pope. Perhaps something based on Clifford Longley's article in the Tablet today which sets out his ideas on tackling alcohol abuse. John |
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