Church´s Social Catechism Due Out Within a Year

PADUA, Italy, MAY 6, 2002 (Zenit.org).- The Catholic Church will publish a compendium of its social doctrine within a year, says Cardinal François Xavier Nguyên Van Thuân.
The president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace made his announcement Sunday. At a meeting organized by the Works Company, an institution directed by members of the Communion and Liberation movement, Cardinal Van Thuân explained that the initiative was entrusted to his council by the Pope himself.

The cardinal mentioned the titles of some of the chapters.

“There is a discussion on the nature of Catholic social teaching, the human person, the family, the social order, the role of the state, democracy, work and salaries, unemployment, poverty and charity, the environment, the beauty of creation, environmental problems, the international community, immigration and foreign debt,” he said.

Cardinal Van Thuân explained what it means to work for peace and justice, and pointed to the beatitudes as a moral guide for those in politics.

Blessed, he said, will be the politician who is responsible and honest, who works for the common good and is consistent and open to dialogue, who is committed to change with an evangelical perspective and who listens to the people, his conscience and God.

Blessed too is that politician who “is not afraid of truth, and who does not allow himself to be conditioned by the media,” the cardinal added.