Posted by
Mike on Sunday, July 12, 2009 10:11:37 PM
http://westernperspective.blogspot.com/
Benedict XVI recent encyclical
Caritas in Veritate
heralds a global economic recovery in the near future. The encyclical's
completion was delayed over a year because of the world financial
debacle. Benedict offers helpful suggestions for restructuring the
world's economy which will benefit rich and poor alike.
The gist
of the message is for man to organize business and financial
activities using a holistic approach which takes into account all
aspects of the person, not just material gain or profit. The State no
longer has as much sway in the global economy. The traditional divides
between the private and public sectors, and between enterprises for
profit and for non-profit, are to a large extent no longer applicable.
New forms of business organizations involving cooperative agreements
are now competing within the market economy.
Benedict warns of
catastrophic results unless the world economy becomes structured to
serve man through authentic integral human development. This means that
workers must themselves have a sense of ownership with regard to their
productive resources. Furthermore, there must be a deep respect for the
dignity of the person and of human life, as well as staying in touch
with spiritual values to make the system work.
In a nutshell, it
does not do any good in the long run to allow the rich to draw profits
at the expense of the poor or the world's environment. Economic growth
is a shared responsibility at all levels. Charity is needed within the
framework of accepting the truth about man's nature and existence in
accordance with a providential plan.