An MOJ reader from Europe on "Caritas in Veritate"

This from Pasquale Annicchino:

A Progressive-Conservative Pope?

Prof. Scarpelanda  posted the article authored by Ross Douthat on Caritas in Veritate  and published by the New York Times.

According to Douthat: “Benedict’s encyclical is nothing if not political. “Caritas in Veritate” promotes a vision of economic solidarity rooted in moral conservatism (...)It represents a kind of left-right fusionism with little traction in American politics” and that: “For liberals and conservatives alike, “Caritas in Veritate” is an invitation to think anew about their alliances”.

While it is true that Caritas in Veritate hardly fits within the liberal/conservative categories of American politics, the European laboratory may introduce some surprises in the debate.

A careful reading of the new philosophical  theorization (Progressive-Conservatism) advanced by Phillip Blond for the Tories in the U.K. may reframe the debate.

 David Cameron synthesized Blond’s Progressive Conservatism with the motto: “Conservative means for Progressive ends”.

 Is it something similar to what Benedict XVI is proposing?

Interestingly enough in December 2008 Blond advanced his ideas for a “Catholic economy”. The video is available on Youtube.

Do the “new alliances” have a kind of European flavour?

Blond also wrote for the NYTimes (February 2008)

See also the recent article published by Blond on “The Independent”: Without a concept  of virtue our politics and our banks are doomed.

Pasquale Annicchino

Junior Fellow Law and Religion Programme, Siena