Since the publication of
Rerum Novarum the Church has been calling for a new world order. This is not the same as the New World Order that others are calling for.
What the Church has been calling for and will continue to call for is for a wold of justice, peace, equality, and cooperation among nations. If we stop and think about this, it is a new world order, because the world does not function this way.
The word “order” in the spiritual life has a very different meaning than it does in the secular. The theological definition of order is for all things to be as Christ ordered, to have structure, to have a divine end, and to be rooted in Christ.
As to the other statement that the Pope made about one nation unilaterally deciding the fate of the world, there is great truth in this. He was speaking of the United States. As much as he loves what the United States does for it citizens, he also sees the danger of our country or any other country unilaterally deciding what is good for the world.
Such actions are a violation of the sovereignty of states and the rights of their citizens. While the world community cannot and should not tolerate the violation of human rights by a single government, it cannot tolerate a single government declaring itself the arbiter of democracy, freedom and justice. Eventually this arbiter runs the risk of becoming a dictator. The Church, like Winston Churchill, believes that absolute power corrupts absolutely.
As to the United Nations, the Pope was not supporting the corruption within the organization. On the contrary, he is calling the organization to fulfill its mission, which is to bring all nations together to find solutions for the problems of the world. He was telling them, in very diplomatic terms, that they have to wake up and do their job.
Do not expect the Pope to go into the UN and tell them that they are corrupt. This is never going to happen. It would be irresponsible on his part. He would be putting the lives of millions of Catholics around the world in danger, because some nations would take this as an affront.
He has to be more diplomatic and restate the mission of the United Nations and call them back to fulfill it. If you can imagine it this way, he’s is playing the voice of conscience. The conscience is reminding this world body that they have a mission. If they listen to this reminder, they will correct their errors without any danger to the lives and welfare of Catholics around the world.
Hope this helps.
JR
