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Encyclicals, are letters sent to bishops which lay out issues of faith.
In recent years, encyclicals have become the highest form of papal authority. Encyclicals can also be read for clues for the church's cultural course.
Prior to his election, Pope Benedict—then known as JOSEPH CARDINAL RATZINGER was responsible for safeguarding religious principles and morals.
Monsignor Lorenzo ALB-a CHETTY, is the Director of Communion and Liberation, which supports.
He says that the Pope avoids doctrine, and stays focused on the core lessons of love.
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Monsignor Lorenzo Albacete
So I really think the encyclical is very very fundamental. Which surprised a lot of people. In his previous job he had to deal with so many topics and that A lot of people expected, so here comes the big doctrinal watchdog. So here come condemnations of modernity and condemnations of this and that. I found that many were amazed to see that was not so actually
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Despite Benedict's back to the basics approach, the encyclical has more than just simple definitions.
In his detailed look at love, the pope recognized and affirmed the role of erotic sex—within the traditional marriage.
However, Benedict did not tackle the issues of homosexuality, celibacy and feminism that trouble the church, today.
Many American Catholics want the church to address these issues. As editor of AMERICA magazine, a Jesuit-sponsored weekly, Father Thomas Reese, had called for open discussion about many of these issues. He found no clues for Benedict's papacy in the encyclical:
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Father Thomas Reese:
I don't think we know yet, I think time will tell
Certainly very liberal Catholics were afraid that when John, when benedict was elected, he was going to come down hard on theologians and anybody who disagreed with anything that was coming out of the Vatican
People on the far right were hoping for exactly that.
So far the people on the right have been disappointed and the people on the left, are kind of breathing easily, so far.
N: But some Catholics have said that church officials are closely watching educators and seminarians for signs of teachings that run contrary to established doctrine -- particularly related to gay rights.
Debbie Weil is the national director of DignityUSA—a gay and lesbian Roman-Catholic-Group. She thinks that any definition of love should not be limited.
Debbie Weil
in so many ways that the church either withholds its love toward
gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgenders. Or even some ways acts as though it is inappropriate to love. The church clearly doesn't
act on what it's preaching
N: POPE BENEDICT'S PREDECESSOR, john Paul the second, issued 14 encyclicals. His first was titled, The Redeemer of Man. It was a blueprint fro his 26 years as pope laying broad principles for his viaion for the catholic church.
Pope Benedict, in his first encyclical, maybe setting the stage for his own legacy.
David Ressel Columbia Radio news