Perspectief 2013-21

2013-21 Christian Social Ethics in An Economy of Life, Justice and Peace for All (2013) 49 R eageer Catholic Social Teaching (CST). 64 Ever since 1891, CST has developed from a comprehen- sive normative social theory, via an orientation on criteriology for politics and policy development and a set of instruments for political dialogue, to an instrument of evange- lization. Here is a similarity with the confessional and witnessing style of the present Agape document . Moreover, over the last years, its focus to a large extent has shifted from prac- tical social and economic issues to foundational themes. Within the Catholic Church, there is more emphasis now on the integration of CST into the whole of Christian theology as ever has been since 1891. Here is a similarity for both CST and the approach of Christian social ethics in the Agape document : the theological part gets a lot of attention from the side of the Church. But this similarity implies a similarity in challenge, too, even exactly the same and common challenge: to get and to stay involved into interdisciplinarity, to not leave aside questions regarding 'technical solutions' 65 , as if social, economic and political praxis can ever exist with technical solutions of economic problems. Of course, the Churches face the challenge that they have hardly any political power within states, and that they have a limited competence in the economic area. But the expertise – the other dimension of competence - can and should be maintained. This interdisciplinarity with economics can easily be organised as in the form of an ecumenical project of WCC and RCC. Both organisations need the same type of expertise and they aim at the same type of dialogue with ´the world´. 13 Evaluation The discussion started here has been a critical one. But as I mentioned at the beginning of this article, the function of the Agape document is an exemplary one. The Agape docu- ment reproduces the characteristics and limits of public presence of Christianity and of common secular interest in Christianity. The Agape document is more about spirituality and its relation to an ethics of mentality, than about an ethics of responsibility. The latter should have required interdisciplinarity and a public legitimisation of the reasons why, with what content, and in what form Churches – or an institution as WCC - do interfere in public debate about economy, finance and politics. The mono-linguistic approach of 64 Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church : Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2004 65 Pope Benedict XVI, Encyclical Caritas in Veritate (Vatican City, 2009), nr. 9