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| Pope worries that big powers control decision-making |
| 2008-04-19 |
| That's why they call them big nations. So what does he really want? Would he prefer the likes of Zimbabwe, Sudan, NorK, or Syria to lead the bull around by the nose? Successful free societies are best suited to running the show, not nations run by one guy with all the guns. Pope Benedict XVI warned diplomats at the United Nations on Friday that international cooperation needed to solve urgent problems is "in crisis" because decisions rest in the hands of a few powerful nations. In a major speech on his U.S. trip, Benedict also said that respect for human rights, not violence, was the key to solving many of the world's problems. While he didn't identify the countries that have a stranglehold on global power, the German pope — just the third pontiff to address the U.N. General Assembly — addressed long-standing Vatican concerns about the struggle to achieve world peace and the development of the poorest regions. On the one hand, he said, collective action by the international community is needed to solve the planet's greatest challenges. On the other, "we experience the obvious paradox of a multilateral consensus that continues to be in crisis because it is still subordinated to the decisions of a few." The pope made no mention of the United States in his speech, though the Vatican did not support the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, which occurred despite the Bush administration's failure to gain Security Council approval for it. At other moments on his trip, Benedict has been overtly critical of the U.S., noting how opportunity and hope have not always been available to minorities. The pope said questions of security, development and protection of the environment require international leaders to work together in good faith, particularly when dealing with Africa and other underdeveloped areas vulnerable to "the negative effects of globalization." Benedict also insisted that the way to peace was by insuring respect for the dignity of human beings. "The promotion of human rights remains the most effective strategy for eliminating inequalities between countries and social groups, and increasing security," the pope said. Those whose rights are trampled, he said, "become easy prey to the call to violence and they then become violators of peace." By contrast, the leader of the world's 1 billion Roman Catholics said, the recognition of human rights favors "conversion of heart, which then leads to a commitment to resist violence, terrorism and war." |
| Posted by:gorb |
| #3 The Pope controls the decision-making in the Roman Catholic Church -- perhaps he'd like to yield that to "collective action" too. And since he's so worried about the poor and protection of the environment, perhaps he should fly by common carrier next trip and donate the charter fees to the poor. |
| Posted by: Darrell 2008-04-19 20:01 |
| #2 Big religions control decision making. Perhaps the Pope would like to take Scientoligy's view on a few problems "in Crisis" in the world. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2008-04-19 12:26 |
| #1 If the Pope is referring to Catholics or, say, the Anglican communion there are indeed international communities. If the Pope is referring to nation states - as he seems to be - there is no international community, only national or state interests. |
| Posted by: Excalibur 2008-04-19 09:01 |