Cardinal Turkson reflects on world poverty, Church’s social doctrine

CWN - November 30, 2012

In an interview with Vatican Radio, the president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace reflected on his childhood in Ghana, changing definitions of poverty, and the importance of the Church’s social doctrine, which “should not be a secret anymore.”

“In some cases it’s a neglected secret; houses of formation know very little about it,” said Cardinal Peter Turkson. “In the past we looked at the Church as the mystical body of Christ, the emphasis was on spiritual relationships, then Vatican II opened that up, it brought us to recognize that we as a family, the sense of the Church in terms of social commitments.”

“The easiest definition of the social doctrine of the church is: What am I, with my Christian faith, invited to witness to the love of Christ, how do I engage the social order, the political and economic life,” he added.

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  • Posted by: impossible - Dec. 05, 2012 10:36 AM ET USA

    The Cardinal should read and heed #69 of the Compendium of Catholic Social Teachings. He wold also do well to read and emulate Archbishop Chaput's interview with John Allen of the National Catholic Reporter which once in a while contains something good. Usually it is good only for fish wrap.

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