Posted on 07/07/2009 10:30:02 AM PDT by TheRiverNile
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Benedict called on Tuesday for a "world political authority" to manage the global economy and for more government regulation of national economies to pull the world out of the current crisis and avoid a repeat.
The pope made his call for a re-think of the way the world economy is run in a new encyclical which touched on a number of social issues but whose main connecting thread was how the current crisis has affected both rich and poor nations.
Parts of the encyclical, titled "Charity in Truth," seemed bound to upset free marketeers because of its underlying rejection of unbridled capitalism and unregulated market forces, which he said had led to "thoroughly destructive" abuse of the system.
The pope said every economic decision had a moral consequence and called for "forms of redistribution" of wealth overseen by governments to help those most affected by crises.
Benedict said "there is an urgent need of a true world political authority" whose task would be "to manage the global economy; to revive economies hit by the crisis; to avoid any deterioration of the present crisis and the greater imbalances that would result."
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
I am getting sick and tired of all the people who fall for the leftist spin on Catholicism.
I’m not picking on anyone in particular, just venting.
Read the post above this with bright red links for the truth.
Why are you bashing the Catholic Church and the Pope. Please read the entire encyclical and don’t belive Reuters at all!
You have fallen prey, my freeper friend, for msm spin.
Benedict XVI explains gifts and limitations of free market economy
I would suggest you actually read the encyclical, at the link provided in the article.
I got news for you -- everything that comes from this man's mouth or pen or keyboard is fallible.
The Pope’s position is an easy one to understand. He is the last of a long line of de facto kings.
Representative republics, and the idea of individuals making important decisions for their own lives (material or spiritual) are concepts contrary to his entire religion.
Note that Catholics do not allow the individual the freedom of religious ideas that Protestants enjoy. Central control is central to Catholicism.
Alas, central decision making has less success than diffused, decentralized decision making.
That's what great about Catholicism--you don't really have to take it seriously.
Benedict XVI explains gifts and limitations of free market economy
Why doesn't everyone understand that the media will always ATTACK the Catholic Church? Don't believe them -- read the actual document!
You can ignore anything that’s not infallible.
We must have a reason, based in reason, to reject a proposal. We can't simply reject an idea simply because we were taught to always reject it. That's not the way “reason” works; quite frankly that's how animals behave.
Fair words, but let's look at these words:
“Furthermore, such an authority would need to be universally recognized and to be vested with the effective power to ensure security for all, regard for justice, and respect for rights[148]. Obviously it would have to have the authority to ensure compliance with its decisions from all parties, and also with the coordinated measures adopted in various international forums.”
This is not the UN, nor how it was ever intended to be. The UN specifically has no authority—that is the left up to international law and militaries, coupled with sanctions and such that can be agreed upon by the individual countries that make up the UN.
You see, the UN is supposed to be a gathering place whereby countries can seek agreement or disagreement, but in the end, they work independently. Some countries may not agree with something and do not “approve” such items. Should actions taken be left up to the UN? They never have before. The UN has only “peacekeeping” forces—they can't shoot or anything. That is left to the militaries of countries, such as the US, UK, Russia, to enforce things that might need military force.
The Pope is looking for a body that has enforcement powers over any and all countries. That is simply clear in his words.
Additionally, the Pope should know that political bodies do not make people accept Christ, so why should anyone listen to his words on this? His importance surrounds things of Christ, not things of politics, although he is the head of the Vatican, a very small “country” of its own.
He should shut up ASAP on this other stuff, save for wanting to help change people's hearts.
I read the encyclical. See post #143.
No, I haven't read the whole encyclical --- over 30,000 words and 159 footnotes ---- but just skimmimg the text, my eyes happened to light on this:
"Economy and finance, as instruments, can be used badly when those at the helm are motivated by purely selfish ends. Instruments that are good in themselves can thereby be formed into harmful ones. But it is man's darkened reason that produces these consequences, not the instrument per se. Therefore it is not the instrument that must be called to account, but individuals, their moral conscience and their personal and social responsibility."
This sounds to me, not like an indictment of market economies and their instruments, but a call to individuals to exercise personal responsibility.
Waiting for Reuters to take that angle? Don't hold your breath.
And as you can see, the scripture prophecy is coming true that the minds of many will be blinded...
You need to read the Pope’s words in context, in post #143.
IF, I say IF, the quote in which the Pope calls for global organizations "with teeth" is true, then all the other words in the encyclical are rendered moot.
Again, assuming the quote is accurate, he is clearly calling for centralized world government with the power to coerce by force. The Catholic Church has no right to get back into the centralized world government business. Period.
I mean no offense, I simply believe he is flat wrong.
So, is there no discussion of a global economic authority? I didn’t see any in the link provided (which I read).
How can a “thing” be infallible?
Why do The Republicans on FRee Republic NOT believe the media when they spin things leftist on politics, but everyone is so quick to believe the lamestream media when it spins Catholicism to the left??????
I’m frankly getting sick and tired of it.
I’m not picking on you as an individual, but thanks for letting me vent!
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