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.
I could live with that kind of international tax --- go after the transnational corporations which are benefitting greatly with their new-found slave laborers. I couldn't care less about what happens to the transnationals --- they want a globalist economy so they can get rich quick no matter what they do to our country --- they can have the global Socialists shut them down. No taxes though for the middle class citizens to pay for the new global Marxism. I couldn't possibly afford some "international tax" in addition to all my other many taxes.
I don't know about Baptist --- the Founding Fathers were those old mainstream Protestants --- Calvinists --- maybe Presbyterian --- if you can find any.
....maybe not a Catholic....just a Christian? After all are't all religions man made? I can't find one religion, including Catholic, in any bible....so let's just stop the vitriol as to who is and who isn't a catholic and start having positive christian concern. Just My opinion....
If you haven't set foot in a Catholic church for decades, you are not Catholic. It is your hypocrisy that you smell.
The Catholic Church has done more for the world's poor than all the governments put together. They have done more for the advancement of human rights in the dark places of the world than any other church.
For the herring of the church abuses, their handling isn't good. But the lies from Catholic haters has taken over from the truth. Should you want to find the truth and not just believe the hate, do some research.
That whole "lecture us" crap is actually the teachings of Christ. Pick up a Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church and give them a read. You might be happier with your life.
For all the rabid anti-Catholic garbage being posted here on this thread you have my pity. The Catholic Church is the Church of Christ. You might not like the Church but that's OK. Christ likes it. It is HIS church.
Things have changed in the Church regarding the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
i am researching the article.
Not very forgiving are you, for a catholic.
I'm glad you're researching.
It's important not to mislead when you're posting on a public forum.
I'm not going to respond to your last comment. Instead, I'd like to mention something else.
Kristian, there's a fine line between love and hate.
That you've demonstrated hatred toward the Church while at the same time you identified yourself as Catholic, even though you've been away for many decades, is something which I hope you'll think about.
The Church is far from perfect because, by God's design, it's made up of us humans.
I hope that you will research the true teachings of the Catholic Church, directly from the Church herself. You might be surprised.
Would someone please explain how a man, supposedly learned in God's Word, can so easily ignore the teachings of Jesus Christ? Jesus Christ explained that both war and poverty were part and parcel of Man's existence, and would remain so until His return.
This desire for an international linking of hands and a chorus of 'We Are The World' is naive, and should be an embarrassment to all Roman Catholics.
Remember, the members of the church own these treasures, not the Pope himself. Every week we give offering as has been done through the centuries. Why should the Church sell what it has accumulated and give it away any more than you would sell your house and give the proceeds to the poor under pressure or directive, since this is a form of socialism?
It's more important to show the poor how to help themselves. Not give them US tax money OR Catholic Church treasures. JMHO
Bottom Line: you will never defeat an ideal by showing examples in which that ideal was practiced poorly.
In my book, a good and great man is not someone who advocates appeasement of terrorists and a global tax reminiscent of the Roman Empire.
We all agree that the church is giving up its wealth due to pedophile priets so things are getting out of balance.
There is nothing about child molesters kept in safety at the vatican in the article at this link which you posted, either.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2339749.stm
"Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love, but to use violence to get what they want. This is why the greatest destroyer of love and peace is abortion."(Mother Teresa)
Mother Teresa made this statement while addressing The National Prayer Breakfast in Washington D.C.,February 3, 1994.
I've read most of this thread and if you've gotten to my comment there may be hope for you.
I think His Holiness was somewhat addressing today's Gospel which is the parable of the rich man who walked past Lazarus everyday and never helped him. Many rich countries, not necessarily this one, don't help others at all. There is a great disparity, but that is more determined by personal choices than not.
This pope has NEVER advocated socialism and in fact comdemns it in the Catechism that bears his name, even if the clergy and a lot of laity don't want that to be. That's not his point.
It has also been determined that if all the art and property in the Church's care were to be sold, the money would feed the world for three days. Then what? All that art would be in private collections and not part of any trust to God's people, as it is now.
Sometimes the answer is not as simple as black and white. Pope John Paul II is the most misquoted and misunderstood man on earth. I believe this to be more of the same.
What you are discribing, is a home owner association or a coop. ;)
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What the Bible is describing is a church. In this instance The Church. Because there was no other Christian Church at that time. The early Christian Church called it "The Way." And after showing his a@@ three times by denying Christ Jesus, St Peter was given the Keys to the Kingdom by Christ Jesus. Patriarchs from the early days of The Church acknowledged St Peter as the first among equals.
from http://www.catholic.com
Tertullian said:
"[T]he Lord said to Peter, ‘On this rock I will build my Church, I have given you the keys of the kingdom of heaven [and] whatever you shall have bound or loosed on earth will be bound or loosed in heaven’ [Matt. 16:18–19]. . . . What kind of man are you, subverting and changing what was the manifest intent of the Lord when he conferred this personally upon Peter? Upon you, he says, I will build my Church; and I will give to you the keys" (Modesty 21:9–10 [A.D. 220]).
(You can find more at the above website.)
Elsewhere the website relates:
The Church Fathers, who were links in that chain of succession, regularly appealed to apostolic succession as a test for whether Catholics or heretics had correct doctrine. This was necessary because heretics simply put their own interpretations, even bizarre ones, on Scripture. Clearly, something other than Scripture had to be used as an ultimate test of doctrine in these cases.
How about the finances of these in Ministry? Should not they as well divest themselves of their empires for the poor? What about Billy Graham? Charles Stanley? James Dobson? Robert Schuller? Yeah, the Crystal Cathedral is a work of art, sell it and give the proceeds to the poor in California.
The Pope and the Catholics are not the only ones with vast fortunes, you know.
Point? I need to have a point? OK: For centuries, the church has been making everything out of gold. I guess it's because the things in the church are for God, so they must be of the finest quality. But the gold came from the poor, mostly, tossing coins into the little basket with handles that goes around two or three times per one-hour mass. Last time I went to church was 8 years ago, and it was the same as when I was a kid. I know these are traditions, but the catholic church is "the rich" that the Pope is crying about. They should consider melting down the gold artifacts and using the gold to buy food for "the poor."
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