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The Catholic Church often seems to draw the most media attention for its blunders, some real and some fictitious. There has been relatively small attention paid to Pope Benedict XVI's latest encyclical, "Caritas in Veritate" ("Charity in Truth").

The Vatican issued the document in 2009 to address a broad spectrum of social concerns in light of global development. It gives the Pope's thinking and teaching on these serious matters that affect societies around the world.

To spread the lessons of Charity in Truth, the Albany Diocese's Peace and Justice Commission will sponsor a March 11 panel presentation and discussion on the encyclical. The panel brings together four experts in morality, ethics and social justice.

Two of these experts are Rev. Kevin Mullen, OFM, president of Siena College in Loudonville, who will frame the historical and theological context for Charity in Truth; and Sister Patricia Schoelles, SSJ, president of St. Bernard's School of Theology and Ministry (located in Roches-ter and Albany), who will address justice and the environment.

In this encyclical, the Pope shows the concern the Church shares for the well-being of the planet and the importance that well-being has for all persons, especially for the poor.

Barbara DiTommaso, director of the Albany diocesan Commission on Peace and Justice, will speak on the rights of workers and Third World markets to economic development. She has experience working with victims of social injustice, especially in Haiti.

Finally, Bishop Howard J. Hubbard will deal with distributive justice: How can societies assure a fair and just distribution of their wealth and resources? How can all workers share in fair remuneration for their time and effort?

Concern for a just society and care for the poor and disadvantaged are important elements in all religions and for all persons of good will. Jesus' teaching is replete with concern for the poor. However, Catholics began to hear a more urgent codification of our responsibilities when, in 1891, Pope Leo XIII issued his historic encyclical, "Rerum Novarum" ("Regarding New Matters").

Since then, popes have made numerous statements to urge pursuit of social justice. Last year, Pope Benedict added his teaching to this series of documents which cite the need for ethical and just practices in our personal, family and social lives.

Charity in Truth addresses situations and concepts in cultural sociology and economics that we didn't think about 100, 50 or even 30 years ago.

Today's conditions include a globalized economy, free trade, national subsidization of industry, environmental threats, advanced technology, the human right to clean water and air, and the extreme disparity between rich and poor nations. The encyclical attempts to define proper treatment of human capital in a mostly capitalistic global economy.

Charity in Truth bases that definition on Christian principles. Since each person has a transcendent future, an eternal destiny of sharing God's life, all must be treated with care and concern in all the dimensions of their lives. We are not commodities.

We do not exist merely to enhance the lives or wealth of other persons or nations. We are the very image of God. This reality, found in the teachings of Jesus as we know them through the Scriptures and the consistent teaching of the people of God, is the foundation for the goals set forth in this encyclical.

Charity in Truth is thorough. Longer than the typical papal en-cyclical, it enjoys real in-tellectual heft. Benedict be-gan his career as a scholar and has been engaged in theological and cultural issues ever since. That intellect is apparent here.

(William Halligan is a member of the diocesan Commission on Peace and Justice and a chaplain's aide for Northeast Health. Reach him at [email protected].)

The panel discussion will be held March 11, 7 p.m., at The College of Saint Rose's Hubbard Interfaith Sanctuary in Albany. It is free and open to the public.

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