Traditionally, the Church recognizes the right of individuals to band together and form nations. While It holds a monolithic notion of one true doctrine and one correct morality for all the world, it recognizes that the worldly affairs of people may differ from one region of the globe to another. Political rule is best left to the lowest organizational level possible, so that the rulers are personally familiar with the conditions about which they are legislating. Localized rule also gives people who don’t like the way things are done in one place the freedom to move somewhere else — global rule implies a requirement for everyone to think alike. At the end of the First World War, Pope Benedict XV put it this way:
The coming of a world state is longed for and confidently expected by all the worst and most disordered elements…. The state based on an absolute equality of men and a community of possessions, would banish all national loyalties…. In it no acknowledgement would be made of a father over his children — or of God over human society…. If these ideas are put into practice there will inevitably follow a reign of terror.1
Yet in spite of this, several documents point to the Vatican II popes as globalists. Gaudium et spes, the Vatican II document on the Church in the modern world, is long winded but deserves a reading. It points out a lot of things in the world that “ought to be.” Now, it is hard to argue with “ought-to-be”s. Everyone should have a good standard of living, and education, and health insurance, and safety from crime, and the benefits of music and art, and so on – – very few would disagree. However, aa problem arises when, after lots of well publicized discussion, no one has any real world solutions for how the “ought-to-be”s might be made realities. More and bigger government is usually the final answer, despite calls for something called “subsidiarity.” In this case, bigger government means world government — a very frightening prospect for any but those in favor with that government. For those who disagree with its policies, world government means nowhere to hide.
Among the global utopian socialist ideas of the postconciliar church we find: International re-distribution of income, and a world bank;2 the elimination of nationalism;3 the desirability of an armed world-force to allow the disarmament of nations, and the government control of privately owned weapons.4 The inability of any but a world organization to protect the rights of each individual.5
In his 1964 speech to the United Nations, Pope Paul VI referred to that body as the “last great hope for mankind.” Not the Catholic Church, or the Blessed Virgin, or Christ the King — but the United Nations.
1. Pope Benedict XV, 25 July 1920. Bonum sane
2. Pope Paul VI; Populorum progressio #49, #51.
3. Populorum progressio #62.
4. CCC #1308, #1316.
5. Pope John XXIII, Pacem in terris #137, #145
[Fr Brusca]