A “globalization of the good”: that is the hope expressed by the bishop of Gurk-Klagenfurt, in Carinthia, the Most Rev. Alois Schwarz, on intervening in recent days at the symposium “Alternative Monetary Economy”, held in Klagenfurt. “With this meeting, the Church has given a prophetic sign that shows how tackling social questions may be defined in future”, said Bishop Schwarz. Various experts took part in the symposium: the economist and economic historian Karl Kumpfmüller called the question of equity a “crucial question for the future”, given that unemployment is growing in a “dramatic” way. “When workers are sacked despite the fact that firms are registering record profits, we know that our current system does not work and has no future”, said the economist, who criticised the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. Kumpsmüller emphasized the problem of the indebtedness and exploitation of the poor countries, and deplored the fact “that the blame for this situation is not yet recognized as such”. In his view, “the historical background of this development is the fact that money has become a surrogate religion”: “credit has taken the place of the Credo”, he added. Heinz Hödl, who heads the office of coordination of the Austrian Bishops’ Conference for international development and mission (KOO), suggested the principle of a basic income for everyone, though admitting “that this could not represent a response to all the problems”. Klaus Gabriel of the Institute of Social Ethics of the Faculty of Catholic Theology at the University of Vienna in turn observed “a development in people’s awareness”, as a result of which an ethical use of money is becoming ever more important; “competence in this sector has especially grown among ecclesiastical representatives”. Wolfgang Steuber, representative of an Evangelical “ecclesiastical bank”, EKK, reported on the ethical responsibility of banks, especially in consideration of the problem of debt. “Ethical investment, even if it is still marginal, is becoming ever more important”.
