Pope Benedict XVI on Church & State.

Pope Benedict XVI's inaugural encyclical, Deus Caritas Est, is about love. The nearly 16,000-word document is divided into two parts, one relating to love s meaning, the other to its practice. Because of the primary significance of love, as providing the essential meaning for human existence, the ramifications of this encyclical are far-reaching. Benedict will have much to draw from and expand on for future encyclicals.

One point that the Holy Father develops, pertaining to the political realm, has timely applicability for American and Canadian voters. In recent elections, especially the January 2006 federal election in Canada, political forces questioned whether it is possible for people of faith to cast their votes in an objective way. Bob Ferguson used one of the country's public broadcasting systems, CBC Radio, to call for "legislation to regulate the practice of religion." He wants religion to be subservient to politics. Of late, Hillary Rodham Clinton has inveighed against those American citizens who, she alleges, are "forced" by their religious affiliations to vote in a certain way. She does not seem to be particularly concerned about the pressure that a political party brings to bear on its members.

Benedict XVI reminds us that "The just ordering of society and the State is a central responsibility of politics." A State that had abandoned this responsibility to rule justly, as St. Augustine noted back in the fourth century, would consist of a bunch of thieves ("magna latrocinia"). By no means, however, does this "just ordering" exclude the contributions of people of faith. It would be naive in the extreme to believe that politicians are immune to "the dangers of a certain ethical blindness caused by the dazzling effect of power and special interests."

The faithful Catholic understands how faith and reason work together. He understands, therefore, as the Holy Father states, how "Faith enables reason to do its work, more effectively and to see its proper object more clearly." The faithful Catholic has faith not because he has forsaken reason. On the contrary, he has drawn upon reason to strengthen his faith, and used his faith to purify his reason. A Christian does not belong to some parallel universe, but is grounded through reason in the political world in which we all live. Consequently, people of faith have a crucial role to play in the political scheme of things in helping to bring about a just society. "The Church wishes to help form consciences in political life," Benedict writes, "and to stimulate greater insight into the authentic requirements of justice as well as greater readiness to act accordingly."

Assisting the polity in achieving a just society, nonetheless, is not the most important contribution that people of faith can provide. Justice without love leaves society impoverished. "There is no ordering of the State so just that it can eliminate the need for a service of love." In fact, the elimination of love is equivalent to the elimination of man's humanity.

It should be axiomatic that even in an ideal order of social justice, there would always be loneliness, suffering and deprivations of one kind or another, all of which cry out for neighbourly love. The State as such is not capable of satisfying all human needs. "Man cannot live by bread alone." "In the end, the claim that just social structures would make works of charity superfluous make a materialistic conception of man ... a conviction that demeans man and ultimately disregards all that is specifically human."

Political campaigns, as a rule, exaggerate the importance of their candidates, often presenting them as having God-like powers. The tandem of charismatic politicians and enthusiastic followers can create a euphoria that can swell to what seems to be religious fervour. Politicians must understand that they are not Messiahs. People of faith should know where politics ends and religion begins. They can help politics to be what it should be. They are not a threat to democracy, but a vital ally.

Marxism was a highly flawed political theory that purported to be a religion. It resisted rational criticism and oppressed people of faith. We should learn from past mistakes not to overvalue politics or undervalue the political role that faith-filled people legitimately play.

Deus Caritas Est is a welcomed and needed contribution toward clarifying the meaning of love and outlining its importance in the world. But it is also important for political reasons, inasmuch as it affirms the valid and useful place that people of faith have in a democratic society.

Dr. Donald DeMarco is Emeritus Professor of Philosophy and Adjunct Prof. at Holy Apostles College & Seminary.