To: avenir
I think the Pope knows scripture pretty well--
But while recognizing that there will "always be" poverty, wars, etc., he cannot simply resign himself and the Church to accepting, apathetically, the status quo.
That would be gross dereliction of duty.
288 posted on
01/01/2004 12:26:03 PM PST by
ninenot
(So many cats, so few recipes)
To: ninenot
"... he cannot simply resign himself and the Church to accepting, apathetically, the status quo."
No, but he has no business calling for a cure that's worse than the disease. God showed what he thought of man's "international order" when He confused languages at the tower of Babel.
Helping the poor is feasible, as long as you don't start indulging fantasies of "ending" it. That's impossible in this life, per Jesus. (Some poverty is self-inflicted via laziness/alcohol-drug abuse/pride...how does one "end" that?)
Trying to avoid war is feasible, but "ending" war is not. Avoiding it for as long as possible between outbreaks is hard enough, and ironically--for those who can't face the reality and necessity of war--is staved off by being militarily powerful enough to discourage would-be attackers.
Again, how can one come away from the Bible with illusions about man and his ability to live a righteous life? The Bible doesn't even offer "world peace": it offers peace to those who "call on the Name of the Lord".
320 posted on
01/01/2004 1:15:11 PM PST by
avenir
("If there's one thing I can't stand, it's being tortured by someone with cold hands"--Dr. Who)
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