Winters: Benedict XVI Was a Political Progressive

Writing at The New Republic, Michael Sean Winters balances Benedict's conservative doctrine with his progressive politics.  Winters argues that "one of the most dominant themes in Benedict's teaching, especially in the wake of the economic meltdown of 2008, is a deep suspicion of modern capitalism."  Six weeks ago Benedict wrote:

It is alarming to see hotbeds of tension and conflict caused by growing instances of inequality between rich and poor, by the prevalence of a selfish and individualistic mindset which also finds expression in an unregulated financial capitalism. In addition to the varied forms of terrorism and international crime, peace is also endangered by those forms of fundamentalism and fanaticism which distort the true nature of religion, which is called to foster fellowship and reconciliation among people.

Winters writes:

Imagine, for a moment, the outcry if President Barack Obama had lumped "unregulated financial capitalism" with "terrorism" and "international crime" in the same paragraph as threats to world peace! But because many of Pope Benedict's American fans do not share his clear, unequivocal suspicion of markets, these teachings tend to be ignored. (They are also ignored, unfortunately, by many people in America who are suspicious of both the Church and capitalism.) In the wider Catholic universe, which is growing exponentially throughout the developing world, these teachings garner more attention. 

Winters also portrays Benedict as an environmentalist.  Read his entire piece here.