Pope Cannot Exchange Vatican Treasure for Food

[didymus]

zenit.org/article-25379?l=english

Pope Cannot Exchange Vatican Treasure for Food

Cardinal Explains Complications of Facebook Proposal

By Jesús Colina

VATICAN CITY, MARCH 16, 2009 (Zenit.org).- The proposal of a member of the social networking Web site Facebook suggesting that the Vatican should exchange its treasures for food in Africa is an impossibility due to international law, says Cardinal Paul Josef Cordes.

The president of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum said this Friday to ZENIT at a press conference Friday in which he commented on the online petition titled “Exchange the Vatican’s Treasures for Food for Africa. Do You Want to Sign a Petition?”

The cardinal noted that, apart from the ideological aspect of the proposal, the Pope cannot consider it because he is prevented from doing so by international law.

This Pontifical council is responsible for the direction and coordination among the charitable organizations and activities promoted by the Catholic Church.

Alberto Juesas Escudero of Spain launched the initiative, which now has more than 40,000 supporters. Escudero claims “it is a shameful to see the Vatican’s riches and then watch the news.”

He explained that what motivated him to issue this invitation was that he believes the Vatican “does not admit its errors. …] It does not preach by example. Jesus was born in a cave and lived in poverty.”

The youth concluded: “The Vatican is a disgrace! The Catholic religion is a disgrace!”

1.) Why is a cardinal responding to a Facebook petition?
2.) While the Lateran Treaty may prevent the Vatican from selling its art treasures that sounds like an excuse, better Cardinal Cordes had just come out and said it’s a stupid idea.
3.) “The Catholic religion is a disgrace!” – is it legal to say that in the EU?

 

[Eucharisted]

1. Because he figured it was important to correct the man, who is spreading lies to other people. Instruction of the ignorant is a work of charity and mercy.
2. Because truth trumps lies. And charity in truth, truth in charity.
3. I don’t know the EU’s laws, but I guess it would be.

 

[Yellow_Belle]

zenit.org/article-25379?l=english

1.) Why is a cardinal responding to a Facebook petition?
2.) While the Lateran Treaty may prevent the Vatican from selling its art treasures that sounds like an excuse, better Cardinal Cordes had just come out and said it’s a stupid idea.
3.) “The Catholic religion is a disgrace!” – is it legal to say that in the EU?

1. Perhaps because the Church evangelises and dialogues wherever it can - even in the digital culture zenit.org/article-25385?l=english
2. It may well be a stupid idea but it would have been counter-productive of the Cardinal to have said so. Besides, what he did say IS the truth.
3. Why would it not be? Is it legal to say it in the US?

 

[JPUSC]

Wow, Facebook sure has become a household name, eh?

When a Vatican official is actually concerned about a comment on Facebook, that’s when you know it’s made it big. :manvspc:

 

[joshua1]

Lets see!!!. I wonder how much Benny Hinn is worth? How about Kenneth Copeland? What about the crystal cathedral, I bet you could get a pretty penny for that real estate! I wonder, I bet Joel osteen could give a fraction of his book proceeds and feed a small country.

 

[didymus]

Wow, Facebook sure has become a household name, eh?

When a Vatican official is actually concerned about a comment on Facebook, that’s when you know it’s made it big. :manvspc:

My reaction exactly.
As others have suggested, the good Cardinal may have felt this was an opportunity for a “teaching moment” but I think the lesson should have been:
1.) it is immoral (or at least dubious) to try to pressure others into giving to your favorite charity.
2.) if you want to use Facebook to get 40K people to do something about poverty in Africa, get them to donate their own money.

 

[deb1]

Until impoverished countries get rid of corrupt governments, throwing money at them isn’t going to help. Remember the concert that was held in the eighties to raise money for Africa?(Was it Live Aid?) Some of that food didn’t reach the poor because of corruption.

 

[yinekka]

The so called treasures of the Vatican are not the pope’s to sell. He holds them in trust for future generations. Queen Elizabeth holds the wealth of the English Royal Family in trust for future generations.

 

[cathgal]

Alberto Juesas Escudero of Spain launched the initiative, which now has more than 40,000 supporters. Escudero claims “it is a shameful to see the Vatican’s riches and then watch the news.”

Oh shut up you hypocrit!

Think your idea is good for Africa. Tell your country to stop shipping condoms to these poor people. Your country have a hand in causing the epidemic and you dare to preach to the Vatican !

Telling the Vatican to give the riches to the poor is like gambling. You keep gambling, hoping to resolve your poverty, but you ended up being more poor.