2009-05-04 14:49:50

Pope addresses Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences


(May 4, 2009) “For Christians who regularly ask God to “give us this day our daily bread”, it is a shameful tragedy that one-fifth of humanity still goes hungry.” Pope Benedict XVI denounced this blatant denial of the right to food on Monday while addressing some 55 participants in the plenary session of the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences. The May 1-5 meeting discussed the theme, “Catholic Social Doctrine and Human Rights.” The Pope spoke of “a flagrant contrast between the equal attribution of rights and the unequal access to the means of attaining those rights.” He said that “assuring an adequate food supply, like the protection of vital resources such as water and energy, requires all international leaders to collaborate in showing a readiness to work in good faith, respecting the natural law and promoting solidarity and subsidiarity with the weakest regions and peoples of the planet…” He regarded this as the most effective strategy for eliminating social inequalities between countries and societies and for increasing global security. Addressing the concept of human rights, the Pope said that even though they are not truths of faith,” “they receive further confirmation from faith.” Fundamental rights are to be upheld and accorded universal recognition because they are inherent in the very nature of man, who is created in the image and likeness of God.” Acting in the physical world as spiritual beings, the Pope explained, men and women become aware of a supreme being who helps them in distinguishing between true and false, good and evil, better and worse, and justice and injustice. “This ability to discern – this radical agency – renders every person capable of grasping the “natural law”, which is nothing other than a participation in the eternal law,” the Pope added.







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