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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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To: Happy2BMe

The pope is goofy on this issue.


161 posted on 09/26/2004 12:27:24 PM PDT by blackie (Be Well~Be Armed~Be Safe~Molon Labe!)
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To: gocats; Kristian
I disagree. I was christened Catholic but have never been a practicing Catholic. The Church still considers me a member even though I do not.

So the Catholic Church says you're a member and you say you're not, though you resign yourself to the Church's position. Why?

162 posted on 09/26/2004 12:38:51 PM PDT by practicalmom
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To: Kristian
The more I read the post of so called catholics, the happier i am i have renounced the catholic church....

Chirst said to his apostles: "If you hold a man bound for his sins, he shall be bound. If you forgive him he shall be forgiven". The Sacrament was clearly instituted by Christ.

163 posted on 09/26/2004 12:39:41 PM PDT by Grey Ghost II
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To: FITZ

Excuse me .. if the Pope is so upset about it .. he can send his priests into the caverns underneath the Vatican - where some of the world's treasures are kept .. bring them up to the surface .. sell them .. and donate the funds to POOR PEOPLE.

I think it's outrageous for the Pope (dripping with wealth) should make such a charge.


164 posted on 09/26/2004 12:39:49 PM PDT by CyberAnt (Sen.Miller said, "Bush is a God-fearing man with a good heart and a spine of tempered steel")
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To: ScottFromSpokane

Check out the movie: "Shoes of the Fisherman."


165 posted on 09/26/2004 12:41:08 PM PDT by cubreporter (-I trust Rush...he will prevail in spite of the naysayers.)
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To: FITZ

So the pope is a socialist. I have to say that comes as a surprise.


166 posted on 09/26/2004 12:42:35 PM PDT by lawgirl (I like knowing where my President is every night- at home in bed with his wife!)
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To: CyberAnt

Heck, you don't even have to go underground :) Ever been to the Vatican Museums? Oy.


167 posted on 09/26/2004 12:43:40 PM PDT by mewzilla
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To: FITZ
  Pope Denounces'Imbalance' of Wealth

Dear Pope, The wealth is perfectly balanced. On the one hand, most of it is with those who created it. On the other hand, most of those who didn't create it don't have it. As it is, those who created it share much more of what they've created with those who've done nothing than vice versa.
168 posted on 09/26/2004 12:43:54 PM PDT by aruanan
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To: HighlyOpinionated

This looks to be a mixed bag of stuff. I remember the parabol about the stewart of the 10,000 talons.

The point was that the INDUSTRious get rich, not the incompetant.


169 posted on 09/26/2004 12:51:01 PM PDT by fooman (Get real with Kim Jung Mentally Ill about proliferation)
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To: ScottFromSpokane
He seems to have no problem proposing that others' property be taken from them to fund this project.

Did he say this? Can't find it above . . .

170 posted on 09/26/2004 12:55:37 PM PDT by firebrand
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To: firebrand
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 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.

In any case, how could it possibly be funded without taking people's property? Governments have no money of their own.

171 posted on 09/26/2004 12:59:05 PM PDT by ScottFromSpokane (Re-elect President Bush: http://spokanegop.org/bush.html)
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To: Kristian

>>it is not in a forum, that i can convince you I am a catholic. <<

LOLOLOL!
You will never convince ANYone that you are Catholic.
You have a better chance convining anyone you are a monkey!


172 posted on 09/26/2004 1:08:45 PM PDT by netmilsmom (Does a clean house indicate that there is a broken computer in it?)
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To: gocats

>>The Church still considers me a member even though I do not.<<

Nope sorry, you are a fallen Catholic.


173 posted on 09/26/2004 1:19:00 PM PDT by netmilsmom (Does a clean house indicate that there is a broken computer in it?)
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To: Slings and Arrows

Kerry could.


174 posted on 09/26/2004 1:21:31 PM PDT by RetSignman (Forever Optimistic Never Complacent)
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To: Gary - Peters

FYI, there is no shortage of food in the world. The problem of starvation is a problem of distribution. In fact the number of starving people is equal to the number of overweight people. Also a majority of the grain grown in the US is fed to livestock, i.e. wasted. Following the precipe to love thy neighbor need not involve mortgaging anything. All that would be required for us Christians to do would be to reduce our food consumption to a healthy, normal amount and send the rest overseas.


175 posted on 09/26/2004 1:22:14 PM PDT by BobbyBland (WWJD)
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To: Kornev


The Pope is European. They are born loving the ideas of communism. He learned that the reality of communism in Poland stunk, but he still loves the idea that we can all have the same material goods if governments mandate it.
Jesus never said that. He spoke of the responsibility of His followers to feed the poor and take care of the orphaned, but He never lectured governments about it. If all of us did "love our neighbor as ourselves" the governments, that always do a poor job of this business, wouldn't be tempted to buy votes with the taxpayers' money and call it the "common welfare."


176 posted on 09/26/2004 1:26:23 PM PDT by kittymyrib
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To: mewzilla

I find the Pope's hypocrisy truly mind boggling.


177 posted on 09/26/2004 1:56:48 PM PDT by CyberAnt (Sen.Miller said, "Bush is a God-fearing man with a good heart and a spine of tempered steel")
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To: webheart

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.

(someone tell me how to have the former post placed in italics, please)

From http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03561a.htm
The chalice must not be made of brass or copper, because it generates rust (i. e. verdigris) which causes nausea.
(in the same article)
According to the existing law of the Church the chalice, or at least the cup of it, must be made either of gold or of silver, and in the latter case the bowl must be gilt on the inside. In circumstances of great poverty or in time of persecution a calix stanneus (pewter) may be permitted, but the bowl of this also, like the upper surface of the paten, must be gilt. Before the chalice and paten are used in the Sacrifice of the Mass they require consecration.

Anyone here a chemist? Isn't there some medicinal reason for using gold lined cups with the wine?


178 posted on 09/26/2004 2:04:32 PM PDT by HighlyOpinionated (Pray for Pope John Paul II.)
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To: CyberAnt
Excuse me .. if the Pope is so upset about it .. he can send his priests into the caverns underneath the Vatican - where some of the world's treasures are kept .. bring them up to the surface .. sell them .. and donate the funds to POOR PEOPLE.

He can't. It's not his place. The treasures of the Vatican are held in trust for future generations of the Faithful. The pope himself has no control over that, no matter what anyone says or thinks. Besides, there isn't enough there to feed the poor people for more than a week and then where are we?

It's not the easiest thing to understand, but the treasures of the church are worth more than money. They are an inspiration for the Faithful. In a Faith that is sensual (as in engaging all the senses), they are beyond value.

Besides, the pope probably took a vow of poverty at some point, so it doesn't really belong to him. I still think these comments are more of a sermon on today's Gospel than anything else. It's not a sin to be wealthy, but it is not right to be wealthy and not help someone in need. That is at a personal level.

Without seeing the complete commentary it's very difficult to truly tell what the pope was trying to say.

179 posted on 09/26/2004 2:06:45 PM PDT by Desdemona
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To: netmilsmom

I'd give it up, if I were you. You and I know that one needs to practice to be truly Catholic, but it's hard to convince people of that.


180 posted on 09/26/2004 2:08:19 PM PDT by Desdemona
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