Church must fight global corruption, say Vatican forum participants

Published: 2006-06-06

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Catholic Church can do much more to fight corruption and promote economies that put citizens' needs ahead of individual interests and private gains, said some participants at a Vatican-sponsored conference. Bribery, patronage, extortion, embezzlement, nepotism and other abuses of power for personal gain are unethical, hinder economic growth and development, and divert needed resources from going to the poor, participants said at a June 2-3 conference sponsored by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. Some 80 experts from across the world were invited to the closed-door meetings. Participants included church leaders, government advisers and representatives of local nongovernmental organizations, the United Nations and the World Bank, including its president, Paul Wolfowitz. Both the council's president, Cardinal Renato Martino, and its secretary, Bishop Giampaolo Crepaldi, said corruption has increased due to globalization, so greater global efforts are needed to prevent, monitor and prosecute corruption.

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