Deus et Caritas

When Pope Benedict XVI's first encyclical came out, many were surprised. This man the press had been calling "God's rottweiler" seemingly setting the tone for his pontificate with...love? But that perceived conflict overlooks something essential in the nature of faith. It is true that as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Ratzinger developed a reputation as a doctrinal hardliner, but what is a doctrinal hardliner except one who believes completely?

If God is Love, then doesn't it make perfect sense for all of us to be "doctrinal hardliners", to embrace without reservation all of the teachings inspired by the Holy Spirit? Indeed, it seems that only one who truly and fully believed that God is Love could fully and truly advocate abandoning all stubbornness, all pride, all personal desire in favor of doing it God's way.

Perfect faith is hard to come by; it's hard to trust enough to sincerely say, "Not my will, but Yours." It's hard to hear God's will, sometimes, over the clashing din of society, practical demands and our own desires. That's where a "doctrinal hardliner" like the former Cardinal Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, comes in handy: he helps maintain clarity. And clarity about God's will is critical, because God knows what He's doing. It seems unlikely that anyone with a sincere belief in God doubts that He knows what He's doing.

More often, the problem seems to arise when God's interests and ours conflict. The "rules" are tough; two equally dangerous responses emerge. The first is an outright rejection, a decision to go one's own way. The second, subtler, equally corrosive, is the rejection of the idea that God could disagree with us.

Few people who truly believe in God are willing to simply say, "No, I know you're there and I know the teachings you've sent, but I'm opting to ignore them. " Instead, our tendency is toward incredulity that God might have said those things, might have set up those limitations. The rejection of Christ's and the church's teachings is often prefaced by the phrase, "I think God wants us to be happy." The implicit statement is that God wouldn't have said no to something *I* think would make me happy.

And, of course, that entirely misses the point. It presumes a level of knowledge and understanding that we do not have. It makes, however unconsciously, the prideful statement, "God wouldn't require anything *I* don't agree with!"

But God knows more than we do. He designed us to work in a certain way, and he knows what it is. He has the big picture, whereas we're looking at only an infinitismal slice--no, grain--of infinity.

In the end, "God is Love" and "doctrinal hardliner" are not only logical companions but necessary ones. If we believe that God is Love and we believe He knows what He's doing, then nothing makes sense except to do exactly what He says in faith that it's the right thing for us--even if the reasons won't fit in our brains.