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Roman Catholicism and OWS

Posted on 27. Oct, 2011 by in Current Events

At least a few religious leaders of almost every stripe have come out in support of the Occupy Wall Street movement. The voices of Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist and Muslim leaders have been joined by the support of a group not everyone would have thought would throw in their hat into the OWS ring: The Roman Catholic Church.

turkson1 236x300 Roman Catholicism and OWS

Cardinal Turkson

The little known Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, and its leader Peter Cardinal Turkson, made headlines this week when it seemingly backed the OWS Protesters all over the world. Turkson, one of the architects of Towards Reforming The International Financial And Monetary Systems In The Context Of Global Public Authority, said that the underlying ideas behind the OWS Protests are “in line with the social teaching” of the Roman Catholic Church.

“If people can hold their government to account, why can we not hold other institutions in society to accountability if they are not achieving or not helping us live peacefully or well,” explained Cardinal Turkson.

This document, which reiterates a long-standing Church-backed withering (though strangely irony-free) criticism of the idolatry of capitalism, has brought on a firestorm of controversy. Catholics of liberal and conservative stripes have gone out of their ways to either embrace, or explain away, this Council’s “note” on the global financial system.

Of primary concern in many circles is the apparent call for a “central world bank” and a “world political authority” – in short a world government – to manage (and regulate) international business and provide for social welfare. While the Vatican has downplayed the importance of Cardinal Turkson’s note to the world, saying Turkson does not speak for the Church, it is hard to believe that the Pontifical Council’s attitude and message are not reflective of Roman Catholic teaching and dogma.

One might wonder why the Roman Catholic Church, which rarely makes bones about being against capitalism when it suits them, has decided to hide from all this recent publicity?

This notion of an overarching world political authority to regulate markets is not a new one for the Roman Catholic Church. Pope John XXIII called for an institution in his 1963 encyclical Pacem in Terris that could deal with “problems which are world-wide in their dimensions; problems, therefore, which cannot be solved except by a public authority with power, organization and means co-extensive with these problems, and with a world-wide sphere of activity.”

Though where Pope John XXIII wrote that “this general authority equipped with world-wide power and adequate means for achieving the universal common good cannot be imposed by force,” it appears that the current Pope may not agree with him.

Pope Benedict XVI’s 2008 encyclical Caritas in Veritate also makes a call for an institution akin to the one mentioned in Pacem in Terris, but says it must “acquire real teeth.” This encyclical goes on to propose global level taxation, another idea suggested in Towards Reforming The International Financial And Monetary Systems In The Context Of Global Public Authority.

Indeed, the whole structure of the Roman Catholic faith, including its famous (though not recently trotted out) penchant for declaring heresies for even minor deviation from Catholic teaching, is exactly the sort of mindset that would seek out a single, global system of regulation. Is the Catholic Church itself not a microcosm (if an organization containing a little over one billion members could be called a microcosm) of this much-vaunted idea?

Yes, it is, which is why I find it disturbing that Roman Catholics would dare believe that this is not what their Church really wants for the world.

What do you think?

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  • The Don

    The Roman Catholic Church revolves on Bullshit, Human Greed & Love of Power just like everything else in this Country & World. Why would they be any different? The Roman Catholic Church will shift, change, deviate, cover up or do anything humanly possible to stay in Power. It has nothing to do with morality or human rights.  If it did, The Church would not have survived and have the power it does for all these years. The Church, as a business institution, chose to cover up and allow the sexual misconduct that took place over the years. It was a conscious business decision made by the peolple on the top level.  There are many good priests out there in the world, but the Institution itself  is corrupt and revolves on Bullshit just like everything else. If Truth were somehow introduced into the system, it would collapse because people can’t handle the Truth.

  • http://www.americannewspost.com Joseph Fosco

    I am disappointed that Pat Fitzgerald did not go after the Roman Catholic Church under RICO.

  • http://www.americannewspost.com Joseph Fosco

    The hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church makes the Outfit look like the Boy scouts.

  • Kkanz

    don,the curch has been required to make adjustments based on the changes in our culture.the message is still sound(in my opinion)but the economic pressure to maintain the locations the heirerarcy feels is important has diluted their ability to spread the word.with so many financial obligations to satisfy the main focus of the church has become aquirring funding.they are also a victim of the opperssion of the power scucture…. 

  • The Don

    Joe,  That is an excellent point! The hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church should have been attacked under RICO.  Absolutely correct!

  • http://www.americannewspost.com Joseph Fosco

    That would allow the gov to go after the pope and every bishop.

  • http://www.americannewspost.com Joseph Fosco

    It wont happen because Catholics represent a sizable portion of voters. Voters put elected officials in office and the elected officials put people like Pat Fitzgerald in power. I could tell some great stories about the Catholic hospital system here in Chicago. You would be amazed.

  • http://www.americannewspost.com Joseph Fosco

    The Outfit are a better bunch of people than the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church (in my opinion). Based on my personal experiences with Cardinal George, I suspect that the Devil is his true God.

  • The Don

    The Hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church is much more powerful than our stupid Oufit in Chicago and just as corrupt if it needs to be.  I also do not think the Hierarchy is above murder if it will help sustain the Power of the Church. As far as the Outfit, this whole Sarno/ Biker story shows how really low the once mighty Outfit of the past has sunk.  Can you imagine Sam Giancana using a biker to do some semi-heavy work instead of made men from the Extended Taylor St. Crew?  The peak of the Oufit was 1957 to 1966. The next twenty years from 1966 to 1986 was less but still powerful. 1986 marked a very noticeable progression downward through the 1990′s with all the numerous convictions, Family Secrets Trial in the 2000′s right up to 2011. Fat Ass Sarno compared to Sam Giancana would be like comparing a kid on a little league baseball team to somebody playing for the Chicago Cubs.  

  • The Don

    Kkanz,   They (  The Roman Catholic Church ) ARE  part of the Power Structure that oppresses and those poor boys that were sexually molested and sometimes actually raped were allowed to be victimized by the COVER UP of this Power Structure.  All Organized Religions should be abolished.  John Lennon had the right idea in his great song  ’ Imagine ‘.

  • The Don

    Joe,  How could any reasonably educated man or woman in this Country take anything the Roman Catholic Church says seriously? Why would any educated man or woman even care about the opinion of the Pope or any of the Cardinals or ArchBishops about Birth Control, Gay Marriage, Premarital Sex or any other moral debate in this Country?  Aren’t these moral questions of a personal nature and have to do with how each person feels about it?  Why would I even care about Cardinal George’s opinion about anything?  I mean isn’t He just a man like me, except dressed in strange Red Clothing,  protecting some known felons and pretending to be Holier than me?  Isn’t that what it’s all about? Isn’t that the ugly truth that some people can’t face?  Why would I go into a confessional box and tell this man my personal short comings and through some Hocus Pocus Magic expect him to give me absolution for my ‘ Sins ‘.   Are you fucking kidding me?  

  • http://www.americannewspost.com Joseph Fosco

    I agree. However, when our children are not being molested by the clergy, I believe religion is a reasonable tool for helping youngsters establish a good platform for becoming appropriate adults (of course many other factors are involved). Once a child becomes a mature adult, he or she is on her own. In addition, religion is for who wants it. I do not knock it entirely. I believe in God and I pray to him.

  • Kkanz

    don,ur point would have been perfect if only you said major leaguer instead of cub……

  • The Don

    Sorry,  Correct Chicago Cubs to Major Leaguer.

  • The Don

    Yes,  Good Point. However, you certainly don’t need Cardinal George to pray to the higher Power or any other institution to act as a buffer between you and God. The less you rely on Organized Religion, the better off you are in the long run. Organized Religion should not be equated with God. They are two seperate entities. See what a good Catholic boy I turned out to be! 

  • http://www.americannewspost.com Joseph Fosco

    Agreed.