- Pacific
Pope Proposes ‘World Political
Authority’ with ‘Real Teeth’
Issue Date: September/October 2009
In the present economic crisis, world leaders are increasing the call for a world government. Pope Benedict XVI issued a new “encyclical,” or official letter to the world, calling for “reform of the United Nations” so that it would have “real teeth.”
It would be charged with disarmament, food security, protection of the environment, and regulation of migration. “For all this, there is urgent need for a true world political authority,” the pope states.*
More than one recent pope has pushed this idea, but today’s crises has political leaders joining the call. Over the last half century, the UN has been given increasing authority with peace-keeping duties and monitoring of nuclear programs.
World leaders are requesting that the World Trade Organization (WTO) be given new authority to regulate global financial institutions.
For Bible believers, these are just additional marks on the face of the clock of biblical prophecy. Jesus told us that after a period of prosperity, sin would increase and create chaos and fear in the beginning of the last days.
Another of the pope’s ideas is beginning to get some traction: that Jerusalem must be “internationalized.” A possible step toward that has been suggested by one of President Obama’s most influential think tanks, The Center for American Progress.
In a recent panel discussion on the problem of Jerusalem, the suggestion was made that both Israel and the Palestinians appoint an acceptable third party to administrate the city.
Obviously, such a “third party” would have to be acceptable not only to Israel and Islam, but also to the rest of the world. That rules out about everyone but the UN or possibly the pope.
The crises that are developing in the world fit neatly into the prophetic scenario laid out in the Bible: First, a time of prosperity, increase in knowledge and the gospel preached to all nations. At that point, the beginning of sorrows, chaos, fear, and world leaders scrambling to fix the problems.
Troubles increase until a world leader arises promising peace and harmony. But his brand of harmony requires that Christians and Jews be eliminated. The Chick tract, The Beast, and Crusader Comic the Four Horsemen, describe in detail the end-time events that we are facing. The primary message for soul winners is that the time is short and we need to redouble our efforts to reach the lost.
*See Caritas in Veritate, section 67.
Pope calls for a UN 'with teeth'
The Pope has called for reform of the United Nations and financial bodies, giving them the "real teeth" needed to tackle economic and social injustice.
Benedict XVI said the blind pursuit of profit and economic mismanagement had "wreaked havoc" on the global economy.
The market, said the Pope, must not become the place where the strong prevail over the weak.
His encyclical letter said a reformed UN should strive for disarmament, food security and environmental protection.
An encyclical letter is the highest form of papal teaching, says the BBC's David Willey in Rome.
This letter, Caritas in Veritate, or Charity in Truth, is his third since being made Pope in 2005. It is the first to focus on social issues, and follows two on spiritual matters.
The densely argued 144-page document is the result of a two-year effort by the Pope to bring Catholic social teaching up to date on the ethical responsibilities for the global economic meltdown, says our correspondent.
Its publication comes on the eve of Wednesday's G8 meeting of world leaders at L'Aquila.
"There is a strongly felt need... for a reform of the United Nations Organisation, and likewise of economic institutions and international finance, so that the concept of the family of nations can acquire real teeth... there is urgent need of a true world political authority," the Pope wrote.
The strengthened international body should work "to bring about integral and timely disarmament, food security and peace, to guarantee the protection of the environment and to regulate migration," Benedict said.
Dangers of profit
The letter, addressed to all Catholics "and people of goodwill", reminds them of their moral duties in financial dealings.
"Profit is useful if it serves as a means toward an end," he wrote.
"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."
He warned that globalisation, properly managed, could "open up the unprecedented possibility of large-scale redistribution of wealth on a world-wide scale".
But badly directed, it could "lead to an increase in poverty and inequality, and could even trigger a global crisis".
On Friday Pope Benedict will have his first meeting with President Barack Obama at the Vatican, when the new US leader will have the opportunity to exchange views with the Pope on the moral imperatives facing world leaders in 2009, our correspondent says. (news.bbc, 7.07.2009) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8137849.stm
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