We must meet our fellow citizens on the neutral ground of reason, and speak to them from our common store of faith. When we talk about economics or politics, we should never . . . argue from authority, citing Vatican documents as if they settle a question. Those documents themselves do not pretend to do that. Instead, they wisely and rtichly explore the implications of today’s problems in the light of reason, a reason illuminated by the fundamental truth that God is real, that He made man, and did so in His image. We should no more try to resolve a debate with our non-Catholic fellow citizens about politics or economics by quoting a Vatican press release (or even an encyclical) than we would by citing Our Lady’s words at Fatima to a Baptist preacher. It’s not just ineffective; it’s intellectually unsound.