Page 49 - Reflexions of African Bishops and Priests

sumers and compensated to producers. programme of production, unless he is
The second policy of the general distribu- provided with a supply of purchasing-
tion of purchasing power corresponds to power which is not included in the price
productivity gained in the form of a divi- of the goods produced. If the producer
dend based on the country’s real capital. or distributor sells at a loss, this loss
Douglas adds: “That is to say, we must forms such a supply of purchasing-
give the consumer purchasing power power to the consumer; but if the pro-
which does not appear in prices.” For ducer and distributor are not to sell at
20
Douglas had observed the corrective me- a loss, this supply of purchasing-power
chanisms already existing in the economic must be derived from some other sour-
system, and he proposed an adaptation ce. There is only one source from which
of these mechanisms in relation with his it can be derived and that is the same
conception of real credit and its reflection, source which enables a bank to lend
financial credit: Pope Pius XI more money than it originally received.
“To put the matter in a form of That is to say, the general credit.” 21
words which will be useful in our further conside- The technicalities of these mechanisms go beyond
ration of the subject, the consumer cannot possibly the scope of this text, but there is plenty of literature
obtain the advantage of improved process in the available to explain them.
form of correspondingly lower prices, nor can he To conclude, the Church’s social doctrine is a real
expect stable prices under stationary processes of treasure and we are thankful to our present Holy Father
production, nor can he obtain any control over the for updating this teaching for today’s new circumstances.
20 Douglas C.H.; Social Credit, The Institute of Economic Alain Pilote
Democracy, Canada, (1924), 5 edition, 1979, p. 37
th

We mourn Bishop Camille Lembi of Congo

who attended our latest week of study in Rougemont

Most Rev. Camille Lembi, Roman Catholic Bishop Credit is a confidence between peoples and groups.
of the diocese of Isangi in the Democratic Republic of Because if there is no confidence, then there is no
the Congo, was one of the ten bishops who attended our means to advance and no way to be together. So this
latest week of study on Social Credit in Rougemont last base element must first of all be there: confidence be-
April, and like the other bishops, he was really thrilled tween people who wish to do something.
by what he had learned during that It is a battle that we are fight-
week, and said that he was even ready ing and we must fight with faith (we
for martyrdom to make our message must be ready to die for this battle)
known. We were very shocked when because without faith, we cannot win
we learned that he died in an plane the battle. The enemy is super-de-
crash on July 8, 2011, at age 61. He termined, they have well developed
was one of the 112 passengers of the structures. The battle is difficult and
Boeing 727, operated by Hewa Bora you will leave feathers behind. There
Airways, that crashed in the city of Ki- will be victims. But this should not
sangani, in the north east of the Demo- make us afraid. They can kill the body
cratic Republic of Congo. We mourn but not the soul. So we should con-
him deeply, but we are sure that from tinue the battle because today’s sys-
Heaven, he will surely continue to help tem is making many victims. We can-
our Movement and his dear fellow Africans. Here is what not be silent! We should say this: “Look, if we speak,
he said at our headquarters in Rougemont last April: they will cut off our head!” No, no, we must be pion-
I retained the essential part which means to eers. Even if they cut our heads off, others will come
change the system that crushes us today, this steam- after us and continue to speak. The blood of martyrs
roller, this bulldozer that crushes everything in its path. provokes still more martyrs. We cannot be afraid. Only
If we band together, we can find a way to crush the fear will cause the battle to be stopped. So pray for
system. That is what interests me. I will apply at home us, because it is not easy for us at home to speak with
what I have learned here. What is important is to start such direct words (as you do) but I know that God will
something. It has been said that first of all, Social be with us and we will be victorious. Thank you.

21 Ibid, p. 99

www.michaeljournal.org April, 2011 session 49