Pope Denounces 'imbalance' Of Wealth

[rachael]

[url="http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=518&e=1&u=/ap/vatican_rich_poor"]http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...tican_rich_poor[/url]

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy - Pope John Paul (news - web sites) 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 (news - web sites), 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 (news - web sites) 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 (news - web sites)'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.

[geetarplayer]

[quote name='rachael' date='Sep 26 2004, 10:38 PM'] 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. [/quote]
What a lame excuse.

-Mark

[Iacobus]

[quote name='geetarplayer' date='Sep 26 2004, 09:01 PM'] What a lame excuse.

-Mark [/quote]
I second that.

[StColette]

[quote name='rachael' date='Sep 26 2004, 08:38 PM'] 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. [/quote]
:angry: I third what Jacob and Mark said, a lame excuse !!

[MagiDragon]

i reject that notion.

This proposal would give one of the greatest supporters of birth-control the right to take money from anyone that has money.

This is a *stupid* idea. The UN answers to no one, and it is controlled by a very anti-life, anti-family element of society. We *cannot* allow them the sort of power these taxes would allow.

The *only* international organization that could be trusted in such a situation would be the Catholic Church . . . and even that would have major problems.

Another problem is that it is better to give freely than to be forced to give: If a person gives you $5, you thank them, and appreciate what a generous person they are. If the government gives you $5 as a part of a program to help people, you complain that $5 is not enough to do anything useful.

On the flip-side, if you give $5, you realize that it's not much, but it's enough for someone to get a decent meal. If the government takes $5 to give to someone else, you're a bit pieved that the money is being taken from your control.

don't think that the end justifies the means, if it did, we would not have free will. God gave us free will so that we could *choose* to do good. Thus, we must give people that same option in their lives. taxes are *not* the answer.

Peace,
Joe

[Guest Aluigi]

yeah, i don't believe the UN should impose taxes and stuff...

:cough: oil for food :cough:

I don't trust the UN as far as i can throw it

:cough: oil for food :cough:

The UN should not govern sovereign nations

:cough: oil for food :cough:

I agree about unfair distribution of wealth, but a UN imposed international tax system would not be the way to go.

[MagiDragon]

yeah, and one other thing . . . the media frequently paraphrases what the Pope says. When you read his direct quotes, they tend to say what is reported, but with *major* caveats. I'd like to know whether he supports an international tax. I'll bet he wouldn't.

Peace,
Joe

[1337 k4th0l1x0r]

Taxing people to help the poor is a bit like 'works without faith.' As MagiDragon said, giving $5 to the poor or having $5 taken by the government so it will be given to the poor are two different things. Giving the money involves charity and more often than not the results are much better than the money taken which is taken without charity, even though the $5 given through charity is materially the same as the $5 taken from you. Taxes don't get much done because there is no love in taxes.

[Paladin D]

I agree with Magi, Aluigi, and K4th.

[Iacobus]

I like the UN.

Oh, and I think the pope would support an international tax. Rember we are supposed to tithe (sp?) to the Church. Sure it is more free will than a "real" tax... but so is trusting and having faith in God.

[Guest Aluigi]

i'm sorry, but do u actually trust this organization which listens to no one, has failed to stop genocides because it was too concerned with not loosing its soldiers, and has a record of CORRUPTION with using money that is supposed to help the poor and the hungry?

:cough: oil for food :cough:

if every country on earth was willing to submit to the Universal Church who would impose taxes on countries to help the needy, I would be all for that. but as of right now, the secular curropt United Nations should not govern over sovereign nations whose elected officials should be deciding what to do with the nation's money. the UN does not have the moral authority to impose an international tax. it cannot be trusted with the power to force money out of other countries who are just supposed to assume that money will go to help the needy.

anyway, perhaps you failed to hear me through my coughs. have you not paid attention to the fact that the UN was trusted to head up the Oil for Food program and it kind of used that to its advantage with corrupt dealings with the madman Saddam Hussein.

do you really trust the United Nations to take money from every nation on earth with no one for it to answer to? i don't.

[Big Joe]

When I was a kid, I used to think we were poor. Now I realize that mustard sandwhiches are better than no sandwiches at all...

I'm glad that I've never known true hunger. Even not being able to eat for two or three days is nothing compared to literally starving to death.

An increase in charity is the answer, not an international redisitribution of wealth.

Edited September 27, 2004 by Big Joe

[1337 k4th0l1x0r]

You know, I reread that article and nowhere did the pope say he supported an international tax. He supported the UN's efforts to reduce hunger and poverty (obviously) and one topic up for debate was an international tax. It's some clever writing by the author who is trying to convince us that the Pope somehow supports an international tax where all he supports is the eradication of poverty.

I wholeheartedly believe that $100 in the hands of a charity goes much further than a $1000 welfare check.

[1337 k4th0l1x0r]

Yeah, Al, the UN is a horrible agency. Okay idea, horrible implementation. I really don't trust an organization which holds us in debt more than any other country in spite of the fact that we've given more money to it than any other country. The UN is more corrupt than all the corrupt governments in the world. Just look at who's been on the human rights council. Some of these countries have committed war crimes and atrocities and then have the nerve to say that the U.S. is one of the worst abusers of human rights! It's really become a place where other nations hate on the United States.

[EcceNovaFacioOmni]

The UN to taking my money to abort babies and send condoms to Africa? Noway. The UN is Satan's voice in international politics. The sooner it is dissolved, the better off we will be.