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Is Benedict in Favor of World Government?
First Things ^ | August 20, 2009 | Douglas A. Sylva

Posted on 08/20/2009 12:30:40 PM PDT by IbJensen

As observers continue to decipher the meaning of Benedict XVI’s latest encyclical, Caritas in Veritate, all appear to agree that the passage of note, the passage that may prove historic in its implications, is the one that is already becoming known as the “world political authority” paragraph:

In the face of the unrelenting growth of global interdependence, there is a strongly felt need, even in the midst of a global recession, for a reform of the United Nations Organization, and likewise of economic institutions and international finance, so that the concept of the family of nations can acquire real teeth. One also senses the urgent need to find innovative ways of implementing the principle of the responsibility to protect and of giving poorer nations an effective voice in shared decision-making. This seems necessary in order to arrive at a political, juridical and economic order which can increase and give direction to international cooperation for the development of all peoples in solidarity. To manage the global economy; to revive economies hit by the crisis; to avoid any deterioration of the present crisis and the greater imbalances that would result; to bring about integral and timely disarmament, food security and peace; to guarantee the protection of the environment and to regulate migration: for all this, there is urgent need of a true world political authority. . . .

Could Benedict be in favor of world government, as many now believe? Taken in the context of papal writings since the dawn of the UN, as well as Benedict’s own opinions, recorded both before and after his election as pope, the passage gains another meaning. It is in reality a profound challenge to the UN, and the other international organizations, to make themselves worthy of authority, of the authority that they already possess, and worthy of the expansion of authority that appears to be necessary in light of the accelerated pace of globalization.

It is true that Benedict believes that a transnational organization must be empowered to address transnational problems. But so has every pope since John XXIII, who wrote in 1963 that “Today the universal common good presents us with problems which are worldwide in their dimensions; problems, therefore, which cannot be solved except by a public authority with power, organization, and means coextensive with these problems, and with a worldwide sphere of activity. Consequently the moral order itself demands the establishment of some such form of public authority.”

But such an authority has been established, and we have lived with it since 1948, and in many ways it has disappointed. So Benedict turns John XXIII’s formulation on its head: Morality no longer simply demands a global social order; now Benedict underscores that this existing social order must operate in accord with morality. He ends his own passage on world authority by stating that “The integral development of peoples and international cooperation require the establishment of a greater international ordering, marked by subsidiarity, for the management of globalization. They also require the construction of a social order that at last conforms to the moral order. . . .” Note the phrase “at last.”

What went wrong? According to Benedict, a world authority worthy of this authority would need “to make a commitment to securing authentic integral human development inspired by the values of charity in truth.” The obvious implication is that the current UN has not made this commitment.

To understand how the UN has failed, we must delve into the rest of the encyclical. According to Benedict, the goal of all international institutions must be “authentic integral human development.” This human development must be inspired by truth, in this case, the truth about humanity. Pursuit of this truth reveals that each human being possesses absolute worth; therefore, authentic human development is predicated on a radical defense of life.

This link is made repeatedly in Caritas in Veritate. “Openness to life is at the center of true development. . . . The acceptance of life strengthens moral fiber and makes people capable of mutual help. . . . They can promote virtuous action within the perspective of production that is morally sound and marked by solidarity, respecting the fundamental right to life of every people and individual.”

To some, it must seem startling how often Benedict comes back to life in an encyclical ostensibly dedicated to economics and globalization. But this must be understood as Benedict’s effort to humanize globalization. It can be seen as the global application of John Paul II’s own encyclical on life, Evengelium Vitae.

Without this understanding of the primacy of life, international development is bound to fail: “Who could measure the negative effects of this kind of mentality for development? How can we be surprised by the indifference shown towards situations of human degradation, when such indifference extends even to our attitude towards what is and is not human?”

Throughout the encyclical, Benedict is unsparing in the ways in which the current international order contributes to this failure; no major front in the war over life is left unmentioned, from population control, to bioethics, to euthanasia.

But none of this should come as a surprise. Since at least as far back as the UN’s major conferences of the 1990s—Cairo and Beijing—Benedict has known that the UN has adopted a model of development conformed to the culture of death. He no doubt assisted John Paul II in his successful efforts to stop these conferences from establishing an international right to abortion-on-demand. At the time, Benedict said, “Today there is no longer a ‘philosophy of love’ but only a ‘philosophy of selfishness.’ It is precisely here that people are deceived. In fact, at the moment they are advised not to love, they are advised, in the final analysis, not to be human. For this reason, at this stage of the development of the new image of the new world, Christians . . . have a duty to protest.”

Now, in his teaching role as pope, Benedict is not simply protesting but offering the Christian alternative, the full exposition of authentic human development. Whether or not the UN can meet the philosophical challenges necessary to promote this true development remains uncertain. But it should not be assumed that Benedict is sanguine; after all, he begins his purported embrace of world government with a call for UN “reform,” not expansion.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: benedict; bxvi; catholic; globalism; integraldevelopment; pope; popebenedict; rc; romancatholic; teilhardism; vatican
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To: the invisib1e hand; B-Chan; 1000 silverlings; Alex Murphy; xzins; P-Marlowe; Dutchboy88; Quix; ...
You can always tell who responds to the titles, or who quits after skimming the first and last paragraphs. Try reading it before you go advising the Pope.

I refer you to POST 107 on another thread and various links wherein part of your pope's travesty is excerpted...

67. In the face of the unrelenting growth of global interdependence, there is a strongly felt need, even in the midst of a global recession, for a reform of the United Nations Organization, and likewise of economic institutions and international finance, so that the concept of the family of nations can acquire real teeth. One also senses the urgent need to find innovative ways of implementing the principle of the responsibility to protect[146] and of giving poorer nations an effective voice in shared decision-making. This seems necessary in order to arrive at a political, juridical and economic order which can increase and give direction to international cooperation for the development of all peoples in solidarity. To manage the global economy; to revive economies hit by the crisis; to avoid any deterioration of the present crisis and the greater imbalances that would result; to bring about integral and timely disarmament, food security and peace; to guarantee the protection of the environment and to regulate migration: for all this, there is urgent need of a true world political authority, as my predecessor Blessed John XXIII indicated some years ago. Such an authority would need to be regulated by law, to observe consistently the principles of subsidiarity and solidarity, to seek to establish the common good[147], and to make a commitment to securing authentic integral human development inspired by the values of charity in truth. Furthermore, such an authority would need to be universally recognized and to be vested with the effective power to ensure security for all, regard for justice, and respect for rights[148]. Obviously it would have to have the authority to ensure compliance with its decisions from all parties, and also with the coordinated measures adopted in various international forums. Without this, despite the great progress accomplished in various sectors, international law would risk being conditioned by the balance of power among the strongest nations. The integral development of peoples and international cooperation require the establishment of a greater degree of international ordering, marked by subsidiarity, for the management of globalization[149]. They also require the construction of a social order that at last conforms to the moral order, to the interconnection between moral and social spheres, and to the link between politics and the economic and civil spheres, as envisaged by the Charter of the United Nations.

How any American can read that garbage and not be repelled is unfathomable. And you can't "blame the translation" since this is the Vatican's own translation. It says what the Vatican wants it to say.

As pointed out many times, not every word in the "Communist Manifesto" or "Mein Kampf" is a lie. That's how propaganda works. But the foul lies and tyranny are there for anyone to read and understand.

I'm truly amazed at some of the Roman Catholic "conservatives" on this site who defend this pathetic treatise which moves our democracy ever closer to Orwellian oblivion. But slave owners have always shared a camaraderie with other slaves owners.

81 posted on 08/21/2009 11:11:25 AM PDT by Dr. Eckleburg ("I don't think they want my respect; I think they want my submission." - Flemming Rose)
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To: Dr. Thorne; 1000 silverlings
Innovative Way #1: The UN seizes the Vatican and liquidates all valuable artwork, artifacts, holy relics, precious metals, etc. and gives the proceeds to poorer nations. Now, wouldn't that make the Pope feel so charitable?

LOL. Now that is a GREAT idea. Wonder why Ratzinger doesn't suggest it? It's at the top of my list.

82 posted on 08/21/2009 11:12:47 AM PDT by Dr. Eckleburg ("I don't think they want my respect; I think they want my submission." - Flemming Rose)
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To: Dr. Eckleburg
I must thank you, because as I was wondering where I was going to find the time to respond, I came across this
As pointed out many times, not every word in the "Communist Manifesto" or "Mein Kampf" is a lie. That's how propaganda works. But the foul lies and tyranny are there for anyone to read and understand.
You implicit equalization of the Holy Father's words with that other diabolical garbage saves me the effort of having to respond as if to a reasonable argument. You've disqualified yourself from that.

Thank you.

Now then, if and when there's a Evil Pope, Catholics will know it before everyone else. Because everyone else will love him.

83 posted on 08/21/2009 11:57:35 AM PDT by the invisib1e hand (this slope is getting slippereeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee...)
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To: the invisib1e hand
For your sake, I'll withdraw those three sentences.

Will you then be able to respond on the merits of your argument?

Read the pope's own words. Do you agree with the portion I excerpted? Should there be a global controlling authority with teeth to make sure the earth's resources are evenly distributed?

FWIW, your response isn't the first to refuse to answer because you find a word or two objectionable. Democrats do it all the time.

84 posted on 08/21/2009 12:03:34 PM PDT by Dr. Eckleburg ("I don't think they want my respect; I think they want my submission." - Flemming Rose)
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To: Poe White Trash
Wow. What Popper calls the “historicism” of Hegel and Marx at its purest.

please. I wouldn't know popper from topper.

Common sense, friend.

I'll bet you're anti-immigration, pro-tariff, etc. etc. because you think building a great big wall around the US is going to stop the rest of the world from marching on.

Only a hopelessly confused partisan can be so ignorant of history as to argue against the obervable fact that societies always organize into heirarchies, either benevolent or otherwise. It's as inexhorable, FRiend, as gravity, and about as inherently evil.

All the hyperbole in the world won't stop it from happening.

The Catholic has a role to play in the world around him. He understands that this is not his home, nor is his God's kingdom of this earth. He is about being salt and light wherever he is, under whatever circumstances he finds himself in.

Finally, if you're not Catholic, I wouldn't expect you to get this, although any "Christian" should: the Church is not a country. It is a kingdom of God within a kingdom of darkness. At some point the Catholic will have to choose between his country and your church -- not because the Church is against his country, but the tragic opposite. That's also an observable fact of history, and will be manifest without any ambiguity on the day when Christ returns, should you be so lucky to see that.

85 posted on 08/21/2009 12:10:49 PM PDT by the invisib1e hand (this slope is getting slippereeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee...)
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To: Dr. Eckleburg
FWIW, your response isn't the first to refuse to answer because you find a word or two objectionable. Democrats do it all the time.

I luv you man.

86 posted on 08/21/2009 12:13:18 PM PDT by the invisib1e hand (this slope is getting slippereeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee...)
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To: Poe White Trash; The Invisible Hand; B-Chan; Dr. Eckleburg; IbJensen; G Larry; 1000 silverlings; ...
I don't know that it matters . . .

Uhhhh . . . spitting . . . against the wind

is still a rather dubious exercise.

AS I've more or less somewhat noted on similar threads . . .

EITHER the leader of 1+ billion souls

1. Is deluded enough to think that his magicsterically sanitized lofty enclyclicals will sway satan to the Pope's constructions on reality;

or

2. is deluded enough to think that satan and his thoroughly demonized globalist goons become saints with age;

or

3. that tyrannical authoritarian ruthless genocidal globalism determined to forcefully reduce the world's population to 200 million is a warm fuzzy silly rabbit in wolf's clothing;

or

4. that his magical magicsterical enclyclicals will force resisted exorcisms on all the globalists world wide--who will then flock to their nearest RC baptismal fonts for deep immersion . . . oh well . . . as deep as possible splatters;

or

5. that the ruthless demonized globalists--who--out of some remaining redemptive microscopic corner of their heart are all ready to call on their ET space buddies to transport all faithful and most not so faithful RC's to a cozy garden-of-Eden type planet near Alpha Centauri just before the Mark of the Beast is fully implemented;

or

6. that satan himself will be caught reading the enclyclical by Mary and the force of her finger shaking, the magic of her white hanky and the sternness of her tongue wagging will reform even satan into a true wonderously righteous angelic force who will then instantly transform the UN and all the global tyrants into Mother and Father Theresa's rushing about spreading magical TRUTH IN LOVE posies all over the planet.

or

7. he knows full well the die is cast and everything will get horrifically worse until after Armageddon but he didn't have anything better to do than propagate a smoke-screen pile of ecclesiastical and bureaucratic political pseudo-theological gobbledy-gook just to watch all the horrifically ignorant blather that would result.

or

8. he was tasked with the globalist tyrants with pumping out a pile of stinking nonsense that sort of advocated world government clearly enough while obsfucating the whole issue enough to muddy millions of minds around the world into yet more of a mindless stupor all ripe for mass mind control and hypnosis.

or

9. Alzheimer's has begun to plague the upper reaches of the Vatican worse than anyone had imagined.

87 posted on 08/21/2009 12:14:15 PM PDT by Quix (POL Ldrs quotes fm1900 2 presnt: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2130557/posts?page=81#81)
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To: the invisib1e hand
the Church is not a country.

Then why is the Vatican a separate country with its own police force?

88 posted on 08/21/2009 12:14:26 PM PDT by Dr. Eckleburg ("I don't think they want my respect; I think they want my submission." - Flemming Rose)
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To: Dr. Eckleburg

The Church is not the Vatican. eeeeooyyyy! will you do your homework!?


89 posted on 08/21/2009 12:16:15 PM PDT by the invisib1e hand (this slope is getting slippereeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee...)
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To: Quix
or, he's infallible with regard to teaching faith and morals, and is very learned and wise in all other matters.

But, no, I'm sure the average FReeper knows more than he does.

90 posted on 08/21/2009 12:17:45 PM PDT by the invisib1e hand (this slope is getting slippereeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee...)
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To: the invisib1e hand; 1000 silverlings; Quix
I luv you man.

That's all well and good, but it's not the issue before us. You feel free to tell us to read the pope's own words, and yet when we do you appear unable or unwilling to comment on them with any specifics.

67. In the face of the unrelenting growth of global interdependence, there is a strongly felt need, even in the midst of a global recession, for a reform of the United Nations Organization, and likewise of economic institutions and international finance, so that the concept of the family of nations can acquire real teeth. One also senses the urgent need to find innovative ways of implementing the principle of the responsibility to protect[146] and of giving poorer nations an effective voice in shared decision-making. This seems necessary in order to arrive at a political, juridical and economic order which can increase and give direction to international cooperation for the development of all peoples in solidarity. To manage the global economy; to revive economies hit by the crisis; to avoid any deterioration of the present crisis and the greater imbalances that would result; to bring about integral and timely disarmament, food security and peace; to guarantee the protection of the environment and to regulate migration: for all this, there is urgent need of a true world political authority, as my predecessor Blessed John XXIII indicated some years ago. Such an authority would need to be regulated by law, to observe consistently the principles of subsidiarity and solidarity, to seek to establish the common good[147], and to make a commitment to securing authentic integral human development inspired by the values of charity in truth. Furthermore, such an authority would need to be universally recognized and to be vested with the effective power to ensure security for all, regard for justice, and respect for rights[148]. Obviously it would have to have the authority to ensure compliance with its decisions from all parties, and also with the coordinated measures adopted in various international forums. Without this, despite the great progress accomplished in various sectors, international law would risk being conditioned by the balance of power among the strongest nations. The integral development of peoples and international cooperation require the establishment of a greater degree of international ordering, marked by subsidiarity, for the management of globalization[149]. They also require the construction of a social order that at last conforms to the moral order, to the interconnection between moral and social spheres, and to the link between politics and the economic and civil spheres, as envisaged by the Charter of the United Nations.

Sounds good to you?

91 posted on 08/21/2009 12:19:07 PM PDT by Dr. Eckleburg ("I don't think they want my respect; I think they want my submission." - Flemming Rose)
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To: Dr. Eckleburg
take a deep breath, doc. deeeeeeeeep breaaaaath. Go for a walk around the block. Take a bath with Epsom salts.

have a nice weekend.

92 posted on 08/21/2009 12:21:40 PM PDT by the invisib1e hand (this slope is getting slippereeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee...)
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To: the invisib1e hand; Quix; 1000 silverlings
I'm sure the average FReeper knows more than he does.

At last. Something we can agree on.

Just like any plowboy can read and understand the Bible without the "magisterium" having to interpret every word, lest he learn the truth which Christ tells him...

"Be not afraid; only believe." -- Mark 5:36

93 posted on 08/21/2009 12:22:01 PM PDT by Dr. Eckleburg ("I don't think they want my respect; I think they want my submission." - Flemming Rose)
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To: the invisib1e hand
Is your pope the head of your church? Do the pope and the magisterium reside in the Vatican which is a separate country with its own police force?

Who's in charge of that police force?

94 posted on 08/21/2009 12:24:20 PM PDT by Dr. Eckleburg ("I don't think they want my respect; I think they want my submission." - Flemming Rose)
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To: the invisib1e hand

It’s beginning to appear that the average farmer Joe over the fence from the back 40 knows more about right and wrong than he does.

Giving the least bit of sanction—regardless of how wrapped in how many layers of double speak—to the satanic global government is

so far over the line as to be well beyond a half-dozen galactic clusters away from the righteous loving truth of God.


95 posted on 08/21/2009 12:25:45 PM PDT by Quix (POL Ldrs quotes fm1900 2 presnt: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2130557/posts?page=81#81)
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To: Dr. Eckleburg

INDEED.


96 posted on 08/21/2009 12:26:02 PM PDT by Quix (POL Ldrs quotes fm1900 2 presnt: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2130557/posts?page=81#81)
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To: the invisib1e hand
Since you told us (very nearly scolding us) to read the pope's own words, and we have done so, will you do the same?

Or is making this discussion personal the limit of your response?

97 posted on 08/21/2009 12:26:28 PM PDT by Dr. Eckleburg ("I don't think they want my respect; I think they want my submission." - Flemming Rose)
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To: Dr. Eckleburg

Now, now.

You’ve been around the mountain enough times to know that

asking simple factual questions

about simple

Vatican facts

is simply not tolerated.

They’d have to turn the Vatican upside down and inside out and wash all the white hankies just to even begin to try and discover how to handle

simple facts in a simply factual way.

We have to be realistic, after all.

/s


98 posted on 08/21/2009 12:27:49 PM PDT by Quix (POL Ldrs quotes fm1900 2 presnt: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2130557/posts?page=81#81)
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To: IbJensen

Sadly, as this thread demonstrates, the ability to read does not go hand in hand with the ability to understand.


99 posted on 08/21/2009 12:28:58 PM PDT by conservonator (spill czeck is knot my friend)
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To: conservonator

Sadly, as this thread demonstrates, the ability to read does not go hand in hand with the ability to understand.

***********************************************************************************************

“A man’s reach must exceed his grasp, else what’s a heaven for?”


100 posted on 08/21/2009 12:31:22 PM PDT by headsonpikes (Genocide is the highest sacrament of socialism.)
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