The document is vague enough for people to read into it what they want, politically. That's not a good thing with our current economy as seriously stalled as it is.
It is also a bit Utopian. I have concerns that this wouldn't be able to work in the "real" world--especially with rich nations such as the United States. At the moment, we can't straighten out our own political system and I don't currently have much confidence that we could be a part of an international financial authority without looking after our own interests to the detriment of poorer nations. I think the document's authors were thinking of a way to get Europe to focus on its financial difficulties but over-reached a bit. The Utopian nature of a document like this is to be expected (it is from the Church after all) but their attempt to propose specific, political solutions is problematic. It is a common problem with Western theology. (How many angels can fit on the head of a pin...)
It is ironic that the document calls for a world banking authority and also for subsidiarity--doing things at the most local level possible! Knowing how large organizations often end up, a far-reaching body like this would likely prevent things from happening at the local level.
I'm wondering if some of the problems in this document aren't a symptom of some more systemic issues--a top-heavy hierarchy that is by definition a bit separated from the everyday goings-on of local people. The average person-in-the-pew right now is virtually begging the bishops to become humble followers of Christ--admit their mistakes, learn from their mistakes and become true servant-leaders in the style of Jesus.
Our Church needs that. Our world needs that.
2 comments:
I haven't read the original document, but your comments at the end really resonate.
I read a comment that said the document seems to forget that the world is a fallen one.
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