Church leaders say ethical values important to economic globalization

Published: 2005-09-08

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Religious leaders need to instill ethical values into free trade agreements if economic globalization is to succeed, said cardinals, international economists and politicians attending a two-day conference in Washington. "Globalization has its own logic, but not its own ethic," said Cardinal Francis E. George of Chicago. "Churches and synagogues have to step forward to bring this (ethical) dimension." Enrique Iglesias, Inter-American Development Bank president, compared a free trade accord to a knife. "It can cut bread or it can kill," he said, depending on how terms are negotiated. Archbishop Silvano M. Tomasi, Vatican representative to the World Trade Organization, said an ethical approach to free trade issues is a good economic investment. "A fair trade system pays off for all sectors of the economy. More people become active participants strengthening the process," said Archbishop Tomasi. In speeches and interviews, more than 50 participants at a Sept. 7-8 meeting discussed the relationship of morality to world trade issues aimed at reducing poverty. The gathering was sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Latin American bishops' council and the Inter-American Development Bank.

Copyright (c) 2005 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .