Pope Benedict promotes global poverty

So, now Pope Benedict is an economic genius:

THE Pope has called for a new world financial order blaming the global crisis on the greed of financiers and investors.

Denouncing what he termed a profit-at-all-cost mentality, Pope Benedict XVI was also critical of governmental oversight and the absence of global regulation.

In the most socially rooted Vatican encyclical letter since 1967, the Pope wrote: “In the face of the unrelenting growth of global interdependence, there is a strongly felt need, even in the midst of a global recession, for a reform of the United Nations organisation, and likewise of economic institutions and international finance, so that the concept of the family of nations can acquire real teeth.”

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The German-born Benedict, 82, stated: “There is urgent need [for] a true world political authority” to manage the global economy.

“The economy needs ethics in order to function correctly – not any ethics, but an ethics which is people centred,” Benedict wrote in the 144-page document.

Because centrally-managed economies always work out, right? Maybe he should have talked to his predecessor about life in Poland. Then he’d know that he’s proposing a formula for universal poverty. And does this mean conservatives can now object to this agenda on the ground that it is forcing state-sponsored religion on people?

I have a lot of respect for Pope Benedict. But just because he took a vow of poverty doesn’t mean he should promote poverty for everyone else.

H/T:  Pat Dollard.

UPDATE (7/8/09): Hat tip goes specifically to Erik Wong, writing at Pat Dollard. Check out comments from “vincenzo4″ at Wong’s post here and here for an opinion on how Benedict’s statement relates to biblical prophecy. I’ll leave that to others.