An honest reading of the doctrinal and theological legacy of Catholic Social Teaching leads to the conclusion that it does not fit neatly into the categories of contemporary political divisions. Pope Benedict has shown this once again in his recent message to the 25th International Conference of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Ministry. In it he uses the term "inalienable rights" in connection with health care and laments the disparities of coverage between rich and poor countries. One could say that he sounds a little like a Democrat. Of course he also sounds a little like a Republican when, in this document and many others, he proclaims the Church's teaching on the right to life from conception until natural death.

This "both-and" concerning distributive justice and the right to life is so typical of the Church's full embrace of the truth in other areas: both faith and tradition, both Scripture and Tradition, both grace and natural virtue. It is therefore lamentable to see that the political bifurcation of crucial social issues affects Catholics. Many on one side talk about the need to serve the poor but, to their shame, agree with legalized abortion. Many on the other side seem to oppose the health care reform bill at least as much because it distributes wealth as because it makes abortions more available; in other words, they oppose something in it which is actually a good thing.

One of the aims of Pope Benedict's social encyclical Caritas In Veritate was to bring together the Church's pro-life and social justice messages, so often split and advanced by mutually antagonistic parties. In his own remarks at the Conference, the Cardinal Secretary of State, Tarcisio Bertone bluntly stated, "Justice requires guaranteed universal access to health care." When the Church that is so renowned for its pro-life stance can also be so clear on health care access, it is a clarion call for Catholics to be instruments of the redemption of our political discourse.

Here are links to a Catholic News Service summary of the Pope's remarks and the original for those who want to try their Italian:

http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1004736.htm

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/letters/2010/documents/hf_ben-xvi_let_20101115_op-sanitari_it.html