RSS
Home
Do Catholics have to support a "world political authority"?
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
Some Critical Discernment Regarding Pope Benedict''s Recent Suggestions
In light of the recent Papal Encyclical "Charity in Truth", I thought it would be appropriate for a Catholic 'new world order' opponant and promotor of liberty to address this issue. Are Catholics obligated to agree with everything the Pope says regarding political issues, and are they obligated to support more government interventionism into financial affairs as the media might suggest? The short answer is not only no- but heck no. Let's start with the words of Pope Pius XI, who said, "No one can be at the same time a sincere Catholic and a true socialist."
Primarily, it is important to verify statements reported in the press. I have read over the latest Encyclical from Pope Benedict XVI entitled Caritas In Veritate I have read various sections which were referenced in the mainstream media. Reuters ran an article titled Pope calls for a "global authority" on economy on July 7.
The official letter, dated June 29, was entitled ENCYCLICAL LETTER CARITAS IN VERITATE OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF BENEDICT XVI TO THE BISHOPS PRIESTS AND DEACONS MEN AND WOMEN RELIGIOUS THE LAY FAITHFUL AND ALL PEOPLE OF GOOD WILL ON INTEGRAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT IN CHARITY AND TRUTH.
The letter is organized in paragraphs numbered from 1 to 79, with 159 footnotes.
I cross referenced the phrases that were referenced in the media account with the phrases that were actually in the encyclical, in their correct context. So far, from my view, the media has spun it in several ways. And this is not said to be merely as a defense of Pope Benedict or his positions on this topic; I am simply analyzing what he actually said vs. what the media reported in their sound bytes.
The main problem I have found with the press coverage is the following. The characterization that the Pope contends a free market system is shielded from moral influences is incorrect. Number two, the greatest trampling on personal freedoms not been a result of the free market system, but rather is the result of government intervention itself.
Journalist Philip Pullella reported for Reuters:
- "Called "Charity in Truth," parts of the encyclical appeared bound to upset conservatives because of its underlying rejection of unbridled capitalism and unregulated market forces, which he said had led to "thoroughly destructive" abuse of the system.
Below is the actual quote in its context. In number 34, the Pope was saying that the effects of original sin, not the FREE MARKET, led to 'thoroughly destructive' behaviors:
- The Church's wisdom has always pointed to the presence of original sin in social conditions and in the structure of society: "Ignorance of the fact that man has a wounded nature inclined to evil gives rise to serious errors in the areas of education, politics, social action and morals"[85]. In the list of areas where the pernicious effects of sin are evident, the economy has been included for some time now. We have a clear proof of this at the present time. The conviction that man is self-sufficient and can successfully eliminate the evil present in history by his own action alone has led him to confuse happiness and salvation with immanent forms of material prosperity and social action. Then, the conviction that the economy must be autonomous, that it must be shielded from influences of a moral character, has led man to abuse the economic process in a thoroughly destructive way. In the long term, these convictions have led to economic, social and political systems that trample upon personal and social freedom, and are therefore unable to deliver the justice that they promise. As I said in my Encyclical Letter Spe Salvi, history is thereby deprived of Christian hope[86], deprived of a powerful social resource at the service of integral human development, sought in freedom and in justice. Hope encourages reason and gives it the strength to direct the will[87].
The Reuters writer, perhaps even unintentionally, assumes that an economy "lacking moral character" is such because it is largely unregulated by the state. Whereas people in the freedom and anti-statist movement all know,as experience dictates, that state regulation does not enforce any morality but rather actually undermines it.
The Pope contends in number 56 that "The Christian religion and other religions can offer their contribution to development only if God has a place in the public realm, specifically in regard to its cultural, social, economic, and particularly its political dimensions." He goes on to say that "Human rights risk being ignored either because they are robbed of their transcendent foundation or because personal freedom is not acknowledged".
If the Pope's hopeful solution is a world governing body, evidence should show him that such an authority would further erode rights, not respect them.
Pope Benedict also the covers importance of maintaining state autonomy, in number 41, declaring "The integrated economy of the present day does not make the role of States redundant, but rather it commits governments to greater collaboration with one another. Both wisdom and prudence suggest not being too precipitous in declaring the demise of the State"
.
But later in number 67, he calls for a "for a reform of the United Nations Organization" and says that "there is urgent need of a true world political authority".
Included in his encyclical, Pope Benedict states "Nature expresses a design of love and truth. It is prior to us, and it has been given to us by God as the setting for our life".
I couldn't agree more, which is why I consider it a moral obligation to expose the greatest lie of our time, the official government story regarding 9/11/2001. The Pope recently lifted the penalty of excommunication from Richard Williamson, who is an eloquent spokesman for 9/11 truth as it applies to Christianity.
In closing, I hope this encyclical does not discourage faithful Catholics who believe in liberty and minimal government interventionism. Let us listen with respect to what the Pontiff says, and discuss it reasonably. I have included some of my favorite quotes below regarding our religious obligation to defend the truth; and also, some links including those regarding encyclicals and their binding authority.
I believe in the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church: Sayings to be known and remembered from the Fathers and Doctors of the Church
"The truth has set bounds. But evil and falsehood multiplies without end; and the more these (evils) are pursued, the more errors they produce." St. Jerome
"He who can correct any evil, and neglects to do it, makes himself accessory to the same." St. Gregory
"We seek no conquest over our adversaries; but only that truth may overcome falsehood." St. Jerome
"It is better that scandal arise than that truth be concealed." St. Gregory the Great
"Not to oppose error is to approve of it, and not to defend truth is to suppress it, and, indeed, to neglect to confound evil men, when we can do it, is not less a sin than to encourage them." Pope Felix III
"He that sees another in error, and endeavors not to correct it, testifies himself to be in error." Pope St. Leo I
"The power of evil men lives on the cowardice of the good." St. John Bosco
"It is a great gain when error and false teachers are exposed, for then, they cease to deceive the simple." Cardinal John Henry Newman
"Medicinal rebuke must be applied to all who sin, lest that they should either themselves perish, or be the ruin of others... Let no one, therefore, say that a man must not be rebuked when he deviates from the right way, but that his return and perseverance must only be asked for from the Lord for him... Severe rebuke should be medicinally applied to all by us that they perish not themselves, or that they may not be the means of destroying others." St. Augustine
"Rebuke those who are unruly, comfort the feeble-minded; support the weak; be patient to all men." 1 Thessalonians 5:14
"When they sin, rebuke them in the presence of all that the rest also may have fear." St. Paul (1 Timothy 5:20)
"If the faith is in imminent peril, prelates ought to be accused by their subjects, even in public." St. Thomas Aquinas
"As it is lawful to resist a Pontiff who attacks the body, it is likewise lawful to resist one who attacks the soul and especially one who would destroy the Church... by not obeying his orders and by impeding the execution of his will." St. Robert Bellarmine
"Who is going to save the church? Not the bishops, not the priest and religious. It is up to you the people. You have the minds, the eyes, the ears to save Her." Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
RELATED LINKS OF INTEREST:
As for the binding force of these documents it is generally admitted that the mere fact that the pope should have given to any of his utterances the form of an encyclical does not necessarily constitute it an ex-cathedra pronouncement and invest it with infallible authority
MAGISTERIAL DOCUMENTS AND PUBLIC DISSENT
The Second Vatican Council teaches in Lumen Gentium:
"this religious submission of mind and will must be shown in a special way to the authentic magisterium of the Roman pontiff, even when he is not speaking ex cathedra; that is, it
must be shown in such a way that his supreme magisterium is acknowledged with reverence, [and] the judgments made by him are sincerely adhered to, according to his manifest mind and will. his mind and will in the matter may be known either from the character of the documents, from his frequent repetition of the same doctrine, or from his manner of speaking" (no. 25)
The Socialist Perspective- By Lyle J. Arnold, Jr.
'Not everyone is saying it, but many are thinking that the road that will lead the United States out of its economic crisis is Socialism...We should reject the socialist ideals that rest on a materialist view of the world.
Supreme Knight criticizes use of Pope's encyclical for political agendas
Related Articles:
Add a Comment
