Pope Benedict seems to think that Economic Redistribution is an excellent idea. Him and his predecessor, Pope Paul VI, would make some wonderful dictators. It’s a good thing they are only the head of a church, and not a Real nation.
“The world’s wealth is growing in absolute terms, but inequalities are on the increase“ This is the thinking of this dictator to be. Here’s more: “Charity demands justice: recognition and respect for the legitimate rights of individuals and peoples,” he says. “Justice must be applied to every phase of economic activity, because this is always concerned with man and his needs,” “Locating resources, financing, production, consumption and all the other phases in the economic cycle inevitably have moral implications. Thus every economic decision has a moral consequence.”
Now, “Justice”, in Benedict’s mind, is the taking of someone’s money and redistributed to others that are less “fortunate”.
He totally supports the “redistribution of wealth” when he references the role of government. “Grave imbalances are produced,” he writes, “when economic action, conceived merely as an engine for wealth creation, is detached from political action, conceived as a means for pursuing justice through redistribution.” Therefore, “Justice” is redistribution of wealth. And therefore, not redistributing wealth is unjust. That is a very scary thought.
I just wonder how much the government would have to take from someone like Bill Gates to make it “just”? 50%? 75%? 95%?
I have never read anywhere in the Bible where Jesus ever said to take money from the rich and give to the poor. I did read where the rich are supposed to be generous, and give charity and tithes. Neither of which are mandatory.
Dictator Benedict seems to forget that Charity is giving of one’s self. Charity makes no demands, justice or otherwise.
I do, however, believe that Economic Redistribution is a good idea. As long as we start with the churches. Lets start taxing the Catholic Church first! If the Catholic Church would sell all the super high value churches that it owns, it could probably single handedly wipe out the hunger problem in Ethiopia. If we are going to be all for Taxation and Regulation in order to help the “less fortunate” lets start with the Catholic Church. Revoke the Tax Exempt status, and lets get started!
I would like to hear Ganelon give a dissertation on the topic of biblical support of socialism. Render unto Ceaser Ganelon! Render on and sally forth.
Reading the sourced article. It drives the point home. The Pope is clearly saying that people should be ethical in their actions. The Pope is aligning ethics with ensuring that people are given a fair living wage, that they are safe in their work places, and that the people are not abused in their contractual obligations. Remember the Pope is speaking to the third world every bit as much as the developed world and he is clearly taking the stance that nations must not give up the progress they have made in establishing safe and equitable work places. The Pope is without a doubt rendering unto Ceaser. It is his faith that drives him to this stance. If you believe Ganelon, the Christian faith demands an obedience to a government power.
I of course don’t share this view entirely, I think duty to God does not require a duty to government, but merely a duty to respect and follow the law. That law of course may be natural (or God-given).
For what it is worth, the Pope’s point has merit. He says:
“Profit is useful if it serves as a means towards an end,once profit becomes the exclusive goal, if it is produced by improper means and without the common good as its ultimate end, it risks destroying wealth and creating poverty.”
The Pope said in nutshell the same tired cliche: Money is not evil, the love of it is.
The end of this quote shows the Pope is indeed a Capitalist and that he wishes to preserve capital through solid long term vision and not destroy it through short sighted actions motivated entirely by greed. Pick up Atlas Shrugged again and remember that Dagny and the rest did everything they could to support and preserve each others capital and they paid their workers a fair wage and treated them with respect and dignity.
The Pope also says that the government should regulate these notions. That is where me and the Pope part ways. I agree with everything the Pope says, as long as it is not Law. When it is law, it is no longer Charity.
I concur with your position. But you can acknowledge that Christianity dictates obedience to government.
I do acknowledge that. Setting aside laws would leave the world in Chaos. The government is too big and powerful now though. It needs to de-regulate, not increase regulation. Even when it comes to the economy. It has to be done in the correct way though. Vote Libertarian.
Now, that also doesn’t leave out the people’s ability to revolt if the government becomes too powerful or corrupt. The Bible doesn’t say to “blindly” follow the law. But, if you aren’t willing to fight for a change, then you have no alternative but to follow the law.