Vatican again urges radical reform of global marketplace – The Irish Times
Excerpt: TRADE ISSUES: FOR THE second time in the last month, the Holy See has argued that international trade markets need to be radically reformed.
The point was made by secretary of state Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone who, at a Vatican meeting of European Bishops’ Conferences on the New Evangelisation yesterday said: “The [global] crisis illustrates clearly the untenability of a market that has become totally self-referential . . .
“This present difficult situation prompts a whole series of new questions about the responsibilities and the ethics of the marketplace; it urgently asks a fundamental question about the destiny, dignity and spiritual vocation of man . . . ”
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2011/1123/1224307999115.html
Vatican Radio – Full Text: Note on financial reform from the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace
The full text of the document released earlier today.
http://www.radiovaticana.org/EN1/Articolo.asp?c=531752
CNS STORY: Vatican document calls for global authority to regulate markets
Excerpt:
While the Vatican document focused on financial issues, it envisioned a much wider potential role for the global political authority. The agenda also includes peace and security, disarmament and arms control, protection of human rights, and management of migration flows and food security, it said.
Establishing such an authority will be a delicate project and will no doubt come at a cost of “anguish and suffering” as countries give up particular powers, the document said. The authority should be set up gradually, on the basis of wide consultation and international agreements, and never imposed by force or coercion, it said.
The authority should operate on the principle of subsidiarity, intervening “only when individual, social or financial actors are intrinsically deficient in capacity, or cannot manage by themselves to do what is required of them,” it said. Countries’ specific identities would be fully respected, it said.
The authority should transcend special interests, and its decisions “should not be the result of the more developed countries’ excessive power over the weaker countries” or the result of lobbying by nations or groups, it said.
“A long road still needs to be traveled before arriving at the creation of a public authority with universal jurisdiction. It would seem logical for the reform process to proceed with the United Nations as its reference,” it said.
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1104173.htm
Vatican calls for global authority on economy – Reuters
Excerpt:
VATICAN CITY,Oct 24 (Reuters) – - The Vatican called on Monday for the establishment of a “global public authority” and a “central world bank” to rule over financial institutions that have become outdated and often ineffective in dealing fairly with crises.
http://uk.mobile.reuters.com/article/idUKL5E7LO1LS20111024?irpc=932
From the Vatican document:
“Of course, this transformation will be made at the cost of a gradual, balanced transfer of a part of each nation’s powers to a world authority and to regional authorities, but this is necessary at a time when the dynamism of human society and the economy and the progress of technology are transcending borders, which are in fact already very eroded in a globalizes world.”
Sec. Clinton condemns “Religious Defamation” laws and addresses international issues in annual Religious Freedom Report
On October 25, 2009, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton presented the annual International Religious Freedom Report, on behalf of the U.S. State Department Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. In the first IRFR from the Obama administration, Clinton stated her opposition to international laws that would propose to protect religious liberty by preventing negative speech about religious viewpoints.
In her speech, available online at C-SPAN, Secretary Clinton said:
[O]ur country has been strengthened by its long tradition of religious pluralism. From the largest denominations to the very smallest congregations, American religious bodies and faith-based organizations have helped to create a more just and compassionate society. Now, some claim that the best way to protect the freedom of religion is to implement so-called anti-defamation policies that would restrict freedom of expression and the freedom of religion. I strongly disagree. The United States will always seek to counter negative stereotypes of individuals based on their religion and will stand against discrimination and persecution.
But an individual’s ability to practice his or her religion has no bearing on others’ freedom of speech. The protection of speech about religion is particularly important since persons of different faiths will inevitably hold divergent views on religious questions. These differences should be met with tolerance, not with the suppression of discourse.
Clinton also addressed the status of religious freedom around the world and described several initiatives designed to promote interfaith dialogue and understanding.
In the Executive Summary of the report, available at the State Department web site, the Bureau describes international efforts, focusing on the efforts of the Vatican to engage Islam. The Summary mentions that there is no “country report” for the Vatican which enjoys national sovereignty.
“The Holy See has taken a leading role in recent engagement with Islam, accompanied by growing interest from diverse religious groups and regions. . . . The Holy See favors a dialogue that will lead to greater religious freedom and tolerance for differences. In the letter exchange between Prince Talal and the Vatican, analysts have noted references from both sides to longstanding areas of concern, such as respect for the dignity of every human person and respect for religious freedom, often expressed in terms of “reciprocity.” Other areas of concern include educating the public on the essential elements of both religions, sharing religious experience, and promoting mutual respect instead of violence, especially among the young.”
The report also outlines progress toward religious reconciliation within countries. such as India which recently experienced violence between religious groups, the Ukraine, and several other nations.
There are several nations with severe religious liberty situations (designated as Countries of Particular Concern, or CPCs) including Burma which is currently under U.S. sanction for human rights abuses, China with which the U.S. has a complicated relationship due to a combination of ongoing human rights abuses and trade, Eritrea, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Uzbekistan. The report outlines specific concerns about these countries and others.
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OPINION: Obama vs. Pope Benedict (Washington Times)
The Washington Times
Sunday, November 30, 2008
President-elect Barack Obama’s plan to pass the Freedom of Choice Act is setting up a showdown with the Vatican.
“The first thing I will do as president is sign the Freedom of Choice Act,” he said at an address before Planned Parenthood on July 17, 2007. And if he does, it will trigger a harsh response from Pope Benedict XVI, as well as a political revolt among practicing American Catholics.
Mr. Obama signing the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) “would be the equivalent of a war,” a senior Vatican official told Time magazine last week. “It would be like saying, ‘We’ve heard the Catholic Church and we have no interest in their concerns.’ ” At a recent Baltimore meeting, the U.S. Catholic bishops pledged to challenge Mr. Obama on his defense of abortion rights.
FOCA seeks to codify Roe v. Wade into federal law. It would remove all restrictions on abortion in state statutes – including restraints on late-term abortions and parental notification laws. It would also entrench taxpayer funding of abortion. Moreover, it would compel Catholic health-care facilities to provide the heinous procedure. In short, it constitutes a fundamental assault on basic Catholic doctrine.
Mr. Obama is a radical on abortion. He is vehemently pro-choice, even opposing the ban on partial-birth abortion. While in the Illinois state legislature, Mr. Obama voted against legislation protecting babies born in botched abortions.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com …
In Italy – Joke about the Pope, Go to Jail
What do Kim Jong Il, Pope Benedict XVI, and the Italian President have in common? Tell a joke about them to the wrong audience and you could end up in jail.
While it is not clear that the Vatican is supporting this, the Italian government is planning on prosecuting Italian Comedian Sabina Guzzanti for telling a dirty joke about the Pope’s afterlife. I will not repeat the joke here because not only is it tasteless, it isn’t funny. Suffice it to say that it raised the ire of Italian prosecutor Giovanni Ferrara, who accused her of ”offending the honour of the sacred and inviolable person” of Benedict XVI.
This follows on the heel of a July rally against the Vatican’s involvement in Italian political affairs, attempting to influence legislation.
Lest you think this is something new, the Rome prosecutor is relying on the 1929 Lateran Treaty between Italy and the Vatican, which stipulates that an insult to the Pope carries the same penalty as an insult to the Italian President.
For more on this story, visit http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article4732048.ece
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