Holy See to UN: Development not measured in economic terms

Holy See Criticizes Impoverished Understanding of Development

New York, NY, Feb. 11 – Social Development and poverty eradication must incorporate "political, economic, ethical and spiritual" dimensions, according to the Holy See Mission. In a speech today at the United Nations, Archbishop Francis Chullikatt stated that “the deepest needs of the human person” go far beyond food, water and shelter. Authentic social development hinges on respect for the dignity of each human person.
The Holy See delegate cited “the procreative and educational mission of parents” and the consequent psychological and spiritual benefits enjoyed by children who grow up in a healthy family. “The institution of the family, which is a sine qua non for preparing the future generation, is being challenged by many factors in the modern world and the family needs to be defended and safeguarded.”
Speaking before the U.N. Commission on Social Development, he drew attention to declining population growth in the West as a factor in nations struggling to provide social services. In contrast, “human history teaches us that if there is sufficient investment in children they will grow up to contribute far in excess of what they have consumed, thereby raising the standard of living for all.”
The Archbishop criticized measuring development only in economic terms, insisting that the “eradication of poverty cannot be based only on measurable economic outcome. Rather, authentic development requires fostering the development of each human being and of the whole human being”. His Excellency reminded delegates that the Copenhagen Summit of 1995 agreed by consensus that people are at the center of development.
The Commission on Social Development is a subsidiary body of the U.N. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) which meets on an annual basis. The priority theme for thus year’s 49th Session of the Commission on Social Development (CSocD) is poverty eradication. The Commission reports that “since the World Summit for Social Development, in 1995, poverty eradication has become the overarching objective of development. Despite the crisis, the world is still on track to halve the proportion of the population living on less than $1.25 a day by 2015.... Close to 900 million people will still be living in extreme poverty by 2015, even if the global target is reached.”.