The third encyclical of Pope Francis, “Fratelli Tutti”, calls for a better kind of politics that puts the common good at the center of our debates. Left-wing and right-wing governments around the world have fallen into the same trap, failing to take account of the crisis of inequality and powerlessness, and a failure of leadership to inspire a cohesive vision of society that ordinary citizens can share.
For the common good
Nahlah Ayed, CBC Ideas, asks Author George Monbiot, “What is to be done? “ Monbiot points toward a new way of conceptualizing the common good, and forging a politics of belonging. The British writer continues to keep this challenge at the fore of his column for The Guardian and in his most recent book, “Out of the Wreckage: A New Politics for an Age of Crisis,” underlining the principle: what do I owe my neighbour and how can we be better citizens?
He argues that our new story must deny what neoliberalism has created, "that we are individuals rather than societies, and that we should see ourselves as a solution for all our problems, rather than recognizing that there are such things as structural problems that has thrown us into serious disorder." Monbiot argues creating communities of "mutual concern, of mutual aid, where we support each other, as indeed many people have been doing during the coronavirus pandemic" is key. "We create a sense of belonging, whoever you might be, wherever you might have come from, however briefly, you might stay in this area while you are there — you belong," says Monbiot. "And out of that, we start to rebuild political society. We start to rebuild political action based very strongly on local initiatives to improve the lives of all.".1Upon release of the Holy Father’s new encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, Franciscan Action Network’s executive director, Stephen Schneck writes how Franciscan spirituality and values are needed in our society today. Our society, our economics, and our politics are infected with structural sin. That sin takes different forms: an individualism that presumes nothing is owed to others or to the community, a faceless economy that rewards greed for private property, and a polarized politics that divides citizens from the common good. The centrifugal character of this structural sin erodes the bonds of solidarity, fraternity, and community – undercutting the divinely ordained, relational nature of human life and dignity.
The encyclical is long but its message is clear and compelling. Our life together in civilization is fraying before our very eyes. “Ancient conflicts thought long buried are breaking out anew, while instances of a myopic, extremist, resentful and aggressive nationalism are on the rise. In some countries, a concept of popular and national unity influenced by various ideologies is creating new forms of selfishness and a loss of the social sense under the guise of defending national interests….” (Par 11)2Carol Kuruvilla, HuffPost US, notes that Francis’ new encyclical, released Sunday with the title “Fratelli Tutti” (“Brothers All”), wasn’t written as commentary on a specific country’s politics and doesn’t explicitly mention Trump. But given the letter’s sharp rebuke of “violent nationalism,” selfish tribalism, and “trickle-down” economic theory, some Catholics reading the letter from a U.S. context believe it has implications for the faithful as they face the 2020 presidential election.
“This encyclical challenges Catholics across the ideological spectrum with its call for a better kind of politics that puts the common good at the center of our debates,” said John Gehring, Catholic program director for the advocacy group Faith in Public Life Action. “But I do read the pope’s sharp criticism of nationalist trends and anti-immigrant populism as a critique of Trump’s ‘America First’ agenda.”3For Sister Simone Campbell, executive director of the Catholic advocacy group NETWORK, Francis’ encyclical was an indictment of “rampant individualism, ‘got-you’ politics and economic exploitation.”
“[America’s] elected leaders have failed in their responsibility to care for the least among us, with millions of Americans worried about getting sick, finding their next meal, or paying rent,” Campbell tweeted. “These politicians - notably in the Senate - have failed to give communities ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic the resources they need to survive. This is a failure in moral leadership and Catholics cannot stand for it.”3Kate Ward, a theological ethicist at Marquette University, told HuffPost that Francis’ determination to reach across religious beliefs comes through clearly in “Fratelli Tutti.”
“He is clearly determined that religious belief, or lack thereof, won’t be an obstacle to fraternity and social friendship on his watch,” Ward said of the pope. The document also contains a “challenge to anyone who’s tempted to conduct their life in society along aggressive lines, viewing others as enemies and inciting violence.” “President Trump seems to be pretty gleeful about his division of people into those who are with him, and those who are enemies. That is a behavior this document really condemns,” Ward said.3The third Papal Encyclical of Pope Francis, written to all people of good will, challenges us to seriously advocate structural change in our social, political, and economic systems to bring about change for the common good.
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