Corruption's temptation reaches everywhere

Monday, May 31, 2021

*Victor Martell - St. Vincent de Paul Society

English Spanish

I have just read an article that caught my attention because for a long time, we have been against the corruption that corrodes our countries in the Americas. We have denounced corrupt politicians who have destroyed their economies, condemning their nations to be thought of as third world countries, when they should be among the first in the world because of their natural wealth. The writing in question states:

"Pope Francis has issued a new apostolic letter in the form of motu propriowith new anti-corruption measures for the directors of the Curia."

"... accepting or soliciting, for themselves or for persons other than the Institution in which they work, by reason or occasion of their office, gifts, presents or other benefits of a value greater than forty Euros." (General Regulations of the Roman Curia, Article 40, paragraph 1)

I think this regulation of the Roman Curia was brilliant. If only this procedure were applied in all nations, and the new presidents of the countries of the American continent were forced to comply with it, under the threat of being taken to court. In these times, it is very common for a candidate to promise during the electoral campaign, or to say in their inaugural speech when they take office as new president, that they will fight corruption. But then, dead silence.

There are other forms of corruption. Let's take an example: A farmer has a plot of unused land because he has no money to buy seeds or fertilizer. A man arrives and says: "Look, my friend, here are a thousand dollars. I will bring you the seed and fertilizer so that you can plant this poppy. If you need help, I will send men at your command." The farmer is no fool; he knows that this is illegal. But he has never seen a thousand dollars in his life, and the temptation gnaws at his heart.

It would be so much different if the government took care of this farmer, giving him food and education for his children, while providing seeds and fertilizer that produce the expected crops. That way, this farmer would never become a criminal aiding drug traffickers. Whose fault is it? Is it the fault of the ignorant farmer who has never seen a thousand dollars, or of the corrupt rulers who only think about lining their pockets and never about their people or the voters who brought them to power?

I remember many years ago, having recently arrived from Cuba, I was out of work and someone took me to a bank in New York to work. The salary at that time was $120 a week. A million dollars would normally flow through that window. I asked, "What if I made a mistake and gave someone extra money?" The answer was, "Sir, it is immediately deducted from your wages." I replied, "Thank you, I'm not interested." And I went to work in a factory.

Sometimes it is better to stay away from temptations because, as you can see, they even exist in the Vatican.

It is important that we pressure our governments to put an immediate stop to corruption, which exists at all levels. Let's pressure our politicians to be honest and fulfill what they have promised in their speeches. It is important that they vote for strict laws so that this evil, which is destroying the economies of our countries in the Americas and impoverishing their populations, does not spread. If we put an end to it, we will see the resurgence of a strong American continent, offering its riches in minerals and food products to the entire world, without restrictions watched over by corrupt companies who offer money to those governing our countries.

Do we want to see a free and financially strong Central and South America that no longer need to ask for anything from the North? Then, stop the corruption in our countries and we will be rich, because God has given us a blessed land.

This article first appeared as a column in the May 2021 edition of La Voz Católica.

Comments from readers

Jose M Lorenzo - 06/02/2021 08:05 PM: AMEN Addy. You got it right. We cannot wait for other to act. We Catholic have the mission of changing the world, as 2021 years ago nothin has changed we still have corruption, crime, pornography, injustice, slavery, abuse of women and the weak. In fact, the only change is not for better; We have a grater appetite for greed, our weapons are sophisticated for masse destruction and a third of our planet goes to bed without a basic meal and like the Pharisees we pass our way without noticing it. Nada has changed for the better. This why Catholics have the mission to change the world through love and example. I am not a pessimist but extremely realistic. I am also a very joyful person with everyone because I clearly see that hope never ends because if you agree with me I do feel that you are the tip of the iceberg and much more people are thinking like us. We cannot wait for any government to change any thing since governments act for political interest. "It is not, what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." JFK

Addy Hall - 06/01/2021 09:21 PM: Jose Ignacio Jimenez wrote. "Governments that subsidize private enterprise are fertile soil to plant corruption." You are right this is what we see now in the USA. What do you suggest the government do? Fairness and Justice are not distributed equally in human society. Rules and regulations are not upheld the same way for every citizen. People in government and people in all private or religious institutions have bent the law to their benefit. "Whoever holds the Gold rules!" Unfortunately, this is what we see in all societies and communities. To resist temptations, we Catholics should live like Jose M Lorenzo wrote: "If we want to change our society we Roman and Apostolic Catholics need to change first the way we love each other." and "Charity is Love..." We all make various choices every day in our lives! Who among us always makes the right choice? Do not judge others? To God the Judgement!

Jose M Lorenzo - 06/01/2021 10:29 AM: Brothers in Christ, you are both very right and wrong at the same time. If we want to change our society we Roman and Apostolic Catholic need to change first the way we love each other. Love is the answer to all our troubles. For instance if we go to church after the service ignoring those ones that need our help we are not doing God's work. Praying is good but exemplary deeds are truly what God expected from us. Charity is love and love the fulfillment of the law. Saint Paul writes in letter to the Romans. To completely change our society we must show the example to others by first acting as an imitation of the Christ. We cannot possibly stop corruption because it was already in existence 2021 years ago. The only time that Christ lost patience was when he went to temple of his father and drove away the Wall Street of the time. What we learn from this? Nada, We have our priest and pasteurs turn into CEO when they must be taking care of our poor soules. The example must come from us at the bottom like democracy the support comes from it base. We must allow yourselves to suffer for others and trust God providence and suprime will. Until then nothing will change. Because evil is imbedded in our society and daily lives. Wars will never end until we are ready to sacrifice our own for our enemies. Only the return of Christ could change the course of our destiny so we must act like him to survive and be called a true Catholic by changing our selves and the way we live, act, and behave. I am only a worm and repented sinner that God has blessed with the gift of instant pardon and love for his enemies. Jose M. Lorenzo, humble Usher at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary and Saint Richard. Pinecrest FL Thanks to my Trinitarian priest all of them that work very hard in my parish I was convert, and save from hell as well as changed into a slave of The Most Holy Trinity. THANK YOU FATHERS.

Jose M Lorenzo - 06/01/2021 09:51 AM: Brothers in Christ, you are both very right and wrong at the same time. If we want to change our society we Roman and Apostolic Catholic need to change first the way we love each other. Love is the answer to every all our troubles. For instance if we go to church after the service ignore those one that need our help we are not doing God's work. Preying is good but exemplary deeds are truly what God expected from us. Charity is love and love the fullfilment of the law. Saint Paul write

Addy Hall - 06/01/2021 12:47 AM: Jose Ignacio Jimenez I hope you are not Cuban? Who helped the Mariel boat people, Operation Peter Pan, the wet foot dry foot stay in the USA, and all the social handouts the Cuban people received and still receiving since Fidel Castro took power in Cuba? The answer is the US GOVERNMENT! Helping a farmer with seeds for his crops is not free, and not " Governments that subsidize private enterprise". They usually get a low-cost loan. The farmer would be able to feed his family and his community and repay with other kinds. Look around you in downtown Miami, Overtown, and other US cities, all those new skyscraper buildings are tax-free government development given to mostly affluent big and wealthy contractors with city and state government connections. There is nothing free for the poor and the less privileged. Mother Teresa started an international mission to help the sick, the destitute, less fortunate, and the marginalized of her fellowman with a few dinars in her pocket. She was not interested in hoarding money, power, and glory for herself but for her "needy neighbor". As Jesus said: Love thy neighbor! A helping hand done with compassion and with human dignity is the right action to help others in any society. It is not SOCIALISM, it is expressing SOCIAL COMPASSION for our fellowmen!

Jose Ignacio Jimenez - 05/31/2021 11:42 AM: The best cure for corruption is a moral civil society, not a society where the government pays its citizens to keep them from being tempted. Countries will need to decide for themselves how to enforce ethical behavior for their elected officials; there is not nor should there be a global standard or court for corruption. Our challenge as Catholics is to change the culture in society by returning to teaching virtues at home and in school. We should reward virtuous behavior in our communities by recognizing and supporting the members that behave honorably. In a free market economy, decisions have consequences, and society (i.e., the government) should not subsidize poorly run farms (referring to the example in your article) by paying them to keep them from growing drugs. A virtuous farmer would resist the temptation. A farmer that cannot generate enough money for seed or fertilizer should consider a different line of work. If his condition resulted from a calamity - society (hopefully led by faithful Catholics) should rally to support the farmer to overcome the crisis, but this is not the job of the government. Governments that subsidize private enterprise are fertile soil to plant corruption.