From time to time we'll give you brief reports of the statements and
actions of the Vatican as it looks out at our troubled world. The
Catholic social thought expressed is the moving force of the
activities of the parish Human Concerns Committee.
- Cluster Bombs
- The Environment
- Workers' Rights
- Eradication of Poverty
- Address to U.N. Human Rights Council
- AIDS
- Death Penalty
- Address to Foreign Diplomats in Ankara
- The Social Gospel According to Benedict
- Nuclear Disarmament
- The Arms Trade
- Immigration Policies
- Holy Land Violence
- Arms Reduction
- Refugees
Cluster Bombs Are Never Acceptable
In an address published by the Vatican on January 29, 2008, Archbishop Tomasi, the Holy See's
permanent observer to the U.N. offices in Geneva, stated that both military and financial
excuses to defend the use of cluster bombs are unacceptable. He explained that prohibiting
arms such as cluster bombs, which can leave behind deadly unexploded "bomblets," in a good
faith negotiation with international organizations has never placed states' national security
in danger. Rather, there is a greater danger of "over-armament" and trust only in arms for
security. He added that development, trust, and creating conditions for a dignified life
are what make security possible.
Carol Schaffer, Parish Human Concerns Committee, February 2008
Planet Is Everyone's Responsibility
Archbishop Notes Pontiff's Efforts on Behalf of Environment
NEW YORK, FEB. 14, 2008 (Zenit.org).
Benedict XVI's personal commitment to safeguarding the planet, shown in part by his numerous
public appeals, has inspired a change in lifestyles in favor of the environment, the Holy See noted.
Archbishop Celestino Migliore, permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, affirmed
this Wednesday during the 62nd session of the U.N. General Assembly titled "Addressing Climate
Change: The United Nations and the World at Work."
"The ongoing debate on climate change has helped put into focus the inescapable responsibility of
one and all to care for the environment, thereby building consensus around the common objective
of promoting a healthy environment for present and future generations," he noted.
In this effort, he affirmed, "the Holy See assures of its collaboration."
"In particular, Archbishop Migliore noted the work done personally by the Holy Father."
"The personal commitment and numerous public appeals of Pope Benedict XVI have generated
awareness campaigns for a renewed sense of respect for and the need to safeguard God's
creation," he stated. "Individuals and communities have started to change their lifestyles,
aware that personal and collective behavior impacts climate and the overall health of the environment."
"While such lifestyle changes at times may seem irrelevant, every small initiative to reduce
or offset one's carbon footprint, be it the avoidance of the unnecessary use of transport or
the daily effort to reduce energy consumption, contributes to mitigating environmental decay
and concretely shows commitment to environmental care."
"The prelate also noted the Holy See's practical steps to participate in safeguarding the environment.
He mentioned the solar panels scheduled to be installed at Vatican City State. One project will be
finished this year and will provide all the energy needed for Paul VI hall. Surplus will be used at
other locations."
And the archbishop noted participation in a tree planting project in Hungary, which will "will
provide environmental benefits to the host country, assist in the recovery of an environmentally
degraded tract of land, and provide local jobs."
"Archbishop Migliore highlighted the shared responsibility of individuals and nations in protecting
the planet."
"It is incumbent upon every individual and nation to seriously assume one's share of the responsibility
to find and implement the most balanced approach possible to this challenge," he said.
"Sustainable development provides the key to a strategy that harmoniously takes into account
the demands of environmental preservation, climate change, economic development and basic human needs."
Clean and green
The Holy See representative encouraged the use of "clean technologies," saying they are an
"important component of sustainable development."
"And he recommended that developing countries be helped to learn from the mistakes made by their
highly-industrialized counterparts."
"The pooling of resources makes initiatives of mitigation and adaptation economically accessible
to most, thus assisting those less equipped to pursue development while safeguarding the environment,"
he said.
Archbishop Migliore further urged that markets patronize "green economies" and not to "sustain demand
for goods whose very production causes environmental degradation."
"Consumers must be aware that their consumption patterns have direct impact on the health of the
environment," he stated. "Thus through interdependence, solidarity and accountability, individuals
and nations together will be more able to balance the needs of sustainable development with those
of good stewardship at every level."
"Indeed, the challenge of climate change is at once individual, local, national and global. Accordingly,
it urges a multilevel coordinated response, with mitigation and adaptation programs simultaneously
individual, local, national and global in their vision and scope."
Workers' Rights Need Protecting
Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, the Holy See's permanent
observer at the U.N. offices in Geneva, asserted that
all trade agreements should include concrete,
universal support for rights of workers and that
social goals cannot be excluded in a world where
wealth is increasing but is not equitably distributed.
The Archbishop went on to explain that with an
estimated 195 million men and women unable to find work last year
and 1.4 billion people holding jobs that did not pay enough to
lift them above the $2 a day poverty line, the
responsibility of the international community and of
governments is to bring about an enabling economic
environment and the availability of decent work.
Archbishop Tomasi highlighted the special importance
of education as a tool to fight poverty and also
called for a simpler lifestyle and a more fair and
impartial sharing of the resources of the planet. "It
is not possible to continue using the wealth of the
poorest countries with impunity, without them also
being able to participate in world growth," he said,
echoing Benedict XVI.
Carol Schaffer, Parish Human Concerns Committee, August 2007
Vatican Address on Eradication of Poverty
Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, Vatican permanent observer to the U.N.
Geneva, addressed its Economic and Social Council on July 4. His
subject was the fact that, although there are many benefits and much
wealth flowing from free trade, developing countries are still unable
to get out of poverty despite sustained international programs to do
just that. [The number of people living on less that $2 a day has
risen to 1.3 billion.]
He said the mechanisms that produce wealth are out of kilter with the
mechanisms that distribute wealth and goods. Perhaps, he thought, more
non-governmental organizations [NGOs], including faith-based ones,
should be running programs very specifically aimed at quickly changing
the lives of individuals and families. Archbishop Tomasi hinted that
Big Government programs were less efficient, more costly and a
temptation for each layer of bureaucracy to skim a little off the top.
("Although it is very difficult to condition foreign aid on such factors
as corruption and democracy . . . nevertheless . . . aid flows are
based primarily on voluntary efforts by people in donor countries.
Such trust could be destroyed by repeated misuse of aid flows by
corrupt governments in receiving countries.")
Among the recommendations the archbishop made:
1. More investment in education, so that the workforce can be
qualified for better-paying jobs.
2. a. Transnational corporations, particularly, should pair with in-country partners. Also, they should facilitate the transfer of technology, develop local management skills
and responsibility, and increase local hires. b. Investors in
short-term commercial ventures and raw material extractive industries
[love 'em and leave 'em] have a responsibility to support long-term
development.
3. Governments in developing countries must work to form
a nation of laws, stable and equitable tax policies, assured property
rights and an infrastructure allowing access to regional and global
markets.
4. Shift more investments to increase "social capital"
(supportive services, such as health and education) from weapons
purchases. [He said military expenditures of $1.48 billion annually
are far higher than investments in human development.]
The archbishop, in conclusion, said that while governments in poorer
countries have a responsibility to provide good governance and
internal programs to eliminate poverty, "the active involvement of
international partners is indispensable . . . . It is a grave and
unconditional moral responsibility."
Walt Lundin, Parish Human Concerns Committee, August 2007
Vatican Address to U.N. Human Rights Council
Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, Vatican permanent observer at the U.N. in
Geneva, addressed the fifth session (in its two-year existence) of its
Human Rights Council.
[News reports indicated that little of substance was achieved although
much was said.] The archbishop diplomatically remarked,
"The consensus reached . . . is a starting point to move ahead and
remedy the deficiencies that excessive compromise may have brought
about at the expense of a more determined and effective support and
promotion of human rights for all men and women, even in remote or
silenced regions of the world.
"A globalization of human rights should match the globalization of the
economy, of commuications, of the movement of people. The priority of
the rights of the human person takes precedence over narrow political
considerations and immediate advantages that may accrue by tolerating
the violation of these rights."
Walt Lundin, Parish Human Concerns Committee, August 2007
Vatican's Position on the Death Penalty
At the World Congress Against the Death Penalty in Paris on Feb 1-3 the Vatican said,
"The use of the death penalty is not only a denial of the right to life but also an
affront to the human dignity shared by all humankind." The Vatican continues to
maintain that legitimate state authorities have an obligation to protect society
from aggressors, but there are more effective nonlethal means of deterrence and
punishment that are more in conformity to the dignity of the human person.
Capital punishment incurs a number of risks: danger of punishing the innocent,
tendency to promote a violent form of revenge rather than justice, an offense
against the inviolability of human life, and for Christians, contempt for the
Gospel teaching on forgiveness.
Mary Fong, Parish Human Concerns Committee, March 2007
Pope's Comments About AIDS
Just before the observance of World AIDS Day on December 1, Pope
Benedict XVI expressed a hope that the event will bring more efforts
for a cure and an end to discrimination against those infected. He
prayed for "the Lord's consolation on the sick and their families."
A related news release revealed:
1. A recent UN/WHO AIDS Update
estimated 39.5 million people live with HIV.
2. This year there were 4.3 million new infections, of which 65% were in sub-Saharan Africa.
3. Rates in Eastern Europe and Central Asia have risen sharply since
2004.
4. About 2.9 million people will have died of AIDS-related
illnesses this year.
Walt Lundin, Parish Human Concerns Committee, December 2006
Pope's Address to Foreign Diplomats in Ankara
Pope Benedict XVI spoke to the assembled diplomatic corps accredited to
Turkey. He said justice is needed if economic imbalances and political
strife and violence are to be eased. He asked for respect and
effective support for international institutions. These institutions,
he suggested, could set about encouraging dialogue between parties in
conflict. Where there are armed opposing belligerents, he encouraged
buffer zones of peacekeepers.
Walt Lundin, Parish Human Concerns Committee, December 2006
The Social Gospel According to Benedict
by Jill Rauh
from Center Focus, Issue 171/September 2006
Since Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger became Pope Benedict XVI in April of last year, his statements and
speeches have revealed a previously unnoticed and surprising emphasis on issues of social and
economic justice. The following are some social themes that have arisen in Benedict's writings and
speeches since his election:
Catholics have a duty to participate in public life and help transform unjust structures.
In his encyclical, Deus Caritas Est (God is Love), Benedict identified participation in the
transformation of structures and institutions as an important responsibility of the lay faithful. "The
direct duty to work for a just ordering of society," he wrote, "is proper to the lay faithful. As citizens of
the State, they are called to take part in public life in a personal capacity. So they cannot relinquish
their participation 'in the many different economic, social, legislative, administrative and cultural
areas, which are intended to promote organically and institutionally the common good.' The mission
of the lay faithful is therefore to configure social life correctly (#29)."
Progress and development must be people-centered. Underdevelopment is a "scandal".
"True global development," Benedict wrote in his message to the U.N. Food and Agricultural
Organization, must "define the true causes of poverty and to provide concrete answers, with an
appropriate formation of persons and communities as a priority." The impact of development must be
judged according to how the human person is impacted, he affirmed: "Technical progress will not be
really effective unless it finds its place in a wider perspective, where man occupies the center. . ."
Furthermore, underdevelopment is an offense against what it means to be human. "It is quite
impossible," Benedict wrote, "to separate the response to people's material and social needs from
the fulfillment of the profound desires of their hearts." He then quoted a former Pope: "My venerable
Predecessor, Pope Paul VI, accurately described the scandal of underdevelopment as an outrage
against humanity," Benedict said. "In this sense, in the Encyclical 'Populorum Progressio,' he
denounced 'the lack of material necessities and 'oppressive social structures, whether due to the
abuses of ownership or to the abuses of power, to the exploitation of workers or to unjust
transactions'."
The violence of war "disfigures humanity."
In an address to ambassadors, Benedict appealed to "leaders of nations and to all people of good
will to cooperate in order to put an end to the violence that disfigures humanity and jeopardizes the
growth of peoples and the hopes of numerous populations." He noted, "[T]he principal victims of
war are always the people whose lives are so badly disrupted by violence and destruction." To
Benedict, the "distressing images of huge camps throughout the world of displaced persons and
refugees, who are living in makeshift conditions in order to escape a worse fate, yet are still in dire
need" are particularly close to his heart. He asked, "Are these human beings not our brothers and
sisters?" In response to such tragedy, Benedict called for the international community to "overcome
with courage and generosity, the obstacles still standing in the way of effective, humane solutions"
to conflict. He also called for the world to "strive for a progressive and concerted nuclear
disarmament" so that nations' resources that "would be saved could then be employed in projects of
development capable of benefiting all their people, especially the poor."
Benedict Speaks on a Variety of Other Issues.
In his address on migrants, Benedict proclaimed that "believers are called to open their arms and
their hearts to every person, from whatever nation they come." On Darfur, he called for "a stronger
international resolve to ensure security and basic human rights. For World AIDS Day, Benedict
called attention to the UN's effort to "invite the International Community to a renewed commitment in
the work of prevention and supportive assistance to those afflicted." Prior to a certain recent
contentious quote on Islam, Benedict made many other statements in his papacy affirming mutual
respect between religions and expressing a desire to "weave an open and sincere dialogue with
them." On globalization, he called for a commitment to "building a free, brotherly and supportive
world, where attention to people takes precedence over mere economic aspects." Reacting to the
July 2005 London bombings, Benedict emphasized, "There is no clash of civilizations, but small
groups of fanatics . . . [T]he dialogue between religions which have Abraham as a Father is
important." Most recently, on the Israel-Lebanon conflict, Benedict urged both parties "to adopt a
cease-fire immediately and allow humanitarian aid to be sent, so that, with the support of the
international community, ways will be found to begin negotiations." He also spoke words of
sympathy for "the unarmed civilian populations, unjustly struck by this conflict in which they are
merely victims."
God chooses to stand on the side of the poor - and so should we.
A common thread woven through all of these statements and messages is concern for the most
vulnerable in society. In his commentary on Psalm 137, Benedict exhibited a profound sense of the
Option for the Poor and Vulnerable which informs so much of Catholic social thought on situations
and events in the world. "God chooses," Benedict said, "to be with the weak, with victims, with the
last: This is made known to all kings, so that they will know what their options should be in the
governance of nations. Of course, he does not just say it to kings and to all governments, but to all of
us, as we also must know which option we must choose: to be on the side of the humble, the last, the
poor and the weak." This is a powerful statement--even a challenge--to leaders and citizens who
might be more inclined to side with the status quo.
U.S. media has publicized Benedict's stances on many other issues that are more well-known
among Catholics. This is another topic for another day. Today we recognize important words that
have been said about issues which are largely neglected-but which should not and cannot be
neglected by the Church. As individuals, we are called to embrace these statements and, holding
high Pope Benedict's words, invite our fellow Catholics to join us in the struggle for justice.
For more of Pope Benedict XVI's quotes on social justice and the most current commentary on social
issues from a Catholic Social Teaching perspective, visit the Education for Justice website
(www.educationforjustice.org).
Jill Rauh is Senior Project Associate for Education for Justice.
This article is excerpted from the Center of Concern site:
http://www.coc.org/bin/view.fpl/1090/article/10513.html
Vatican On Human Rights
On June 20, 2006, Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, Vatican Secretary of
State, addressed the new U.N. Human Rights Council. He urged it to
make human rights more than a theory: to "close the breach between . .
. enunciation of the system of human rights and the reality of their
application in the different parts of the world."
His concerns: 1) Imposition of birth control. 2) Denial of the
right to life. 3) Attempts to control consciences. (repression of
religions.) 4) Denial of access to public justice. 5) Denial of the
right to self-defense. 6) Repression of political dissidents. 7)
Degrading working conditions. 8) Discrimination against women.
Archbishop Lajolo, in the name of the Holy See, said the right to life
was primary and paramount. He urged developed nations to recognize
that respect for human rights, including those of immigrants, is not
antithetical to the common good or the preservation of cultural values.
For developing nations he asserted that respect for human rights will
advance economic development and promote justice and social equality.
Vatican on Nuclear Disarmament
The International Atomic Energy Agency met in Vienna in September. A
Vatican representative addressed the agency on Sept. 18.
He said the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty is the only legal means to
try to get rid of nuclear weapons. Don't weaken it. He reminded the
audience of Pope Benedict's statement on the 2006 World Day of Peace in
which he asserted that "nuclear arms do not ensure the security of a
country . . . This point of view is not only baneful but also
completely fallacious." In a nuclear war "there would be no victors,
only victims."
The Pope's representative urged diplomacy in dealing with Iran. [North
Korea was not mentioned.]
Vatican On Arms Trade
Archbishop Celestino Migliore, the Vatican's permanent observer to the
U.N., spoke in October to a committee working on disarmament and
international security. There had been a U.N. Small Arms Review
conference in July - it closed without agreement. The archbishop said
that debates on weapons were undertaken "in abstract concerns from
preconceived positions." Let's move from the abstract to the human
dimension, he suggested, and perhaps then we can get an Arms Trade
Treaty.
Weapons "kill and maim tens of thousands, spark refugee crises,
undermine the rule of law and spawn a culture of violence and
impunity." He said they had deep impact on children. Some statistics
he cited: There are about 27,000 nuclear weapons. . . . For the
second year in a row world military expenditures were over $1 trillion.
. . . There is no agreement to control the arms trade of $4 billion
annually.
He concluded, "Military force does not bring the expected improvement
for the common good. Recent wars have unleashed forces that still
corrode civilizations and the consequent human suffering is inexcusable
in an age that possesses the mechanisms for mediation, peacemaking and
peacekeeping."
Immigration Policies
On April 5, 2006 the Vatican's nuncio and observer at the U.N.
addressed the 39th session of the Commission on Population and
Development of the Economic and Social Council. In a lengthy
statement Archbishop Celestino Migliore recalled how the Commission's
mandate had shifted. In the past there had been dismal fears about the
projected global population increases and the globe's ability to
sustain that increase. Now, after the "radical population policies" then adopted, we find the world facing the dilemmas of falling
birthrates (in aging developed nations) and imbalances between women
and men in the population. The nuncio urged that future policies be
truly "people-centered" if they are to be both sustainable and
rational. He asserted that viewing migration as a threat and a handy
topic for political advantage weakened the attainment of human rights
"to life, to citizenship, to work and to development." This weakening
affects more than just the 191 million people now recognized as
migrants.
Archbishop Migliore considers the economic impact of international
migration to be "generally positive," although he concedes there may
be small regional (rather than national) short-term adverse effects on
low-pay wages and on unemployment. Over a longer period, however, he
sees job growth and a net fiscal gain. He foresees that the "brain
drain" from developing countries will be detrimental unless emigres
maintain their ties to their native countries.
By 2030, the archbishop said, migration may account for ALL [emphasis
added] population growth in developed (aging) countries. He suggested
more study of the positive and negative effects of large scale
migrations on both receiving and sending countries.
In conclusion, he urged world leaders to take measures to insure
"respect for and protection of the human rights of migrants, migrant
workers and members of their families . . ."
Holy Land Violence
On June 14 the director of the Vatican press office reported that Pope
Benedict XVI was troubled and grieved at the continuing violence. The
Pope prayed in sympathy for all affected by it and deplored "the
illusion of being able to resolve . . . problems through force or in a
unilateral way." He specifically urged Hamas and the Abbas ministry to
negotiate their differences.
Arms Reduction
On June 14 Hans Blix, former U.N. nuclear arms official, gave Pope
Benedict XVI a report about the spread of mass destruction armaments -
("weapons of terror", he called them). In his remarks Blix said the
Pope's "moral authority is recognized by the whole world."
Blix's report had been given to U.N. Secretary--General Kofi Annan on
June 1. Copies were also sent to the U.N. Islamic Conference
Organization and to the World Council of Churches.
Refugees
Pope Benedict XVI in an address in St. Peter's Square on June 16 (two
days before the U.N. World Refugee Day), urged the international
community to heed the plight of refugees from violence in their own
countries. He wished "that the rights of these people will always be
respected."
(The 2005 report of the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human
Rights shows a reduction to 8.4 million refugees from 9.5 million in
2004. However, the number of refugees from violence within their own
countries [Darfur, e.g.] rose to 6.6 million in 16 countries, up from
5.4 million in 13 countries in 2004.)