Celebrated moral theologian Charles E. Curran examines and critiques Pope Benedict XVI’s contribution to Catholic social teaching in this Georgetown Digital Short, available exclusively in this concise digital format. In his eight-year pontificate (2005-13) Pope Benedict XVI wrote two encyclicals that are significant for Catholic social teaching: Deus caritas est (God Is Love) in 2005, and Caritas in veritate (Charity In Truth) in 2009. Curran analyzes and compares the teaching proposed in these two encyclicals, given that these two documents reflect differing approaches. He explores presuppositions found in Caritas in veritate within the tradition of Catholic social teaching and discusses the theological, ethical, and ecclesial methodologies of the encyclical. Examining the substance and content of Caritas in veritate and its relationship to Catholic social teaching, Curran focuses on its approach to the person, political and civil society, and specific issues and topics. This is the first exploration of Pope Benedict XVI’s impact on Catholic social teaching.
Georgetown Digital Shorts—longer than an article, shorter than a book—deliver timely works of peer-reviewed scholarship in a fast-paced, agile environment. They present new ideas and original texts that are easily and widely available to students, scholars, libraries, and general readers.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1: A Comparison: Deus caritas est and Caritas in veritate
Chapter 2: Methodological Considerations
Chapter 3: Substance and Content of Caritas in veritate
Conclusion
Reviews
"Charles Curran has provided in this brief work an insightful, fair, and lucid guidebook for anyone wishing to understand the social teaching of Benedict XVI."—Kenneth R. Himes, OFM, Boston College
"Curran carefully highlights the continuities and discontinuities of Benedict’s two encyclicals within the long view of Catholic social teaching. The analysis and writing are clearly focused and crisp. Overall, the work makes a much-needed contribution to understanding the thought and impact of Pope Benedict. Faculty, graduate students, and seminarians who teach and study Catholic social teaching will all benefit from using this text."—Marvin L. Mich, President, Greater Rochester Community of Churches, Faith in Action Network, author of The Challenge and Spirituality of Catholic Social Teaching
About the Author
Charles E. Curran, a Roman Catholic priest, is Elizabeth Scurlock University Professor of Human Values at Southern Methodist University. He was president of the Catholic Theological Society of America, the Society of Christian Ethics, and the American Theological Society, and is the author of numerous books, including Catholic Moral Theology in the United States: A History, which won the 2008 American Publishers Award for Professional and Scholarly Excellence in Theology and Religion.
