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Pope Denounces'Imbalance' of Wealth
El Paso Times ^ | Sep 26, 9:35 AM EDT | AP

Posted on 09/26/2004 8:30:20 AM PDT by FITZ

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (AP) -- Pope John Paul II denounced the "imbalance" between the world's rich and poor Sunday and applauded efforts to eliminate hunger, like the recent U.N. initiative to increase funds for development.

The 84-year-old pontiff had to stop for breath every few words as he spoke to a few hundred pilgrims and tourists in his last Sunday appearance this season at his summer palace in the hill town of Castel Gandolfo. John Paul has Parkinson's disease, making it difficult for him to walk and to pronounce his words.

The pontiff said Sunday's Gospel passage about Lazarus, an impoverished beggar who ate the scraps from a rich man's table, was "ever more appropriate in reference to the problem of the imbalance between the riches and poverty of the world today."

On Monday, the presidents of Brazil and France encouraged 110 countries to back a new declaration to fight hunger and poverty and to increase funds for development. More than 50 heads of state or government joined in a debate at the United Nations on the impact of globalization and on ways to finance the war on poverty.

John Paul called the U.N. meeting important and said it was aimed at "a more united and efficient action against hunger and poverty." He noted the Vatican's No. 2 official, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, who is the city-state's secretary of state, participated in the debate and pledged the Holy See's support for the initiative.

The United States didn't join in the pledge to fight hunger and poverty. The Bush administration objected to proposals for international taxes as undemocratic and impossible to implement.

John Paul reiterated his Church's backing.

"The Catholic Church assures all its commitment to eradicating the scourge of hunger and the other consequences of poverty from the world," the pope said.

He prayed that God would "sustain the efforts of the international community aimed at justice and solid development. This, in fact, is the path which can guarantee to the world a future of peace."

John Paul also offered prayers on prayers for families and populations "most tried by the unfair distribution of wealth that God destines for all his children."

While the pope struggled with his brief speech Sunday, he announced he was forging ahead with his grueling schedule. After again taking up residence at the Vatican on Wednesday, he will lead a long beatification ceremony on Oct. 3 in St. Peter's Square.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: apostacy; apostate; catholic; catholicbashing; communist; globalism; heresy; hisholiness; internationaltax; johnpaul; johnpaulii; karolwotyla; lotsofgoldinvatican; marxism; polishpope; pope; popejohnpaul; popishheresies; religion; romancatholic; romanempire; rome; taxes; vatican; vicarofchrist
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Comment #101 Removed by Moderator

To: Logic n' Reason

I was thinking the same thing. Lead by example. Let's see the cardinals, bishops, and the pope be the first by cracking open the vault of the Catholic church. My guess is there is enough in wealth in them to feed all of Africa for years at least!


102 posted on 09/26/2004 9:59:24 AM PDT by cupcakes
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To: FITZ
Pope Denounces Imbalance Of Wealth.

Has he been through the Vatican Museums lately? Who owns all that stuff?

103 posted on 09/26/2004 9:59:44 AM PDT by mewzilla
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To: FITZ

I'm not Catholic, but I believe that no child should go unfed. If we would stop paying bribes to the UN and every other jerk leader who enhances their own bank account, I think the world would be a better place.


104 posted on 09/26/2004 10:01:05 AM PDT by Glenn (The two keys to character: 1) Learn how to keep a secret. 2) ...)
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To: FITZ

Did the pope say he was worshiping the Koran? For all we know he was praying that all Muslims would be converted to Roman Catholicism. You'd have to ask him what he meant by his gesture. To you it means one thing; to him it probably meant something very different. You can bet he wasn't praying to it.


105 posted on 09/26/2004 10:01:51 AM PDT by risk
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To: netmilsmom

This man is kept so out of touch by his handlers that he feels he is doing the right thing. However, he needs to be more in touch with the spiritual part of the church and less concerned with those things he is not involved with.
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

Again, let me state that Pope John Paul II is doing exactly what the early Christian Church did. What he says is nothing new.

If it appears new . . .


106 posted on 09/26/2004 10:02:38 AM PDT by HighlyOpinionated (Pope John Paul II is one of the finest people on the face of this earth at this time in history.)
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To: FITZ
The Vatican ought to know a rich country when it sees it...since it is probably one ofor has been one of, the richest.
107 posted on 09/26/2004 10:02:40 AM PDT by madison10 (Charter Member of the Freepin' Right Wing Pajama Party)
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To: Kristian
I stopped going at the age of twelve, does not stop me to know what goes on in the catholic church.

To a large extent, yes, it does.

I come from a country where 90 per cent of the populace is catholic.

Irrelevant.

I think that qualifies enough to be able to judge if the catholic church is as righteous as it claims to be.

righteous (Merriam-Webster) 1 : acting in accord with divine or moral law : free from guilt or sin

The Catholic Church has never claimed to be free from guilt or sin. We know we don't always act in accord with divine or moral law. That's why we are so happy to have the Sacrament of Confession.

Are you denouncing the child abuses by priests and NUNS ?

Figure it out for yourself, Einstein.

Do you agree that the vatican refuses to extradite 3 priests to America to be tried for sexual abuses on CHILDREN ?

Give me details with verifiable sources.

I can not defend an institution that regards child abuse as a minor offence.

This comment proves beyond a doubt your ignorance of the Catholic Faith.

108 posted on 09/26/2004 10:04:57 AM PDT by pax_et_bonum (Sometimes these brain cells have a mind of their own.)
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To: Dallas59
"God loves a wealthy man as much as the poor."

Didn't I read in the Bible that it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a wealthy man to get to heaven?

If I did, I guess the author was not an Objectivist.

109 posted on 09/26/2004 10:05:13 AM PDT by Sam Cree (Democrats are herd animals)
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To: FITZ
This is coming from the Pope, the authority on Catholic religion? The same religion that years ago made priests disavow women so families wouldn't make legal claims on church property...which led to homosexuals taking over the roles and destroying the image of religion in the world in general.

I think I've finally decided to become a Protestant after 30 years of Catholicism.
110 posted on 09/26/2004 10:06:23 AM PDT by Vision ("When you trust in yourself, you're trusting in the same wisdom that created you")
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To: Dallas59
Jesus said to a certain man give up everything and follow him. The man didn't, but yet Jesus raised him from the dead.

Who was the man?
Or were you just feeling "theologically creative" today?

111 posted on 09/26/2004 10:07:09 AM PDT by ppaul
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To: Kristian
I am a catholic . . . I have not set foot in a catholic church for decades . . .

You are not a Catholic.
112 posted on 09/26/2004 10:07:15 AM PDT by dubyas_vision
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To: netmilsmom

That being said, there is no sacrifice when someone is told to be charitable. If I give freely it is a blessing and glory to God. Taking what I have to give to the poor is not a blessing nor glory to God, it is stealing. JPII needs to understand this. We will not be forced to be holy. We can only be holy of our own accord.
______

BINGO!!!


113 posted on 09/26/2004 10:07:34 AM PDT by cupcakes
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To: Glenn
but I believe that no child should go unfed.

I believe that also --- all fathers should be able to work decent enough jobs so that they can support their families and have a little left over --- which is what the middle class society was all about. We should not be serfs or slaves but free people like the America Founders wanted.

114 posted on 09/26/2004 10:08:04 AM PDT by FITZ
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To: Tweaker

$1 says there is no such thing found in the Bible.
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + ++ + + +
No such thing in the Bible? lolol. When was the last time you picked one up?

The Acts of the Apostles. Good read. So is the Book of James.

Heck, the entire Book is a great read.

Send that Dollar to Catholic Charities, please.
Catholic Charities USA
1731 King Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: 703.549.1390
Fax: 703.549.1656


115 posted on 09/26/2004 10:08:40 AM PDT by HighlyOpinionated (Pope John Paul II is one of the finest people on the face of this earth at this time in history.)
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To: FITZ
--- but as an American I don't believe in that set up --- I believe in a self-reliant middle class --- taxes for international poverty programs are not the answer --- we need to promote the middle class -- a society built around people being able to work themselves into a comfortable lifestyle

As you are well aware, I share your views on domestic capitalism, where our Founders have provided a Constitutional system of checks and balances to establish a moral and level playing field for economic competition.

Unfortunately, in a 21st Century of globalization, such a system of checks and balances does not exist on an international scale. And even though I'm opposed to the globalization trend in favor of our own national sovereignty, it may be necessary to permanently shackle global corporatism with its evil twin, global socialism, in hopes that the two extremes eventually destroy each other.

116 posted on 09/26/2004 10:09:04 AM PDT by Willie Green (Go Alan Go!!!)
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Comment #117 Removed by Moderator

To: Vision

I'm staying a Catholic --- when Jesus turned over the Church to Peter --- he did so knowing Peter had been weak before the Crucifixion and had betrayed him --- 3 times even. There will be another pope in a short time. I think the bullet from that Muslim is what weakened this one.


118 posted on 09/26/2004 10:10:34 AM PDT by FITZ
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To: Tailback
I agree with you, for a guy that helped the Polish resistance in WWII and helped bring down Communism in Eastern Europe, it seems strange that he makes statements like this. I think his illness has left him at the mercy of his "advisors".

I agree.
These new sayings are not typical for the JP we've come to know and love.
Something's wrong.
I wonder who is waiting in the wings to take over once he's gone.

119 posted on 09/26/2004 10:10:57 AM PDT by ppaul
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To: Willie Green

I agree --- we need a return to the Constitution and the checks and balances --- especially against unfair taxation --- just like now --- American labor has a very unfair disadvantage with all our many taxes and very large government with very large Socialist programs --- we cannot work as cheaply as those in third world countries who have very few taxes to pay.


120 posted on 09/26/2004 10:12:49 AM PDT by FITZ
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