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 ...
“The Church does not have technical solutions to offer[10]
and does not claim “to interfere in any way in the politics of States.”[11] She does, however, have a mission of truth to accomplish...”
What in Hell does the pope mean by a governing authority with enforcement powers for all of the following areas:
“This seems necessary in order to arrive at a political, juridical and economic order which can increase and give direction to international cooperation for the development of all peoples in solidarity. 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; to bring about integral and timely disarmament, food security and peace; to guarantee the protection of the environment and to regulate migration: for all this, there is urgent need of a true world political authority, as my predecessor Blessed John XXIII indicated some years ago.”
“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.”
So, he has no technical solutions and won't interfere in US politics, but he wants a human superauthority with complete enforcement powers that:
- Serves as a global political order
- Serves as a global economic order
- Serves as a global juridical order
- Disarms all countries
- Regulates migration
- Prevents “imbalances”
- Provides food security
- Provides peace
What in the pope's words can't you understand? He won't interfere in our matters directly, but he wants this authority to do everything else to us.
Screw him. He's freaking crazy.
AMEN, Brother Quix.
What’s Mark Belling saying about this?
Vlad: Right. And who is denying that here?/
Well, you are. The council is known as the Council of Jerusalem. You admit that James was the head of the church in Jerusalem. Thus, he had the final say.
Vlad: No. After Peter spoke the others agreed with him. The issue was DONE.
Again, read Acts 15:7-21. There was a debate. Debate means that some were on one side of the issue and some were on the other side. Peter spoke. Paul and Barnabas then spoke. Finally, after everyone had their say, James ruled:And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Brethren, listen to me: Simon has related how God first visited to take out of the nations a people for his name. And with this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written: After these things I will return, and will rebuild the tabernacle of David which is fallen, and will rebuild its ruins, and will set it up, so that the residue of men may seek out the Lord, and all the nations on whom my name is invoked, saith the Lord, who does these things known from eternity. Wherefore I judge, not to trouble those who from the nations turn to God; but to write to them to abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood. For Moses, from generations of old, has in every city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath. (Douay-Rheims)There is no indication that ALL agreed with Peter after he spoke. You're reading things into the Bible that are not there.After everyone had their say, James made a ruling. Then the debate was over.
In a court setting, who says "I judge" or "I rule" when the case is over or an attorney makes a motion? The judge, of course. The judge speaks last and has the final say.
The Council of Jerusalem is a recounting of history from the Bible that is very simple to understand. Any interpretation asserting that James did not have the final ruling violates the plain meaning of the text.
Your failure or refusal to answer this simple question indicates that you have probably not read any other Vatican documents, Papal encyclicals in particular, that talk about modern society or economics.
The paragraph cited is not "simply a hedge." It is part of the introduction to the main ideas in the letter.
the flowery, sometimes almost impenetrable, ecclesiastical jargon
LOL! You reveal that you have not read many writings of this Pope. He writes MUCH more clearly and understandably than most of his recent predecessors. He does discuss complex ideas, though. If you can't understand the introduction to the document, then it is unlikely that you can understand what he says in the rest of the document as it builds upon the introduction. Thank you for admitting you don't understand this document at all.
Have a nice day. God bless.
My apologies. In my last post I wrote that the Bible passage was taken from Douay-Rheims version. It was actually from another version. Here is the entire Douay-Rheims translation of the passage:
AND some coming down from Judea, taught the brethren: That except you be circumcised after the manner of Moses, you cannot be saved. 2 And when Paul and Barnabas had no small contest with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain others of the other side, should go up to the apostles and priests to Jerusalem about this question. 3 They therefore being brought on their way by the church, passed through Phenice, and Samaria, relating the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren. 4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church, and by the apostles and ancients, declaring how great things God had done with them. 5 But there arose some of the sect of the Pharisees that believed, saying: They must be circumcised, and be commanded to observe the law of Moses.
6 And the apostles and ancients assembled to consider of this matter. 7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter, rising up, said to them: Men, brethren, you know, that in former days God made choice among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. 8 And God, who knoweth the hearts, gave testimony, giving unto them the Holy Ghost, as well as to us; 9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10 Now therefore, why tempt you God to put a yoke upon the necks of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 But by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we believe to be saved, in like manner as they also.
12 And all the multitude held their peace; and they heard Barnabas and Paul telling what great signs and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.
13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying: Men, brethren, hear me. 14 Simon hath related how God first visited to take of the Gentiles a people to his name. 15 And to this agree the words of the prophets, as it is written:
16 After these things I will return, and will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and the ruins thereof I will rebuild, and I will set it up:
17 That the residue of men may seek after the Lord, and all nations upon whom my name is invoked, saith the Lord, who doth these things.
18 To the Lord was his own work known from the beginning of the world. 19 For which cause I judge that they, who from among the Gentiles are converted to God, are not to be disquieted. 20 But that we write unto them, that they refrain themselves from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. 21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him in the synagogues, where he is read every sabbath.
22 Then it pleased the apostles and ancients, with the whole church, to choose men of their own company, and to send to Antioch, with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas, who was surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren. 23 Writing by their hands: The apostles and ancients, brethren, to the brethren of the Gentiles that are at Antioch, and in Syria and Cilicia, greeting. 24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that some going out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls; to whom we gave no commandment: 25 It hath seemed good to us, being assembled together, to choose out men, and to send them unto you, with our well beloved Barnabas and Paul: 26 Men that have given their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves also will, by word of mouth, tell you the same things. 28 For it hath seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us, to lay no further burden upon you than these necessary things: 29 That you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which things keeping yourselves, you shall do well. Fare ye well.
The meaning of the passage is not changed. However, I wanted to get my facts correct.
Thanks,
-Mike
66-666-6666
Ignoring for the moment his false dichotomy between socialism as "truth", on the one hand, and empiricism and skepticism on the other, his proposals, if enacted, would certainly interfere in many ways in the politics of nations. But where is the truth in the whole oxymoronic notion of "charity" at the barrel of a gun? Where is the truth in turning the meaning of voluntary charity upside down? Where is the truth in socialist redistribution of wealth schemes? Where is the truth in proposals for unbridled power of elite global "managers" "with teeth", which are nothing but the teeth of ravenous wolves?
He refers here to Jesus in John 8:32 saying that the truth shall set you free, but what regard have international socialists who aim to be the controllers of this global "authority" ever had for truth? Where did Jesus Christ, Truth Himself, ever propose these kind of socialist doctrines, which will be enforced by death or imprisonment for disobedience? How is socialism that enslaves and emprovishes a "service to the truth which sets us free"? Where is the truth in the accumulation of governmental power of universal jurisdiction by a select few?
The Scripture says, "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty". I must have missed the part in the Bible where is says that where there is "managing globalization" or forced "redistribution of wealth" there is liberty.
Where is the truth in the naivete, (or derangement, or deception or whatever) that Godless tyrants have any intention of restraining themselves by quaint ideas of subsidiarity and limited, stratified government?
Cordially,
Most entertaining analysis I've heard so far!
Perhaps folks should actually read the original document and not rely on Reuters analysis of it.
Go to www.catholic.org for a more accurate reading of it.
we’ve created a third-hand source by referencing an second-hand source. Y’all probably recall from your grad school papers you wrote that you reference original sources. Referencing second-hand sources is frowned upon.
Maybe Nile can start a thread on “Charity in Truth”, instead of an article by Philip Pullella.
AMEN to all you have said.
In the end times, one may have to forsake all prior traditions and teachings to follow Christ.
From and Ex-RC catholic - search for the truth because it is being revealed as we speak. Open your mind to it.
The Pope is NOT a conservative. The Pope is Catholic. Catholic does NOT equal being a conservative. Never has, never will. Some things the Catholic Church does falls under the conservative category, some things under the liberal category. However, the Church is the Church first and it does not think in terms of liberal or conservative.
Matthew 7:20
20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
people say a lot of things, actions are where it’s at
“So we have corrupt church leaders to join our corrupt politicians.”
That will create the geo-political- theistic power of the end times beast.
>> “..believe that the very people angling to control a world government feel themselves constrained by any principle at all...”
Precisely. The very same people who brought us the present crisis, and are trying desperately to make it worse, will be the ones who will control any putative “World Authority.” The US Constitution means nothing, to them. The moral authority of the RCC means nothing, to them. There is exactly one authority they respect: POWER.
The Pope should know this. He should know that, at most, they will PRETEND to agree to the principles he has espoused, and then ignore them. But, by then they will have achieved complete POWER, with his imprimatur.
I think that the Pope and the RCC would serve the world better, by example:
Mark 10:21 “And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. “
DG
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.