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.
"imbalance"There. That's better."ever more appropriate in reference to the problem of the imbalance between the riches and poverty of the world today."
"a more united and efficient action against hunger and poverty."
"The Catholic Church assures all its commitment to eradicating the scourge of hunger and the other consequences of poverty from the world,"
"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."
"most tried by the unfair distribution of wealth that God destines for all his children."
You may disagree with the Pope on this matter, as I do, but to call him a communist is unforgivable, especially given the fact that he lived under that tyrrany for 60 years and helped Ronald Reagan dump it onto the ash heap of history. Try and be more prudent in your critique.
Not to mention hiring enough professional architects, teachers, civil engineers, dieticians, and the like to teach the poor how to do it right.
Kind of a "teach 'em to fish" approach.
At any rate, the money is certainly there; all the church has to do is decide to spend it on the poor instead of themselves.
Fat chance.
>>So let's get this straight. Kristin isn't a Catholic because she disagrees with a few of the hypocritical political positions of the global Catholic church, even though she believes in the basics of the Catholic dogma.
Is that what you're saying? Well do you agree that the Pope is mortal and, therefore, fallible?
Have not "all sinned, and come short of the glory of God"?<<
All of us are sinners, but if one is part of any organized religion, one must follow the rules of that religion. Going to church every Sunday is one of our rules. Otherwise one is not a "Catholic" but rather a "Fallen Catholic". If she believed in the dogma, she would be attending mass and believing that no matter what the men of the church do, the practice is what would save her immortal soul.
There is nothing tolerant nor non-tolerant about it. If one renounces the Catholic church she is not Catholic.
Not my rules, the Vatican rules. Your hostility shows that you do not understand "being Catholic". It's ok, you don't proclaim to be such.
You are perfectly right --- all the freebies just would keep the underlying problems --- which is almost always their form of government and culture able to continue on and on. Corrupt dictators robbing their countries of their wealth would be allowed to continue doing so --- the people would be fed and more content --- less likely to run them out.
>Not one serious post on this thread that I noticed about
>the merits of the Pope's point of view. Just rants about
>soem goodies in the Vatican that should be liquidated, and
>stuff about child abuse, and name calling. Pathetic.
>Freepers should do better than is exemplified here.
Indeed. Just goes to show that there are fewer practicing Christians who post here than one might have originally thought.
>Some ideas have proven to work, like micro loans for
>budding entrepreneurs as occurred in Bangledesh. And of
>course the biggest boon of all would be unfettered free
>trade for these nations...
Unfettered free trade would wipe out most of those budding entrepreneurs.
>the Pope doesn't have any grounding in economics or the
>empirical body of evidence on this matter. He's simply not
>qualified.
He may not be an economist, but he is a theologian. As you correctly observe, no one has tried to deal with the central tenant behind his discourse: Jesus commanded Christians to be charitable to others. The more talents you are given, the more you are supposed to produce.
Compare the activities of a man like Thomas Monaghan, founder of Domino's Pizza, with those of someone like Ken Lay (former Enron CEO) - or for that matter, with those of John and Theresa Kerry.
The difference will become fairly clear.
I did think about some of that --- how much of what he said was slanted --- but does he support the UN? I believe he does --- and I went to Mass --- and the sermon was based on this exact thing --- and you could swear a Marxist was giving the sermon --- I believe our priest is one --- and even the list of what we should pray for "Cooperatives of every kind....." and "Pray that if one of our community is suffering, we are all suffering equally" makes me realize there is a lot of Marxism inside the Catholic Church. If the Pope's thoughts and words are being twisted --- their likely be twisted just as much from within the Church. The Church does have problems which need to be cleaned out.
No, God has claim on the material world as well. However, respectfully I think the Pope is wrong here. He praises UN anti-poverty efforts, when the UN is a God-less organization, and possibly corrupt as well.
>Marxism inside the Catholic Church
There's a lot of Marxism implicit in many Christian doctrines. The early church essentially lived as Communists, selling all they had and having all things in common.
Makes you wonder how history would have turned out of Marx had based his dogmas on Chrisitan theology instead of atheism.
That same crap has been taught in many Catholic churches in our area, and not going over too well. People who live real life are more realistic. America has already taken in half of Mexico's poor, and it will alter our country for the worse forever.
Meanwhile the religious hierarchy sit on their golden thrones, financed by the working people in the church, and give out stupid statements like this. I'll bet the Pope isn't on managed health care, as most Americans are, and he isn't seeing less and less health care for his money, as we are.
I suppose he'd be happy if we'd return to the days when everyone was poor (pre-1875). The Church didn't waste its time pontificating on economics then, but focused on its spiritual mission.
This is simply envy that some countries have developed to a higher standard of living by dint of their own effort, while other countries that used to be doing well have slid backwards (Haiti, Brazil, Argentina come to mind).
Well, why don't you try finding a nice Catholic traditionalist chapel where the faith is done the old way? I could send you in that direction if you tell me where you live.
Anyone among us who is not attentive to the needs of the poor will not get to dwell in "the bosom of Abraham." See
yesterday first reading and the gospel reading at Mass about the rich man and the beggar Lazarus. Think too of judgement day
e.gr. "When I was hungry, you gave me to eat; When I was
thirsty you gave me to drink. etc."
God has a preferential option for the wealthy - He was born into a noble family when He came among us.
Not that it matters.
This thread is a sewer. Facts, intelligence, logic, and reason are not to be found here.
Just bile, filth, idiocy, and slander.
Failure to go to Mass does not "un-Catholic" someone. One can only cease being a Catholic when one takes up an alternative belief system. Until demonstrated otherwise, such people should be given the benefit of the doubt.
"Anyone among us who is not attentive to the needs of the poor will not get to dwell in "the bosom of Abraham." See
yesterday first reading and the gospel reading at Mass about the rich man and the beggar Lazarus. Think too of judgement day
e.gr. "When I was hungry, you gave me to eat; When I was
thirsty you gave me to drink. etc.""
Amos tells us of a worse and different kind of famine.
Amos 8:11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of HEARING the words of the LORD:
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