A Capitalist or Anti-Capitalist Encyclical? [Caritas in Veritate]

Zenit.org ^ | 07-07-09 | Zenit.org

[Salvation]

A Capitalist or Anti-Capitalist Encyclical?

Vatican Aides Present "Caritas in Veritate"

VATICAN CITY, JULY 7, 2009 (Zenit.org).- "This is not an anti-capitalist encyclical," affirmed one of the Vatican aides who presented "Caritas in Veritate" today, but it does "condemn capitalism when it becomes totalitarian."

That was the estimation offered by Stefano Zamagni, an economics professor from the University of Bologna and a consultor to the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, during a press conference to present today Benedict XVI's third encyclical.

The text, Zamagni explained, "looks at capitalism in its historical situation" and reiterates that no economic system is a "guarantee of happiness."

In this regard, the professor noted that the Church does not propose or develop practical solutions to economic problems, but rather looks at the roots of social conflicts. For example, he explained, "If we were to cancel debt but not change structures, in another 15 years, there would be debt again.

"It is necessary to attack the structures of sin."

For his part, the president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Cardinal Renato Martino, referred to the theme of what businesses gain from their workers: "Benefits should extend not only to the capitalist system but to those who participate in the market."

"So then is it socialist or capitalist?" the prelate asked. "The characteristic of social doctrine is in the fact of having present all the components of society," he answered.

UN Reform

Cardinal Martino also commented on the Benedict XVI's suggestion to reorganize the United Nations, which he mentioned in the context of a general reform of the international economic and financial architecture.

The Pontiff assured that this measure is necessary "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."

In response to a question on the topic, the president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace noted that the United Nations currently has 191 members, which is more than double what it had when it began.

"This organization should have political, efficient authority to be able to respond to the demands of the world, and this is what John XXIII had already said in 'Pacem in Terris' and Benedict XVI repeated it," said Cardinal Martino.

He noted that the Pontiff "senses the urgency to find innovative ways to put into practice the principle of responsibility to protect the poorest nations, as well as to give them a voice in making common decisions."

[Salvation]

"This is not an anti-capitalist encyclical," affirmed one of the Vatican aides who presented "Caritas in Veritate" today, but it does "condemn capitalism when it becomes totalitarian."

I think we here on FreeRepublic also condemn capitalist who become greedy -- Madoff to name one.

[Salvation]

Neither is the Pope claiming to set up a one world government or establish the church as leader.

Also, people claimed the Pope was using socilism here — not so. And wanting the United Nations to be more fair and just — would we all agree to that?

[Salvation]

There is a link below that has the full text of the encyclical. Please read it before you comment so rashly as you did yesterday.

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[PugetSoundSoldier]

Catholic World News report about the encyclical. The summary from Vatican Radio certainly leans quite a bit to the left, and is much more socialist than it is capitalist...

[Salvation]

CWN usually is left-leaning. Check out Zenit. org for the conservative point of view.

[PugetSoundSoldier]

CWN includes a summary from Vatican Radio - that summary from the Vatican’s own radio station is what is left-leaning.

[Matchett-PI]

Pope’s New Encyclical Speaks Against New World Order
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2288576/posts

Newspapers, blogs, talk-shows on radio and television are full of discussion over Pope Benedict XVI’s supposed call for a “new world order” or a “one-world government.” These ideas are, however, neither based in reality nor a clear reading of the Pope’s latest encyclical, Caritas in Veritate, the release of which yesterday spawned the heated discussion.

The Pope actually speaks directly against a one-world government, and, as would be expected from those who have read his previous writings, calls for massive reform of the United Nations.

Confusion seems to have come from paragraph 67 of the encyclical, which has some choice pull-quotes which have spiced the pages of the world’s news, from the New York Times to those of conspiracy theorist bloggers seeing the Pope as the Anti-Christ.

The key quote which has led to the charge reads: “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.”

However, in paragraph 41, the Holy Father specifically differentiates his concept of a world political authority from that of a one-world government. “We must,” he says “promote a dispersed political authority.” He explains that “The integrated economy of the present day does not make the role of States redundant, but rather it commits governments to greater collaboration with one another. Both wisdom and prudence suggest not being too precipitous in declaring the demise of the State. In terms of the resolution of the current crisis, the State’s role seems destined to grow, as it regains many of its competences. In some nations, moreover, the construction or reconstruction of the State remains a key factor in their development.”

Later in the encyclical (57) he speaks of the opposite concept to one- world government -subsidiarity (the principle of Catholic social teaching which states that matters ought to be handled by the smallest, lowest or least centralized competent authority) - as being essential. “In order not to produce a dangerous universal power of a tyrannical nature, the governance of globalization must be marked by subsidiarity,” says the Pope.

Another of the key quotes which is being extracted for shock value from the encyclical is this: “In the face of the unrelenting growth of global interdependence, there is a strongly felt need, even in the midst of a global recession, for a reform of the United Nations Organization, and likewise of economic institutions and international finance, so that the concept of the family of nations can acquire real teeth.”

Since long before his papacy, Joseph Ratzinger has vigorously fought the United Nations’ vision of a ‘New World Order’. As early as 1997, and repeated subsequently, Ratzinger took public aim at such a vision, noting that the philosophy coming from UN conferences and the Millennium Summit “proposes strategies to reduce the number of guests at the table of humanity, so that the presumed happiness [we] have attained will not be affected.”

“At the base of this New World Order”, he said is the ideology of “women’s empowerment,” which erroneously sees “the principal obstacles to [a woman’s] fulfillment [as] the family and maternity.” The then-cardinal advised that “at this stage of the development of the new image of the new world, Christians - and not just them but in any case they even more than others - have the duty to protest.”

Benedict XVI in fact repeats those criticisms in the new encyclical. In Caritas in Veritate, the Pope slams “practices of demographic control, on the part of governments that often promote contraception and even go so far as to impose abortion.” He also denounces international economic bodies such as the IMF and World Bank (without specifically naming them) for their lending practices which tie aid to so-called ‘family planning.’ “There is reason to suspect that development aid is sometimes linked to specific health-care policies which de facto involve the imposition of strong birth control measures,” says the encyclical.

Any vision of a proper ordering of the world, of international economics or political cooperation, suggests the Pope, must be based on a “moral order.” That includes first and foremost “the fundamental right to life” from conception to natural death, the recognition of the family based on marriage between one man and one woman as the basis of society and freedom for faith and cooperation among all peoples based on principles of natural law.

[Matchett-PI]

“I think we here on FreeRepublic also condemn capitalist who become greedy — Madoff to name one.” ~ Salvation

Greed is a part of the fallen human condition. Capitalism is the best way to control it. We haven’t allowed Capitalism to work in America for a long time now. What we have is “Interventionism”, not Capitalism. As long as the government oversteps its bounds in the market place, Capitalism can not work its magic.

In Defense of Capitalism
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1352736/posts

EXCERPT: “Only capitalism operates on the basis of respect for free, independent, responsible persons. All other systems in varying degrees treat men as less than this. Socialist systems above all treat men as pawns to be moved about by the authorities, or as children to be given what the rulers decide is good for them, or as serfs or slaves. The rulers begin by boasting about their compassion, which in any case is fraudulent, but after a time they drop this pretense which they find unnecessary for the maintenance of power. In all things they act on the presumption that they know best. Therefore they and their systems are morally stunted. Only the free system, the much assailed capitalism, is morally mature.” ~ Dr. Ronald H. Nash

[Matchett-PI]

More: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2288576/posts?page=11#11

[PGalt]

We haven’t allowed Capitalism to work in America for a long time now.

Thanks for the posts/links. Fascinating.

[PGalt]

I think we here on FreeRepublic also condemn capitalist who become greedy -- Madoff to name one.

I never confuse capitalism with criminality.

[dsc]

“And wanting the United Nations to be more fair and just — would we all agree to that?”

I want the UN to just go away.

[Lauren BaRecall]

Also when an employer pays an unjust wage, bad working conditions, child labor, cutthroat competition, hidden flaws in inferior products, etc.

[Salvation]

**I want the UN to just go away.**

Wouldn’t be a bad thing in my opinion.