Business leaders meeting at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, have been challenged by Pope Francis to adopt a “renewed, profound and broadened sense of responsibility” towards the “most frail, weak and vulnerable” of society, such as refugees and the hungry, and by devising a fairer distribution of wealth and creating more jobs.
“I ask you to ensure that humanity is served by wealth and not ruled by it,” the Pope said. “I know these words are forceful, even dramatic, but they seek both to affirm and challenge the ability of this assembly to make a difference.
“In fact, those who have demonstrated their aptitude for being innovative and for improving the lives of many people by their ingenuity and professional expertise can further contribute by putting their skills to the service of those still living in dire poverty,” Francis said.
UK Muslim deplores Christian persecution
In an article in L’Osservatore Romano, Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, the UK’s Minister of State for Faith and Communities, who is a Muslim, wrote: “The bitterest irony of this persecution [of Christians] – ostracism, discrimination, abuse, forced conversion, torture and even murder – is that it is taking place where Christianity has its roots.
“Sometimes, these cases are examples of collective punishment: people lashing out at Christian minorities in response to events happening many miles away. Other times, a Christian is just a convenient ‘other’ – a scapegoat.
“What is taking place is not acceptable. The UK government is committed to standing up to such persecution, and that requires international political consensus.”
Ecumenism is an answer to secularism
At a meeting with members of the Lutheran Church in Finland during the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Pope Francis said the Catholic Church’s collaboration with other Christian churches about the essential elements of Christianity is very important for evengelisation of secular society.
The Pope said ecumenical relations lately have been undergoing “significant changes, owing to the fact that we find ourselves professing our faith in societies and cultures every day more lacking in reference to God and all that recalls the transcendent dimension of life.”
‘Gay lobby’ confirmed
Elmar Mäder, head of the Swiss Guard from 2002 to 2008, told a Swiss weekly that an influential “gay lobby” exists within the Vatican.
Mäder said that basing himself on his personal experience he can say that active homosexuals within the Vatican comprise a virtual “secret society” whose members are more loyal to each other than to the Holy See. Mäder described this fact as “a security risk”.
French bishops condemn euthenasia
The French episcopal conference issued a statement condemning euthanasia as France faces calls for the legalisation of assisted suicide.
“‘Thou shalt not kill’ remains a major moral exigency of every society, and for believers, God’s command,” the bishops said. “This is the foundation of all social life respectful of others, especially the most vulnerable.” They said that instead of euthanasia, the terminally ill should be offered “non-aggressive treatment”, which they described as a “real and qualitative development of palliative care”.
They added that it should be accompanied by the strengthening of “family and social solidarity”.
(Compiled by Fr Joe Borg)