Fratelli Tutti

Thinking about my Dad

On Father’s Day, I was thinking about my dad. My father died nine years ago. Dad was a good Catholic and a political conservative. Our politics did not align very often, but while we might take opposing viewpoints on whether to be tough on crime, raise taxes, lobby for the latest nuclear power plant, andContinue reading “Thinking about my Dad”

A better kind of politics

Our Saint Francis of Assisi group has been reading Pope Francis’ encyclical Fratelli Tutti. During our February Zoom meeting, we discussed Chapter 5. We’ve all heard the adage “Never discuss politics or religion in polite company.” But in Chapter 5, our fearless Pope Francis mixes both. The chapter’s title is “A better kind of politics”.Continue reading “A better kind of politics”

Relationships, Love, and Charity

Chapter three of Fratelli Tutti, is entitled “Envisaging and Engendering an Open World” and discusses relationships, love, acts of solidarity and service, openness, morality, and universal rights. Pope Francis makes it clear: We need to move beyond ourselves in order to truly live: No one can experience the true beauty of life without relating toContinue reading “Relationships, Love, and Charity”

The Stranger on the Road

In chapter two of Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis focuses on the parable of the Good Samaritan which is told by Jesus when a lawyer asks him “And who is my neighbour?” Although it would be easy to soften his interpretation of the parable, the Holy Father doesn’t let us off easy. He cuts right toContinue reading “The Stranger on the Road”

Hope

Three weeks ago I introduced Pope Francis’ new encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, which in English means “we are all brothers and sisters.” Two weeks ago, we took a look at Chapter 1: Dark Clouds Over a Closed World. Chapter 1 is pretty negative. In it, our Holy Father details the world’s ills, including aggressive nationalism, toxicContinue reading “Hope”

Dark Clouds Over a Closed World

Last week I introduced Pope Francis’ new encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, which in English means “we are all brothers and sisters.” In the next few weeks, I would like to share with you more of this important and timely document. Today, we will take a look at Chapter 1: Dark Clouds Over a Closed World. TheContinue reading “Dark Clouds Over a Closed World”

On Sunday, October 4th, the feast day of Saint Francis of Assissi, Pope Francis released a brand new encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, which means in English “we are all brothers and sisters.” Pope Francis’ third encyclical begins: “FRATELLI TUTTI”. With these words, Saint Francis of Assisi addressed his brothers and sisters and proposed to them aContinue reading “Fratelli Tutti”