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Today, on the eve of the G8 meeting in Italy, Pope Benedict issued an encyclical letter discussing the economic crisis, specifically noting the problems with greed. He wrote, "Profit is useful if it serves as a means toward an end. Once profit becomes the exclusive goal, if it is produced by improper means and without the common good as its ultimate end, it risks destroying wealth and creating poverty."
Benedict suggested, "There is an urgent need of a true world political authority" to manage the global economy—with "God-centered" ethics— and "to revive economies hit by the crisis; to avoid any deterioration of the present crisis and the greater imbalances that would result." He also said there should be "reform of the United Nations, economic institutions and international finance so the idea of the family of nations can acquire real teeth."
The NY Times reports, "In many ways, the document is a somewhat puzzling cross between an anti-globalization tract and a government white paper, another indication that the Vatican does not comfortably fit into traditional political categories of right and left." Reuters points out, "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." Benedict also suggests—gasp—a redistribution of wealth, "The processes of globalization, suitably understood and directed, open up the unprecedented possibility of large-scale redistribution of wealth on a worldwide scale. If badly directed, however, they can lead to an increase in poverty and inequality, and even trigger a global crisis."
Pope Benedict will meet President Obama at the end of the G8 summit.
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greed is bad...now if you could all place some money into this basket so we can build elaborate gold plated structures it would be much appreciated
Easy for him to say, with his Prada shoes
I bet they're comped - he's a trendsetter around Rome.
Tell it to the IRS.
The hell does that even mean? Seriously Ides, ever since Obama got elected your posts have gotten weirder and more pathetic. Get help man.
If you don't think the IRS with their voracious appetite for every single American's paycheck, property and assets qualifies as greed, then that's your problem.
The IRS is getting the money we the public want so our government can spend it on what we want. If not, then the IRS wouldn't that sort of muscle.
Okay. Now how does that have anything to do with this article?
"Benedict suggested, "There is an urgent need of a true world political authority" to manage the global economy—with "God-centered" ethics—"
Yerah, just give everything to the Catholic Church because they've done so well with someone else's money over the last 1500 years. Fucking clown.
How about selling some of that loot in the overstuffed Vatican Museum to pay for all these healing projects you have in mind papa?
Also do you remember all that money I loaned you back about fifty years ago? You know the money I put into the basket at the end of a long pole that was pushed into my face twice at every mass. I really could use it back now with interest and also make it in real today dollars please. I will start offering prayers and lighting candles for you as soon as I receive the cash. No cashier checks or money orders accepted, this ain't Craig's list we are talking about, so don't try to scam me.
What's the going rate for indulgences today?
how is it totally ok to say whatever the fuck you want about the catholic church, the pope, mother teresa, whatever..
.. but if you just refer to someone as a 'jew' you're an anti-semite - the devil incarnate?
religious intolerance is bigotry no matter which way you cut it.
SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT HERE.
Why not donate half of the Vatican's resources (including it's Gold) to the World Economies? Isn't that what Jesus would have done?
But then again, The Vatican has not been following Jesus since well pretty much its conception.
Totally agree. It's sickening how "religious" people pour billions into lavish structures like the Vatican and mega churches.
I think you need to make a distinction between the preservation of historically relevant art history (Sistine Chapel, etc...) and the piles of bling.
But yes, it is galling for a man wearing a giant golden pendent to sign a document decrying greed.
Decentralization or redistribution of power and wealth are based in sound ethics but I see little correlation between global fiscal policy and the imaginary deities to which these religions pledge allegiance. If Benedict and his minions would be reasonable and stop siphoning money from the tithing befuddled faithful, perhaps we could boost our tangible collective productivity.
The good news is The Pope and the RC church is trying to do the right thing.
And they want everyone to do the right thing.
The sad part is they really have no clue HOW to do it.
That makes them a questionable source for guidance.
The Catholic Church is the largest charitable organization in the world. It feeds, shelters, and cares for the poor the world over. It runs countless hospitals, schools and other agencies solely to help others and lift them out of poverty, and it has also bequeathed the university system to the west. As for its gold ensconced churches or whatever other hyperbolic examples of its use of wealth mentioned here, a beautiful church or sanctuary is sometimes the only art that a person of faith and lesser means ever comes across. It sees these things as signs and symbols that point to a greater reality of God in which it believes. To use (a very small) portion of its wealth on churches and other things meant to lift people's thoughts to a God that the people of the Catholic Church earnestly believe in may be criticized by those who don't also believe, but its hardly dishonest. That doesn't mean that the Church doesn't contain many people who love wealth and materials inordinately--its made up of regular people after all--but to write off the Catholic Church as a gold obsessed, greedy organization that hasn't followed Jesus since its conception is a childish oversimplification at best.
Maybe if the Catholic church sanctioned birth control there wouldn't be families with 18 kids living in poverty.
AMEN!
(Get the irony?)
The Catholic Church is an enterprise whose sole mission is the manufacture and distribution of poverty. ( as noted above)
Since president Obama is going to meet with the pope after the G8 summit, do you think he could put in a good word for Rev Al and Rev Jesse? Maybe the pope could find a few job openings for them in Honduras or some other country far far away.
As the Holy Roman Emperor of the Third World, the Pope does have a line on some great no-show jobs such as Cardinal of Calcutta and Archbishop of Beirut. Not much in the pay department but the turkish baths in the rectory and jeweled communion wine sippy cups make these roles too good to be true!
I believe you are on to some good jobs for the two lads and they should follow them through, but I just looked through the employment section of the Vatican Journal and there is an opening for a nuncio in Somalia. Perfect job opportunity for either one. This way they can bond with their people and serve America and the Christian faith at the same time.