This may surprise you (it shouldn’t, but it may), but I’m not going to write a commentary on something that I have not read and that has not even been released in English yet. I know, I know, other bloggers who are much more intelligent than I am (and apparently much more gifted in the prognostication department) have been delivering insightful and hard-hitting commentaries on Pope Francis’s encyclical (as well as every breath he takes and every move he makes) for weeks. Months, even. (Seems like years.) But I’m an old-fashioned gal and I prefer to read a book before I reivew it. Same with Church documents. And I don’t plan to write a lengthy commentary on it after I read it, though I do plan to say a few words about it. How could I resist?

I will say this: I have seldom seen so much attention being paid to what a Pope has YET to say as people are paying to what this Pope has YET to say. And, for the moment, that is all I have to say.

In lieu of a review, I submit instead a litte refresher on (and for some, an introduction to) actual authentic Catholic social teaching, which differs mightily from the kind of catechesis offered by the New York Times and virtually any other source of “news” out there. This is an interview with Dr. Anthony Esolen on the subject of his book, entitled appropriately enough, Reclaiming Catholic Social Teaching. I’ve watched it twice and have started reading the book. I do plan to write a review on this. Eventually. :)