(From left: Rev. Fr. Joseph Benedict Mathais, SJ; Rev. Dr. Sophie Ramond; Most. Rev. Dr. Bernard Moras; Prof. Rev. Dr. Olivier Artus and Prof Rev. Dr P Joseph Titus. – Photos by Bro Lijo Joshy)
By Verghese V Joseph –
Bengaluru: Duty to the society is also duty to God and duty to God is also a duty to the society, exhorted Most. Rev. Dr. Bernard Moras, Emeritus Archbishop, Archdiocese of Bangalore in his inaugural address at the two-day international symposium on ‘Bible and Politics’ at St. Peter’s Pontifical Institute, Bengaluru on Monday.
Elaborating on the aspect of responsibility, the prelate said, “The role of the church is to empower the poor, marginalized thereby strengthening the society. Also the political responsibility belongs to everyone, particularly the political class.”
Archbishop Emeritus Most. Rev. Dr. Bernard MorasDrawing a clear distinction between Christianity, secular government, and society, the Archbishop cited an example from the Bible where Jesus said, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s” (Romans 13:1).
“Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God and those which exist are established by God” (Matthew 22:21), he added.
The proceedings began with a prayer song and scripture reading, followed by a traditional lighting of the lamp and welcome address by Rev. Dr. Joseph Titus, President; and St. Peter’s Pontifical Institute. Rev. Fr. Joseph Benedict Mathais, SJ, Rector of the institute extended his greetings to all the delegates. This prestigious event is being held in the honour of Prof. Rev. Dr. Olivier Artus, Professor of Old Testament, Catholic University of Paris for contribution to the institute.
Rev. Dr. Sophie RamondGiving insights in her Keynote Address on ‘Ecclesiastes’ Criticism and Mockery of the Political Power, Rev. Dr. Sophie Ramond, HoD, Catholic University of Paris, France, drew parallel on the two verses from the Ecclesiastes book – the aim of which seems to be distinguishing good government from the bad one.
Ecclesiastes, one of 24 books of the Tanakh or Hebrew Bible, where it is classified as one of the Ketuvim (or “Writings”) deals with political matters in several passages. It is also among the canonical Wisdom Books in the Old Testament of most denominations of Christianity.
Dr Sophie alluded to the fact that the superiority of the poor and wise young man against the old foolish king is first asserted; in political matters, wisdom seems to prevail over madness; and later this wisdom is mocked too.
Tying in well with theme of the symposium on ‘Bible and Politics’, Dr. Sophie, however, brought about clarity regarding the two verses that mock the royal power. Each is followed by a passage denouncing the lack of probity of the rulers or the political and social disorder they cause.
Panel discussion members (From left): Fr. David Stanly Kumar, Chief Economist Prof Patrick Artus, Prof. Assisi Saldhana (C.Ss.R) and Rev Prof Lucien Legrand.
Rev Prof Lucien LegrandIn a panel session that was moderated by Prof. Assisi Saldhana (C.Ss.R); Prof Lucien Legrand, in his presentation on ‘Rulers of the Nations Lord it Over them’ explained that one of the most explicitly political texts of the New Testament is the challenge to public authority in Mark (10: 42-45) and the logion recurs in Mathew 20: 24-27 where it mentions that the rulers of Gentiles lord it over them.
In terms of literary approach, Prof Lucien cautioned that a text cannot be taken in isolation as a mantra and that it takes its meaning from the structural complex to which it belongs.
In terms of philosophy of language, the reception of the text is mere passive acceptance and a creative process and Logos is dialogue.
Fr. David Stanly KumarIn Fr. David Stanly Kumar’s presentation on ‘Shepherd Imagery as a Theo-Political Metaphor in Jeremiah 23: 1-4 and Ezekiel 34’ both passages share a common idea that Yahweh will be their shepherd to gather them and to bring them home.
In Ancient Near East, shepherd imagery was used to symbolize rulers and gods. Fr. David said that both passages make use of the shepherd metaphor and related metaphoric language to describe the sorrowful state of the kingdom and the people who caused so. And, the shepherd imagery in Jer 23:1-4 and Ezek 34 is used as a vehicle of theology and politics.
Giving an economic perspective to the theme, Chief Economist Prof Patrick Artus in his presentation on ‘The Common Good, Rules, of Capitalism and Economic Policy,’ said when comparing American, European, Chinese and Indian forms of capitalism, a particular nature of Anglo-Saxon ‘financial’ capitalism emerges. Data shows that a skewed income distribution that is detriment to the wage earners emerges.
Chief Economist Prof Patrick ArtusDwelling on labour challenges, Prof Artus in his study revealed that capitalism therefore seems less favourable for wage earners in the United States and India than in Euro zone or China and that employment adjusts very drastically during crises in the United States, and less so in the Euro zone, China and India. This includes low level of active labour market spending in terms of training, raising skills, etc. US companies adjust their employment drastically, which is negative for human capital, and, further, spend very little on training compared with in Europe. China has grown the human capital of its population strongly and has built up a large lead over India.
His study also showed that the level of educational attainment among the population has risen sharply in the United States, the Euro zone and China. However, the illiteracy rate is high in India.
The next real challenge is to meet the climate goals. And the moot question is, can “regional capitalism” exist where companies contribute more to the common good? asked Prof Artus.