185. Charity needs the light of the truth that we constantly seek. “That light is both the light of reason and the light of faith”, [Caritas in Veritate 3] and does not admit any form of relativism.
Pope Francis picks up on one of his predecessor’s bugaboos. I find there’s a difference between adapting oneself to circumstances for the cause of mercy or of understanding as compared with changing the rules to benefit the well-off.
We finish off this topic of social and political charity with a reminder that it is insufficient to speak of ideals alone, especially when there is little or no action to back up the good words.
Yet it also respects the development of the sciences and their essential contribution to finding the surest and most practical means of achieving the desired results. For when the good of others is at stake, good intentions are not enough. Concrete efforts must be made to bring about whatever they and their nations need for the sake of their development.
All citations of Fratelli Tutti (which can be found on this link) are © Copyright – Libreria Editrice Vaticana
Catholic Sensibility 