Call for world financial order fails to account for the state of global culture, affairs

Contact: Tim Lilley, 678-990-9032, TLilley@MaximusMG.com

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 27, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- Ignatius Press President Mark Brumley read the document released Oct. 25 by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, which calls for reforming international monetary and financial systems based on development of a global authority to manage them.

He wasn't impressed.

"If the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace is trying to make the Catholic Church sound as if she's living in a fantasy world or trying to portray Catholic social teaching as completely irrelevant to real-world problems, I'd say, 'mission accomplished,'" Brumley writes, in an essay for The Catholic World Report.

"If, on the other hand," he continues, "the council wants people seriously to think about the problems of globalization, it's going to have to demonstrate a much better grasp of political and economic practicalities, as well as the limits and dangers of international solutions."

In the document, Towards Reforming the International and Monetary Systems in the Context of Global Public Authority, the Pontifical Council calls for the gradual development of a world political authority that would ultimately manage and control the worldwide economy on the basis of promoting and preserving the common good.

"The fact is," Brumley writes, "the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace might just as well call for the establishment of Star Trek's United Federation of Planets. It would have just as much likelihood of providing solutions to our problems in your lifetime, your children's lifetimes, or their children's lifetimes.

"Between the council's ideal and the real world there is a chasm so large it boggles the mind that anyone could read the newspapers and discuss a world political/economic authority without intending thereby either to consider an abstract thesis in a political philosophy seminar or to sketch the plot of a science fiction film.

"By all means," he continues, "let's discuss global problems and possible solutions. Let's recognize the dangers of nationalism and the imbalances that exist between rich and poor nations. Let's not overlook the weakness of international capitalism or pretend the free market has all the solutions. Let's have a good philosophical discussion about world government, and its long-term prospects, if the world endures for a few more centuries. But let's remember that, historically speaking, those who have tried to act on their talk about a world political order have wound up being tyrants."

Brumley is available for interviews and to comment on this and other issues. Please contact Tim Lilley with The Maximus Group (678-990-9032 or TLilley@MaximusMG.com)  to coordinate an interview with Brumley.