Washington D.C., Jan 25, 2006 / 22:00 pm
As the world begins to sink its teeth into “Deus Caritas est”, the first Encyclical of Pope Benedict XVI, many experts--on all sides of the political aisles-- are lauding the new work as an essential and critical teaching on the core values of the Church.
Bishop William Skylstad, head of the Diocese of Spokane, WA, and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops called the new document a “profound meditation on the meaning of Christian love and the place of charity in the life of the Church.”
Noting the Pope’s affirmation that “the Church cannot neglect the service of charity any more than she can neglect the Sacraments and the Word,” Bishop Skylstad said that “This affirmation puts this service at the very center of the Church’s life, and it follows a reflection in depth on the meaning of love as it appears in Sacred Scripture.”
He added that “Following this fundamental affirmation, the Holy Father also discusses the relationship between charity and justice… [pointing] out that ‘the just ordering of society and the State is a central responsibility of politics.’”