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Actually, No, I Don't Have Difficulty Listening To The Pope On Economic Issues

Because the social doctrine is so cool. When we understand its fundamental principles, when we have a baseline anthropology that explains why we are here, and our destiny, it's easier to sense where he is coming from. Most people's basic theological methodology is, "Is this infallible?" and if it isn't, they ignore it, rather than saying, "How might the social doctrine be applied prudently in this situation?"

One of the other unique things about our pope is his native country. When we factor that in, and when I listen with my political ears (not my ideology), he becomes perfectly intelligible (and reasonable).

The Catholic Church never cedes that there is any field of human life that is untouched by the gospel she is tasked with proclaiming. If you are waiting for her to butt out, you'll be waiting a long time. Direct jurisdiction and expertise is another matter, but if we are Catholic, we accept the anthropological vantage-point of the Church, and make it our own.
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