Coming Encyclical On Economics?

[MilesXpisti]

I understand that this may appear to some a knee-jerk reaction, and that is a valid criticism, but I find myself gobsmacked if this is true.

Social encyclical coming next? from Catholic World News

An encyclical on economics? Who is the Holy Father writing it for, Fortune magazine. I apologize if my tone offends, but is the Church not better served by, say, an encyclical once and for all declaring the infallibility of the Church’s ban on contraception or other more pressing social concerns, rather than complaining about the rich taking advantage of tax shelters? I’m sorry, but things like this just floor me. Sound off if you like.

 

[Bennie_P]

I understand that this may appear to some a knee-jerk reaction, and that is a valid criticism, but I find myself gobsmacked if this is true.

Social encyclical coming next? from Catholic World News

An encyclical on economics? Who is the Holy Father writing it for, Fortune magazine. I apologize if my tone offends, but is the Church not better served by, say, an encyclical once and for all declaring the infallibility of the Church’s ban on contraception or other more pressing social concerns, rather than complaining about the rich taking advantage of tax shelters? I’m sorry, but things like this just floor me. Sound off if you like.

I think he is going to writing about social-justice issues of a globalized free-market and how it effects workers and the poor around the world. He has already taken flak on his criticisms on this same subject in some of his homilies and statements. Economics is a social-justice issue and the Church should have a say on this subject.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve seen globalization of the free- market take away Americans jobs and close small businesses in order for us to have cheap products sold at Walmart which are manufactured by “slave” and/or cheap labor in China and third world countries. this is part of economics. It effects all us around the world.

 

[vern_humphrey]

I don’t know about you, but I’ve seen globalization of the free- market take away Americans jobs and close small businesses in order for us to have cheap products sold at Walmart which are manufactured by “slave” and/or cheap labor in China and third world countries. this is part of economics. It effects all us around the world.

So His Holiness is going to tell us not to help poor countries enter world trade?

 

[Genesis315]

I understand that this may appear to some a knee-jerk reaction, and that is a valid criticism, but I find myself gobsmacked if this is true.

Social encyclical coming next? from Catholic World News

An encyclical on economics? Who is the Holy Father writing it for, Fortune magazine. I apologize if my tone offends, but is the Church not better served by, say, an encyclical once and for all declaring the infallibility of the Church’s ban on contraception or other more pressing social concerns, rather than complaining about the rich taking advantage of tax shelters? I’m sorry, but things like this just floor me. Sound off if you like.

Have you studied Catholic social teaching?

Here are the social encyclicals:

Leo XIII
Rerum Novarum

Pius XI
Quadragesimo Anno

Bl. John XXIII
Mater et Magistra
Pacem in Terris

Paul VI
Octogesima Adveniens
Populorum Progressio

John Paul II
Laborem Exercens
Sollicitudo Rei Socialis
Centesimus Annus

 

[Genesis315]

As the Vicar of Christ on Earth, and Christ being the King of all kings, the Pope has a responsibility to give direction to all temporal societies on how a just ordering of society should be.

 

[Jerusha]

May it be released soon.

 

[Bennie_P]

So His Holiness is going to tell us not to help poor countries enter World trade?

Oh! I forgot you are from wallyworld land.

I haven’t clue what he is going to tell us, but we don’t necessary help poor nations by promoting slave labor in third world countries so we can have cheap shirts and fresh fruit in the winter and look for the joy of becoming a greeter at Wallmart in our old age.

 

[vern_humphrey]

I don’t know about you, but I’ve seen globalization of the free- market take away Americans jobs and close small businesses in order for us to have cheap products sold at Walmart which are manufactured by “slave” and/or cheap labor in China and third world countries.

So His Holiness is going to tell us not to help poor countries enter world trade?

 

[Bennie_P]

So His Holiness is going to tell us not to help poor countries enter world trade?

No, but he may give us an awareness of how we are failing to help the poor nations in the methods used in Globalized World Trade. And Yes I have seen small businesses of friends go out of business because of the the way the global market has envolved over the last three decades. Remember buy America campaign at Walmart in the 80’s, wonder why they don’t have those promo’s nowadays?

 

[vern_humphrey]

Oh! I forgot you are from wallyworld land.

Again with the personal remarks, eh?

I haven’t clue what he is going to tell us, but we don’t necessary help poor nations by promoting slave labor in third world countries so we can have cheap shirts and fresh fruit in the winter and look for the joy of becoming a greeter at Wallmart in our old age.

Your ideas on economics are so amusing.

 

[Bennie_P]

Again with the personal remarks, eh? **Sorry I appoligize:blush: **

Your ideas on economics are so amusing.

Whats funny about children making tennis shoes for pennies in Asia so teenagers in America can get them cheaper at the local national Big Box chain? Or Mom and Pop operations going out business because they cannot get the bulk price of items as the Big Box stores that negotiate thier prices with international companies that have closed down factories in hometown USA in order to open factories on mainline China? Don’t you think it is strange to buy German NutCrackers at Christmas time marked made in China?

 

[vern_humphrey]

Whats funny about children making tennis shoes for pennies in Asia so teenagers in America can get them cheaper at the local national Big Box chain? Or Mom and Pop operations going out business because they cannot get the bulk price of items as the Big Box stores that negotiate thier prices with international companies that have closed down factories in hometown USA in order to open factories on mainline China? Don’t you think it is strange to buy German NutCrackers at Christmas time marked made in China?

Your “the sky is falling” approach isn’t convncing.

Let me point out that the unemployment rate in the US is below 5% – which economists consider full employment. And there are so many jobs left over that people are streaming across our borders to take them.

 

[Bennie_P]

Your “the sky is falling” approach isn’t convncing.

Let me point out that the unemployment rate in the US is below 5% – which economists consider full employment. And there are so many jobs left over that people are streaming across our borders to take them.

I’m not saying the sky is falling, in fact I’m more worried about the people in the third world and the quality of jobs here. Though unemployment rate is 5% many households still have to have two incomes to make it and many have more then one job. Yes there are jobs, but what are those jobs for the average Joe? And why are we, that is Americans able to have all the food we desire, but where a lot of that food comes from, the workers there are starving? Our ecomony is great for most of those that get thier income from the stock market - but not really for the regular everyday Joe on the street:shrug:

 

[vern_humphrey]

I’m not saying the sky is falling, in fact I’m more worried about the people in the third world and the quality of jobs here. Though unemployment rate is 5% many households still have to have two incomes to make it and many have more then one job. Yes there are jobs, but what are those jobs for the average Joe? And why are we, that is Americans able to have all the food we desire, but where a lot of that food comes from, the workers there are starving? Our ecomony is great for most of those that get thier income from the stock market - but not really for the regular everyday Joe on the street:shrug:

You don’t see the contradictions in your posts, do you?

 

[LCMS_No_More]

Oh! I forgot you are from wallyworld land.

I haven’t clue what he is going to tell us, but we don’t necessary help poor nations by promoting slave labor in third world countries so we can have cheap shirts and fresh fruit in the winter and look for the joy of becoming a greeter at Wallmart in our old age.

Well said!

 

[stinkcat_14]

An encyclical on economics? Who is the Holy Father writing it for, Fortune magazine. I apologize if my tone offends, but is the Church not better served by, say, an encyclical once and for all declaring the infallibility of the Church’s ban on contraception or other more pressing social concerns, rather than complaining about the rich taking advantage of tax shelters? I’m sorry, but things like this just floor me. Sound off if you like.

Actually, I think some well thought out guidance on morality in the marketplace would be something of interest to all of us, since all of us, participate in the marketplace. Is it possible to sin in the marketplace? If it is, then I would argue it is fair game for a papal encyclical.

As to what he might or might not say, I think it would be prudent to wait till the encyclical appears to comment on that.

 

[Listener]

It is perfectly appropriate for the Pope to speak out on the subject of economics. Popes have certainly done so in the past. Sometimes when browsing around in this forum, I get the impression that the only sin is birth control! Well, I have news for you. Cheating people out of just wages is a major sin. If you have ever read the Old Testament, you would be amazed at the number of times that God is unhappy because laborers have been cheated out of their wages. Cheating widows and orphans is something that people will have to answer to. The Catholic Church used to consider usury a sin.

I believe that it was horrendously immoral to create all of those mortgage loans to people who really didn’t qualify and then jack their interest up so that they couldn’t make their house payment. Not everyone can even read English, let alone read small print.

I think that a lot of very conservative people are so busy worrying about birth control and abortion that they are blind to major sins that are going on right under our noses. I think that an encyclical by the Pope on economics would be a great idea!