Reader comments
Pope proposes new financial order guided by ethics

Dream on | 8:02 a.m. July 7, 2009

Mr. Benedict is missing the obvious.
Almost everyone is greedy, to get more. The dominant political thinking in this country has promised more for everyone, whether they earn it or not, whether they provide jobs and opportunity for others, or just take without producing.
High-sounding rhetoric about how everyone else ought to live won't solve the problem.
Leaders who inspire others to produce and contribute freely are the ones we need more of.

Fellow Man | 8:09 a.m. July 7, 2009

I agree we should help our fellow man to overcome the problems of poverty. I disagree on how that should be done.

Teach people to be Self-Reliant. To be able to think and function on their own. Hitler and Communism wanted to control people, make them dependent on the state. Take away their freedom to live their own lives.

Feed the poor and they become dependent on those feeding them. Teach them to grow food and feed themselves and they become confident.

The welfare system in the US is a good example of how not to overcome poverty. Learning to work and do and overcome is the key.

Dave | 8:09 a.m. July 7, 2009

The Pope would like to lead the World back into the dark ages. t

Comments continue below

Note to His Holiness | 8:23 a.m. July 7, 2009

Socialism doesn't work, it never has.

I didn't work in Germany in the 1940's, it didn't work in the former Soviet Union, and it's failing miserably right now in Zimbabwe.

The profit motive -- that horrible "greed" that people condemn in others but justify in themselves -- is what drives everyone to work and excel.

Take that away, and you get starvation, poverty, and squalor. Far better to inspire others to share their wealth voluntarily, than to encourage governments to steal it from them.

Reese Ikeld | 8:24 a.m. July 7, 2009

What a cool idea, people treating each other honestly, kindly, and being concerned for needy people.
NEWS FLASH! I've been part of a system like that all my life! I work and provide for my family, then give some extra to help the needy, and unite with others to serve the common good, all inspired by inspired leaders who have been doing this for generations.
Catch up, Bro.

JanSan | 9:33 a.m. July 7, 2009

I understand the concepts that the Pope is trying to say. But I think in reality it is more a dream then anything else. I remember not to long ago there was a country that had been hit pretty hard by some natural problems and the world tried to send in help to the starving people and the leaders of that nation would not let the help in. The military got it and ate it and whatever but it not got to the the people who needed it. Untill you can get goverments who have the welfare of the people first and formost in their minds - this will not work.

JanSan, tell us the rest | 10:45 a.m. July 7, 2009

There have been several such examples in recent years, just about every Socialist dictatorship (oligarchy) in recent memory has neglected and oppressed the proletariat, while making fine noises about equality and the like. (Does Pope B. not read about that?)

Is it time for all of us to read George Orwell's "Animal Farm" and "1984" again? The libraries our family uses have recently purchased newer copies, as if they are getting ready for us.

RedShirt | 12:06 p.m. July 7, 2009

Wow, I don't know what most of you have been reading, but the Pope's message is actually quite good.

He wants businesses to not be greedy, and to think of their fellow man.

He wants the poor countries to be made wealthy through working with the wealthy countries.

He doesn't propose socialism,as may of you think he is. He is proposing that we, the the individuals, or that businesses, work to lift the poor out of poverty. If he was proposing socialism, he would have written to the governments, not to businessmen.

Add your comment

Comments are monitored. Any comments found to be abusive, offensive, off-topic, misrepresentative, more than 200 words or containing URLs will not be posted.

Words Remaining

E-mail address: For internal use only. We may want to contact you to publish your comment (not your e-mail address) in the newspaper or for a separate story idea.

1 photo

AP photo/L'Osservatore Romano

Pope Benedict XVI signs his third encyclical of his pontificate at the Vatican Monday. Benedict XVI called Tuesday for a new world financial order guided by ethics, dignity and the search for the common good in the encyclical.