In the Image of God (by Jim Wallis)
When Pope Benedict XVI recently spoke to the U.N. General Assembly, many hoped he would denounce specific wars and injustices. But he rather took a step back and addressed the fundamental principles that the world community should follow. His speech was a primer on Catholic social teaching – solidarity, human dignity, and the common good.
The heart of his speech was grounded in human rights based on the "innate dignity" of every person. Benedict said:
The life of the community, both domestically and internationally, clearly demonstrates that respect for rights, and the guarantees that follow from them, are measures of the common good that serve to evaluate the relationship between justice and injustice, development and poverty, security and conflict. The promotion of human rights remains the most effective strategy for eliminating inequalities between countries and social groups, and for increasing security. Indeed, the victims of hardship and despair, whose human dignity is violated with impunity, become easy prey to the call to violence, and they can then become violators of peace. … a vision of life firmly anchored in the religious dimension can help to achieve this, since recognition of the transcendent value of every man and woman favours conversion of heart, which then leads to a commitment to resist violence, terrorism and war, and to promote justice and peace.
In other words, the recognition that each of us is created in the image of God means that what is at stake in how we treat one another is nothing less than how we regard the image of God in us. This recognition leads to:
Indeed, questions of security, development goals, reduction of local and global inequalities, protection of the environment, of resources and of the climate, require all international leaders to act jointly and to show a readiness to work in good faith, respecting the law, and promoting solidarity with the weakest regions of the planet. I am thinking especially of those countries in Africa and other parts of the world which remain on the margins of authentic integral development, and are therefore at risk of experiencing only the negative effects of globalization. In the context of international relations, it is necessary to recognize the higher role played by rules and structures that are intrinsically ordered to promote the common good, and therefore to safeguard human freedom.
That is the heart of the issue. It is always the "least of these"- the poorest and must vulnerable – who test our commitment. Those who are the left out and forgotten are those whose human rights must be protected by international bodies and international law, the "structures that are intrinsically ordered to promote the common good."
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Comments
The Image of God is an ontological concept that we must constantly and continually wrestly with. I agree so much with the thoughts expressed in this article, and would suggest we go even further, that is the image of God is entirety of Creation. Thus while the article includes the issues like the environment and ecology, but as functional resources for Humanity being the center of creation. What if the Image of God makes Humanity the co-caretakers of creation and not simply the users of created material. We then have an ethic of caring for the environment and other people because it is fundamentally good for Creation and not just because it is good for humanity.
Posted by: Peter Sylver | May 1, 2008 3:21 PM
Benedict's words are hollow, because he does not back them up by being a personal example of the way Xtianity and Catholics should behave.
When he says "The promotion of human rights remains the most effective strategy for eliminating inequalities between countries and social groups, and for increasing security. Indeed, the victims of hardship and despair, whose human dignity is violated with impunity, become easy prey to the call to violence," - he is correct.
But will he extend "the promotion of human rights" to all people and social groups, including gays, women, children? I see no evidence of it.
Posted by: Linda | May 1, 2008 3:27 PM
I am very disappointed in Pope Benedict and the Catholic Church (my lifelong church) in general. I notice that the Pope and the priests always pussyfoot around the issue of the war but are very clear about abortion, immigration and to some extent the death penalty. It appears to me that they know where their bread is buttered and do not have the courage to offend powerful chiefs of state like George Bush and conservative Catholics like my brother who think that war is OK even though he knows the Pope has ruled that the war in Iraq does not meet the Catholic definnition of just war. The Pope needs to be strong about gross human pain, suffering and injustice, not deliver soothing academic lectures.
Posted by: Ann | May 1, 2008 4:20 PM
I can think of very little compelling to support human rights other than that every human is made in God's image, or is inately holy, or some other "devine" characteristic that transcends each person's current status.
Without that inherent characteristic from the Creator there is very little logic to humans having certain unalienable rights, such as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Certainly there are no rights at all derived from Darwinian evolution.
The great sin of humans is to use other humans as things for their own pleasure, profit, benefit or fighting. The Biblical concept of humanity's divinity, summarized in "love your neighbor as yourself", is in the three Abrahamic religions. It's not in the Eastern concept of karma, where each person gets what they deserve. Why endanger your own karma by helping someone else? They are living out their karma and your attempts to help may hurt both of you.
That is why it is important for the God in me to respect the God in you, no matter who you are.
Posted by: JWH | May 1, 2008 5:16 PM
Maybe Benedict can start promoting the common good by liquidating some of the Vatican's assets to help the poor.
Posted by: J. P. | May 1, 2008 5:31 PM
Too bad the Catholic church is unable to recognize that GLBT are made in the image of God as well?
Posted by: Chris | May 1, 2008 8:37 PM
Psalm 8 sums up Benedict's statement well, I think. In the psalm, "Even the babble of infants declares your strength, your power to halt the enemy and avenger." We witness God's proclamation in this "babble of infants" when we listen to the little ones, the outsiders, the least in our communities.
That said, I would have liked to hear him ask, "What is humankind, that you remember them?" Humility, charity, gratitude comprise our response to God's grace, which manifest in service to the least. Laws, treaties, religious and government institutions don't do this work - they are the means, not the end. A greater openness to critique by Benedict, on behalf of the Roman Catholic Church, would go a long way toward enabling the multitude of Christian brothers and sisters in his care to do the work God calls them to do.
Posted by: Mark Douglass | May 1, 2008 9:01 PM
It's easy to hide behind generalizations; it takes courage to say exactly what we mean. I was very disappointed in the Pope's lack of courage when he came to visit our country just a few weeks after our President vetoed an anti-torture bill and the Pope said nothing. He also said nothing about the immorality of spending billions of dollars to kill people in Iraq and Afghanistan, people that have done nothing to us, and that this money could have been put to better use to feed and clothe and educate the poor. I am a Catholic and I am yearning for the day when the Pope or the bishops or priests are out there in front leading the way like a shepherd leads his flock, instead of hiding in the bushes. A Church leader that says nothing of substance about things that matter runs the risk of becoming irrelevant.
Posted by: Ana Sanchez | May 2, 2008 12:41 AM
Just to chime in:
I agree with the direction of this conversation put forward in this blog. In the midst of our conversation - I don't want marginalized Americans to be left out of the mix. I have walked into so many urban households that look exactly like homes in developing nations including many countries in Africa. We need to pray and work hard to help those in most need in our inner-cities, through out our own nation and the world. In addition to advocating for a change in international laws & enforcement - we need to help fund local, mobile, smart non-profits who often do a better job at creating solutions for the problems that we are discussing.
Just a note: The Catholic Church has denounced the Iraq war, sent a leadership team to the White House prior to the war starting. In addition, Mother Teresa sent a personal letter to Saddam H. and George B. encouraging diplomacy.
Posted by: ern | May 2, 2008 8:34 AM
"Indeed, the victims of hardship and despair, whose human dignity is violated with impunity, become easy prey to the call to violence, and they can then become violators of peace."
It's not just the "victims" who fall prey to the "call to violence". I would proffr that that call is answered more often than not by the overly pious, self-righteous followers of "law" based religions. Most of the violence to which the victims have been subjected comes at the hands of "Christian" nations and peoples who seem to think they have a divine right to dominate and oppress. The Papal Bull of 1493, which said "Among all the works offered to the divine Majesty & most desired by our hearts, without doubt the most preferable is the exaltation of the Catholic faith & Christian religion which…seek the salvation of souls, the dismantling of barbarian nations & the subjugation of the same to our faith", is still in play.
"... since recognition of the transcendent value of every man and woman favours conversion of heart, which then leads to a commitment to resist violence, terrorism and war, and to promote justice and peace."
As others have noted, where does the rejection of GLBT folks enter into tis recognition?
Posted by: Rev Andy Little | May 2, 2008 8:42 AM
For the record, this is what the Catholic Church teaches about homosexuality”
“Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, tradition has always declared that "homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered." CCC 2357
“[Homosexuals] must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.” CCC 2358
I think it is naïve to think that the Church will ever change its teaching regarding homosexual acts as sinful – and here’s one of the differences between the Church and other conservative Christians – the Church does not teach that homosexuality is a sin.
The Church clearly teaches that discrimination against homosexuals is to be avoided.
Now, you are certainly entitled to your opinion if you feel that refusal to recognize homosexual relationships constitutes a form of discrimination, but I feel that rejecting Catholic teachings on justice on that basis is extremely narrow-minded.
The press responded to Benedict’s first encyclical, “Caritas Deus Est,” in a way that would lead people to believe that the only thing it contained was an injunction against homosexuality.
Caritas Deus Est contained perhaps two sentences on the exclusiveness of heterosexual marriage. For that matter, it placed no particular emphasis on the illegitimacy of homosexual relationships any more than the illegitimacy of heterosexual relationships outside of marriage.
The rest of the document is a beautiful statement of God’s love for us and Christian living. It summarizes many of the reasons I am a Christian and why I am a Catholic.
These are my opinions, you are free to disagree with me, but I suggest you look a little closer at the writings of Pope Benedict before you dismiss the social teachings of the Church.
Benedict has been severely mischaracterized by the popular press, and on a number of occasions I have found that what the pope wrote or said directly contradicts what the press reported that he had written or said.
PX
Posted by: neuro_nurse | May 2, 2008 1:16 PM
erratum: Benedict's first encyclical was titled "Deus Caritas Est" - God is Love.
Addendum: please note that the Church does not exclude homosexuals from Christianity.
Posted by: neuro_nurse | May 2, 2008 1:42 PM
Neuro_nurse - Good characterization of the RC position on homosexuality.
Posted by: Gordon | May 2, 2008 3:08 PM
I find it ironic and somewhat sad that the day of remebrance for the Holocaust was marked by comments of a Pope who once participated in Hitler's Youth. The words he shares on what we should be doing to make the world a better place fall on deaf ears when they come from one who participated in such disgusting actions - by choice (and there was a choice). It is almost a slap to the face of those who have lost family in such a travisty - and I am among them. Perhaps we should not, as Christians, focus on such past transgressions, however hard it is not to. I for one am only human and have a hard time with any religion who would chose such a leader with such a past,let alone listen to what he advises.
Posted by: L McLane | May 2, 2008 11:32 PM
L McLane:
This has been discussed numerous times in many places. Participation in the Hitler Youth was NOT optional. The pope was NEVER a member of the Nazi party and when he was conscripted into military service, he deserted.
Here is a link to a New York Times article (hosted on the Boston College Website) that should clear this up:
http://bc.edu/research/cjl/meta-elements/texts/cjrelations/topics/new_pope_defied_nazis.htm
Posted by: Mary Veeneman | May 3, 2008 1:40 AM
L McLane - I suspect the early followers of "The Way" were just as put-out with Paul of Tarus leading the charge of Christainty into the camps of the Gentiles. Yet, I for one am thankful that he did though some two thousand years later.
Posted by: d.e.sharp | May 3, 2008 10:47 AM
Pope Benedict said: "... recognition of the transcendent value of every man and woman favours conversion of heart, which then leads to a commitment to resist violence, terrorism and war, and to promote justice and peace."
Jim Wallis commented: "... the recognition that each of us is created in the image of God means that what is at stake in how we treat one another is nothing less than how we regard the image of God in us."
Oddly enough, it is sufficient for me to realize that others -- and not only my fellow humans but non-human animals as well -- are sentient beings like myself, capable of experiencing both well-being and suffering, and to recognize that my actions can affect them for better or worse. That is sufficient basis for desiring to act in such a way as to increase their well-being and avoid increasing their suffering (or to diminish it if possible).
I don't feel any necessity to invoke "transcendant value" or the "image of God" in them. Like me, they are born, live and die, and while they live they may experience both pain and happiness, well-being and suffering. That is sufficient to have compassion for them.
With regard to rights, rights are a human social convention. The origins of what we think of as "rights" can be discerned even in the social structures of non-human social animals such as chimpanzees and wolves. Among humans the concept of "rights" has evolved from "the divine right of kings" to the notion of "universal human rights", and indeed there are many (including myself) who would like to extend the concept of rights to non-human animals who are adversely impacted by human activities.
In human societies, the question of "rights" is fundamentally a question of power. Those who have the power to establish and enforce rights will do so, and the rights that actually exist with legal force will be whatever those who are so empowered wish them to be.
So, the problem of establishing, extending and protecting "universal human rights" is really the problem of empowering the powerless, unfortunately often over the objections and resistance of those who presently hold power and don't wish to share it. Ultimately the only thing that can overcome the reactionary resistance of the powerful few, is the greater power of the powerless many -- "people power" -- which has repeatedly demonstrated that it is an effective force for change when organized and directed to establishing popular rights.
Posted by: SecularAnimist | May 3, 2008 12:45 PM
Mary Veeneman:
Many people chose not to adhere to Hitler's laws and regime - many paid with their life for such choices, but there were options- there are always options for us with God given freewill. My point was, and I do feel that having had family lost in the Holocaust entitles me to it, that a religious leader held so highly shoud not have participated or agreed to perform under such tyranny.
Concentration camps were full of Germans and others who did just that - who could not xtand by and watch such atrosities happen let alone take part in them. I do not excuse the Pope for that reason and had he truly felt as deeply as he claims, he would have followed the lead of those who bravely stood in defiance.
Posted by: L McLane | May 4, 2008 12:58 AM
"a Pope who once participated in Hitler's Youth.
Let's be honest about this -- he was forcibly conscripted, and then ran away to American forces the first chance he got; all and all, quite different than the way you portrayed it.
As for being created in God's image, this also applies to children in the womb, I would think. So how then do liberal Christians reconcile that with the pro-choice view so many of them hold? Hmm?
Posted by: Bob | May 4, 2008 1:12 PM
"Too bad the Catholic church is unable to recognize that GLBT are made in the image of God as well?
It doesn't? Huh. I don't how to explain this quote from the Catechism then:
"[Homosexuals] must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided."
Those awful Catholics. I can't believe it wants to treat gays with respect and compassion. Jerks.
Posted by: Bob | May 4, 2008 1:16 PM
I have read a couple of books written by Cardinal Ratzinger, and read both of Pope Benedict's encyclicals - which I suspect is much more than any of the people who have tried to dismiss him on this thread have read.
I am impressed by this pope. He has at the same time made me both proud to be Catholic and acutely aware of my failure to completely fulfil my obligations as a Christian. Reading Benedict's writing is for me both joyous and uncomfortable.
The dismissive comments that have been made on this thread about this pope are, in my opinion, cheap shots - attempts to quickly discredit a man about whom you apparently know very little.
PX
Posted by: neuro_nurse | May 4, 2008 9:02 PM
"The dismissive comments that have been made on this thread about this pope are, in my opinion, cheap shots - attempts to quickly discredit a man about whom you apparently know very little."
I agree, particularly concerning the suggestion that the pope was a Nazi or Nazi sympathizer.
Posted by: Mary Veeneman | May 9, 2008 12:04 AM
"Victimes of hardship become easy prey to the call to violence". I agree with the popes remarks, but the leading supporter of violence today is one of the wealthiest men inb the world. Ben Ladin has used his fortune to support violence against infidels around the world, and has easily recruited from rich and poor alike.
Posted by: Grant Lowe | May 12, 2008 12:54 PM
Such a split! Where are the "human rights" of women? Or the "human rights" of the victims of abusive priests, people who have come to the Church so many times, to be stomped on and cast away. In spite of what appears to be a change of heart, only time will tell if it's only a change of words. Too little, too late, though. No matter what happens. I'm amazed that people continue to respect anyone in the papal office after all we've seen.
Posted by: Dee Ann Miller | May 13, 2008 11:01 PM
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