Bishops urge protections for the poor in trade agreements

[Cuban_Liberal]

TUCSON, Ariz. (CNS) -- The bishops of the neighboring dioceses of Tucson, in Arizona, and Hermosillo, in the Mexican state of Sonora, called for the church and the governments of their two countries to look at trade policies with an eye toward their effects on individual human beings, not just the demands of the market.

"The moral test of trade policy is not simply the enrichment of the few but the betterment of many," said Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas of Tucson in an opening session of the April 14-16 church-sponsored Tucson conference, "Crossing the Borders of Trade," on issues for the church in international trade.

About 140 people from parish, diocesan and national Catholic organizations from around the country participated in the conference.

In outlining moral principles for trade agreements, Bishop Kicanas said trade policy should not seek only to increase the exchange of goods, capital and revenue, "but create decent jobs, wages and working conditions for all.

It should not contribute to the migration of human beings because of the absence of opportunity in their homelands."

http://www.catholic.org/cathcom/national_story.php?id=13954

[tjwmason]

1. We call it capitalism because capital is the most important thing

What we need, as these Bishops state, is a system which puts people as the most important part of the system.

[bushisanidiot]

2. Expect Freepers Heads to Explode as morality is preferred to the cut

throat game of capitalism, in this bishops' statement which promotes actual christian values.

"the meek shall inherit the earth"

[LatePeriduct]

3. Well you can bet the dominionists will just say

Moral values and money values are the same thing, and get Tom Delay or another sacraficial lamb pawn to go attack all those no good activist judges for not sticking to the commandments.

[Bridget Burke]

4. The Dominionists have never trusted the Catholics.

They might be allies against abortion, but too many Catholic doctrines are not as attractive: in favor of social justice, opposed to capital punishment & unjust war.

Besides, Dominionism springs from profoundly anti-Catholic roots.