Is Pope John Paul II's call for a "New Internationl Order" following the goals of the United Nations, on New Year's Day and earlier in December 2003, in the best interest of Catholicism? For decades, New Agers have been predicting the creation of a "New World Order" using the United Nations as the central figure for some time, and the eventual establishment of a "One World Religion" (not Catholicism). Thus, will the Pope's urging/actions lead to the eventual strenthening of the Catholic Church's opponents?

-- Gabo Gaviria (jkcap@hotmail.com), January 03, 2004

Answers

I am not sure the Pope said the new international order he seeks follows the 'rules' of the United Nations, but instead the work of the United Nations. For a complete understanding of the vatican's view on the future, see:

AN EVER TIMELY COMMITMENT:
TEACHING PEACE

Keep in mind that there is no such thing as 'international law'. 'International law' is simply the treaties that different nations sign with each other. Nations make treaties because of national interest, not because of over riding moral convictions. The General Assembly of the United Nations is run by 2nd and 3rd world countries (all countries have only 1 vote there, no matter how big). Many of these countries are ruled by despots who don't really care about terrorism. That is why the UN has had a terrible track record on fighting terrorism.

The UN is great at nation building as long as there is a single country willing to 'free' the problem country first.

The UN has had a terrible track record on creating international order. The UN did not end the 'cold war' for example. Instead, one of the sides lost it. The Korean war, that the UN started, is still going on. Recently, the UN didn't end the genocide in a number of countries, instead, the US had to go in and stop it. But once we did, the UN is willing to go in and help the people rebuild.

The pope is asking for a reform of the united nations. This represents a significant incentive for a reform which would enable the United Nations Organization to function effectively for the pursuit of its own stated ends, which remain valid: “humanity today is in a new and more difficult phase of its genuine development. It needs a greater degree of international ordering”.(5) States must consider this objective as a clear moral and political obligation which calls for prudence and determination. Here I would repeat the words of encouragement which I spoke in 1995: “The United Nations Organization needs to rise more and more above the cold status of an administrative institution and to become a moral centre where all the nations of the world feel at home and develop a shared awareness of being, as it were, a family of nations”.

He is also calling for the rule of law to combat terrorism (something the UN needs to create, if I understand his meaning).: In the necessary fight against terrorism, international law is now called to develop legal instruments provided with effective means for the prevention, monitoring and suppression of crime. In any event, democratic governments know well that the use of force against terrorists cannot justify a renunciation of the principles of the rule of law. Political decisions would be unacceptable were they to seek success without consideration for fundamental human rights, since the end never justifies the means.

He is also calling for international law to be grounded in morality (not something that is really happening today). That is an area the Church can help in: And in this context morality must inspire law; morality can even assume a preparatory role in the making of law, to the extent that it shows the path of what is right and good”.
Down the centuries, the teaching of the Church, drawing upon the philosophical and theological reflection of many Christian thinkers, has made a significant contribution in directing international law to the common good of the whole human family. Especially in more recent times the Popes have not hesitated to stress the importance of international law as a pledge of peace, in the conviction that “the harvest of justice is sown in peace by those who make peace” (Jas 3:18). This is the path which the Church, employing the means proper to her, is committed to following, in the perennial light of the Gospel and with the indispensable help of prayer.

In Christ,
Bill

-- Bill Nelson (bnelson45@hotmail.com), January 03, 2004.

As a practicing Catholic, I am not at all comfortable with giving the U.N. authority as a "moral centre", considering their history, corruption, and conflicts of interest. If the U.N. did serve as a "morale centre", whose values and/or view of morality would be applied? Christian values? Hindu values? Aetheist values? The U.N. has its role. However, to give the U.N. authority over morality (etc.) - would be to open a Pandora's Box.

-- Gabo Gaviria (jkcap@hotmail.com), January 03, 2004.