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 have not set foot in a catholic church for decades
You're about as Catholic as abortionist Francis Kissling.
"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
"The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.'
"But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.'
"He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.'
"Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' " 'No, father Abraham,' "he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' "He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.' "
God taught this to men so that they would do from their own hearts, not because the UN, or some govm't decided to force it for their own glory and purposes.
Besides --- it's not about rich and poor --- there have always been rich and poor --- Communist countries have rich and poor. The only class that really matters is the middle class --- a large middle class leads to great wealth and stability --- revolutions and coups don't happen in countries with the majority of people in the middle class. Communists divide people into "rich" and "poor" --- what made the USA so wealthy and strong was that it was founded on values that promoted the middle class.
It's still a pagan idol --- should he kiss a statue of Buddha or bow down to a Hindu god or article of worship? Or to show respect to New-Age pagans should he kiss a crystal?
I agree with the Pope. I think we could help the poor and hungry by removing the oppression of overbearing governments upon the free spirit of humanity and allowing people to reach their full, God-given potential.
I don't agree that the U.N. is the answer, however well-meaning the intentions.
Second, in a one world government, the Catholic church would be the first one to go.
The title should be....
"WORLD DENOUNCES IMBALANCE OF POPE'S WEALTH"
wow
Well --- I'm a Catholic and I'll still go to Mass today --- and I know how the Catholic Church wants it's wealthy Catholics to practice charity and give alms to the poor --- 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 --- not waiting for some wealthy guy to hand them over a few coins.
You are right, the US IS the most generous nation on earth. A global tax is not the way to aid the poor and hungry. We give because we feel God calls us to give out of our abundance, not because we are coerced to give to state, federal or global entities who claim to be able to deliver best, but who, in fact, waste substantial portions of the funds collected. Indviduals and charitable organizations do the best job, because they have as their goal providing assistance and spreading their faith to others.
The Pope is right to want and even to demand that we help the poor, but not through government, and certainly not through the UN......
John Kerry and Teresa Heinz should donate a sizable portion of their assets to the Catholic Church, the largest private social service provider to the poor in the world.
Source? The Pope told Saddam to comply with UN sanctions and resolutions or suffer the consequences.
The Pope should take a lesson in what is written by the American Founding Fathers and in our Constitution --- that approach was the best of all --- it wasn't about wealth redistribution at all, no confiscation of wealth from the workers to give to those who won't work. The American Patriots rebelled against taxes and government control.
And may I ask exactly how much of the Catholic Church's vast riches and holdings will the pontiff be willing to liquidate in order to "re-balance" the world's wealth? Let's start with the priceless art collections in Vatican City. How about at the innumerable real estate properties owned by the Church around the world? Or how about the tithe that is collected weekly at mass?
And hurray for Bush for not participating in this.
Flap your gums all day long sugar, you're not a Catholic.
Neither does the church or the US government. They take wealth (in whatever form) from those who have it, and distribute it (with a very liberal take off the top to sustain themselves) to those who don't have it...or enough of it....according to their own opinions as to exactly what those who don't have it - actually need!
Maybe the Pope wants to return to the old days when the Catholic Church was the sole government in many countries and all prosperity, food and social services were supplied by the Church?
Hmmmmm.... that's right!... It didn't work then either!
The Pope is a genuinely great and godly man and everyone in the world owes him a debt of gratitude for his brave stand against Communism, but for the head of the Catholic Church to denounce unequal distribution of wealth is an act of brazen hypocrisy.
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The Church described in the Book of Acts of the Apostles in the Christian Bible, clearly states in Acts 2:44,45: All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one's need.
Chapter 5 of the same book describes what happened to people who lied. It wasn't that they didn't give their all to "the Church" but rather that they lied about what they did give. No one told anyone to give it all up, but some thought there was more prestige in saying that they were penniless because they gave all their wealth to the Church.
What the Pope is saying has been said since . . . the beginning of Christendom if you accept the Bible as a source of your faith.
I see what the Pope is doing is trying to turn hearts back to the basics of Christianity.
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