OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JUL 15, 2004 (VIS) - The Holy Father accepted the resignation from the office of auxiliary of the archdiocese of Sydney, Australia, presented by Bishop Geoffrey J. Robinson in accordance with Canon 401, para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law.
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ARCHBISHOP FOLEY ADDRESSES BUSINESS, ADVERTISING ETHICS

VATICAN CITY, JUL 15, 2004 (VIS) - Yesterday in Loyola, Spain, birthplace of St. Ignatius, founder of the Society of Jesus, Archbishop John Foley gave the homily at a Mass for the meeting of the International Association of Jesuit Business Schools.

  In a separate address to the group, he focused on ethics in business and in advertising, noting how difficult both fields can be when people are "seduced" to make decisions that can adversely affect their families, those who have invested money in a company and those who work for it.

  The president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications recounted several personal experiences as a youth when he was forced to quit jobs because of unethical behavior on the part of others, saying he mentioned these experiences to let the business school leaders "know I have lived the very ethical dilemmas and challenges in business which some of you perhaps have taught." And he added: "I have always thought, what terrible dilemmas must be faced by married people with children in a tight job market who are asked to do something that is dishonest or, at least, open to ethical discussion - and who are fearful of questioning, of protesting or quitting, because they do not know where the next meal for themselves or their family might come from."

  Archbishop Foley mentioned the pontifical council's documents of recent years, in particular "Ethics in Advertising." He noted that advertising can sustain "honest and ethically responsible competition which contributes to economic growth, to the possibility of choice and to authentic human development." It "contributes to wider knowledge, lower prices and, usually, to more jobs" and to "promoting morally healthy activity, e.g., safe driving, and it has even been used effectively for religious purposes." However, he said, there is harm when it leads people to believe that "having is more important than being." He urged those who advertise - be it products, ideas or people - to focus on three principles: Being is better than having; Each person must be treated with respect; Work for the common good."

  In concluding remarks, he indicated that "a growing concern in democratic societies is the ethical aspect of political campaigning" which can either "inform about candidates and issues" or "obstruct the democratic process" when high advertising costs attract only  wealthy candidates or cause candidates to compromise principles and integrity in their search for funding.
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RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER AND CARDINAL SODANO MEET

VATICAN CITY, JUL 15, 2004 (VIS) - The vice-director of the Holy See Press Office, Fr. Ciro Benedettini, C.P., made the following declaration this morning:

  "Today, July 15, Sergei Lavrov, foreign minister of the Russian Federation, met with Cardinal Angelo Sodano, secretary of State. Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, secretary for Relations with States and Vitaly Litvin, ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Holy See, also participated in the meeting.

  "In the course of the meeting there was an exchange of views on bilateral relations between the Holy See and Russia and on the international situation, with special interest in dialogue among cultures and collaboration within international organizations.

  "The serious problem of peace in the Holy Land and Iraq was also touched upon.

  "The meeting demonstrated the cordial relations that exist between the two parties and the possibility of further developments."
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