Prof. Philip Booth looks at the question of global governing authority, raised again – though hardly for the first time – by Pope Francis in his encyclical, Fratelli tutti. Whenever the idea of global governance is mentioned in a Vatican document, there is a flurry of debate with embedded positions being taken, especially amongst those who

In early October, Pope Francis will sign a social encyclical on fraternity. It is an important topic. Too many statements from the Vatican have in recent years have strayed into political issues, the subtleties of which are not always fully appreciated. And sometimes the points that are made are indistinguishable from the arguments of secular

A recent report in The Lancet spelled out the alarming fall in fertility across the world. Demographic car crashes happen in slow motion and it has been known for years that countries such as Japan, Germany and Italy are about to enter population free-fall. We are used to being told that higher populations are harmful.

Catholic universities have a gift to offer the world which arises from the way we think about knowledge. We have a duty in teaching and research to ensure that the link between faith and reason is not severed. A Catholic university should also help in the building of character. Our alumni should go on to serve society whist practising the virtues – whether they practice in business, the law, sport, health or education.

Catholic thinkers are just beginning to get to grips with new virtual currencies such as Bitcoin

Plenty of theologians and Christian leaders have become animated by the temptations of money. According to St Paul, the love of money is the root of all evil. Pope Francis has insisted that “money has to serve, not to rule”. But what is money? In fact, it has a relatively mundane function. In simple terms,

‘Oeconomicae et pecuniariae quaestiones’ is a serious and constructive contribution that ranks alongside 'Rerum Novarum'

For the sake of the common good, we must build new homes

China's regime denies freedom of conscience, oppresses religion and disregards the right to life

The Church’s attitude towards globalisation has become somewhat ambivalent in recent years – if not a little hostile. This seems partly to be a misreading of the evidence on inequality and poverty, but it also reflects Pope Francis’s cultural unease with big business and transnational commercial activity. If we add the traditional Christian suspicion of

It is true inequality has increased in some countries. But globally it is actually decreasing

On abortion, gender, marriage and sex education, the Tories sound ever more authoritarian

According to Catholic social teaching, the family should be the primary source of care for the elderly

Mainstream believers in the free market do not think that ‘all relationships that create ties must be eliminated’

The Universal Church has not always been a strong supporter of globalisation and certainly not of free trade. In 1967, for example, Pope Paul VI published Populorum progressio. This was a major encyclical on human development which inspired the creation of Cafod and many other charitable organisations. The document was highly critical of free trade,