Tag Archives: papal encyclical

Let’s conclude a letter tonight. First, an ackowledgement that the world situation in 1963 was a serious source of stress for all people: 166. Our concern here has been with problems which are causing (people) extreme anxiety at the present … Continue reading →

Peace on Earth: the harvest is plenty, but the laborers are few. We are approaching the end of this encyclical letter. We have a long way to go … 163. Hence among the very serious obligations incumbent upon (people) of … Continue reading →

Does reform and renewal always have to be so slow? The impatient traveler in the back seat cries, “Are we there yet?!” Sometimes the answers, respectively, are yes and no: 161. There are indeed some people who, in their generosity … Continue reading →

Pope John advises us to be open to non-Christian philosophies that include laudable elements: 159. Again it is perfectly legitimate to make a clear distinction between a false philosophy of the nature, origin and purpose of (human beings) and the … Continue reading →

Are separated Christians or non-believers–or anyone, really–just making an error? Or is there some inherent blindness to the truth? I think one might be hard-pressed to suggest every errant person is always blameless or always responsible. In any event, it does … Continue reading →

Today in Pacem in Terris, we read we can cooperate fruitfully with separated Christians or even non-believers: 157. The principles We have set out in this document take their rise from the very nature of things. They derive, for the … Continue reading →

Is it easy to apply Christian moral principles in the world? Pope John thinks not: 154. In this connection We think it opportune to point out how difficult it is to understand clearly the relation between the objective requirements of … Continue reading →

Pope John offers a familiar complaint: 153. We consider too that a further reason for this very frequent divorce between faith and practice in Christians is an inadequate education in Christian teaching and Christian morality. In many places the amount … Continue reading →

Pope John observes a certain de-Christianization fifty years ago. We should be clear that the divorce between Western culture and Christianity is not new, nor could we probably ever claim the West had totally bought in to the “Christian spirit.” … Continue reading →

Picking up on 147-148, these two sections continue the case for what Pope John terms an “apostolate” in the workplace: 149. And yet even this must be reckoned insufficient to bring the relationships of daily life into conformity with a … Continue reading →

Today in Pacem in Terris, things continue on an evangelical bent, with the suggestion that the laity are in the front lines of bringing the perspective and mind of  Christ into human endeavors: 147. And yet, if they are to … Continue reading →

We come to the final major section of Pacem in Terris. In Part V Pope John offers a series of “pastoral exhortations.” Lay people should  not retreat or withdraw from the world, but engage it, and bring Christ to it … Continue reading →

Today’s sections begin with a recounting of post-WWII developments. Nothing theological; just historical and affirming, starting with the UN: 142. The United Nations Organization (U.N.) was established, as is well known, on June 26, 1945. To it were subsequently added … Continue reading →

We hear of “subsidiarity” a lot in certain church conversations. The principle applies to secular politics as well: 140. The same principle of subsidiarity which governs the relations between public authorities and individuals, families and intermediate societies in a single … Continue reading →

A small section today, and a quick post. 139. The common good of individual States is something that cannot be determined without reference to the human person, and the same is true of the common good of all States taken … Continue reading →