The October 2012 Synod of Bishops on the new evangelization failed to answer a critical question for the future of Catholic social teaching, Ryan told a lecture hall filled with high school kids, graduate students and grandmothers at Toronto鱿鱼视频app Regis College March 20.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not likely to have an authoritative document on the new evangelization from Pope Benedict in the near future,鈥� lamented Ryan.
Benedict鱿鱼视频app thinking on the essential link between evangelization and social justice is clear, highly developed and up-front in his last papal encyclical, Caritas in Veritate. However, the bishops shied away from the topic in four documents produced for last fall鱿鱼视频app synod, Ryan said. While the former pope proposed a 鈥渢heological and pastoral effort to engage what it means to be fully human in a globalizing world,鈥� the synod fathers made very few and ambiguous statements about 鈥渨orks of charity.鈥�
Overall, the synod鱿鱼视频app engagement with the social teaching of the Church was 鈥渨eak,鈥� he said.
Before Benedict鱿鱼视频app Feb. 11 announcement of retirement Ryan was waiting to see how the Pope might fill in the gaps regarding social teaching and new evangelization.
鈥淚 would be very happy if the new Pope picks up where Benedict left off,鈥� Ryan said.
He is confident that Pope Francis shares Benedict鈥欥嫌闶悠礱pp understanding that the social teaching and mission of the Church is what the new evangelization needs to communicate 鈥� and to communicate it more often by works than words.
鈥淔or Benedict it鱿鱼视频app the fullness of love, planted in our human hearts by divine love,鈥� Ryan said. 鈥淚n our culture, charity is limited to a direct response to the poor and needy. This same ambiguity arises in the use of the phrase 鈥榳orks of charity鈥� in the working documents of the then-upcoming synod.鈥�
A new evangelization without the Church鱿鱼视频app tradition of social teaching won鈥檛 make sense, he said.
鈥淪ocial teaching teaches us the right relations we must develop between God and all humans, between humans themselves and between humans and nature,鈥� said Ryan. 鈥淚t鱿鱼视频app a framework of the global common good and social justice for all.鈥�
There鱿鱼视频app no debate on the purpose of the new evangelization.
鈥淎 new evangelization, a phrase first used by Pope Paul VI, is not new in its content,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he content is always the same. It鱿鱼视频app the Gospel.鈥�
But if the content doesn鈥檛 change, that doesn鈥檛 mean there鱿鱼视频app nothing new in it.
鈥�(It means) new methods and means of transmitting the good news to the people in our changed and troubled world, with new enthusiasm and joy and hope.鈥�
If bishops fear that talking about social justice is divisive then it will be, said Ryan. By keeping the focus on the Gospel the bishops will find Church social teaching connects with ordinary people. Ryan suspects that ability to bridge the gap between Church documents and the lives of ordinary people will define Pope Francis鈥� approach.
鈥淚鈥檓 sure Vatican officials are tearing their hair out because they don鈥檛 know what he will do next.鈥�