[Mrs. Don-o]

Let me say what I always say on threads dealing with papal statements as reported by the Enemedia: don't rush to judgment based on some smidgeon of excerpt/interpretation selected and made available to you by Reuters.

No, I haven't read the whole encyclical --- over 30,000 words and 159 footnotes ---- but just skimmimg the text, my eyes happened to light on this:

"Economy and finance, as instruments, can be used badly when those at the helm are motivated by purely selfish ends. Instruments that are good in themselves can thereby be formed into harmful ones. But it is man's darkened reason that produces these consequences, not the instrument per se. Therefore it is not the instrument that must be called to account, but individuals, their moral conscience and their personal and social responsibility."

This sounds to me, not like an indictment of market economies and their instruments, but a call to individuals to exercise personal responsibility.

Waiting for Reuters to take that angle? Don't hold your breath.

[ConservativeMind]

You need to read the Pope’s words in context, in post #143.

[paulycy]

This sounds to me, not like an indictment of market economies and their instruments, but a call to individuals to exercise personal responsibility.

IF, I say IF, the quote in which the Pope calls for global organizations "with teeth" is true, then all the other words in the encyclical are rendered moot.

Again, assuming the quote is accurate, he is clearly calling for centralized world government with the power to coerce by force. The Catholic Church has no right to get back into the centralized world government business. Period.

I mean no offense, I simply believe he is flat wrong.