Addressing a Micah Challenge conference, Federal Labor MP James Bidgood has described the global financial crisis as an act of God and a sign of the "end times". The Age reports that Mr Bidgood, a first year MP from Queensland, told a function in Parliament House in October that he believed a march of Christians through London in April 1987 brought about the 1987 financial crisis.
Mr Bidgood went on to explain the global financial crisis was the product of God's judgement on the actions of bankers and that the world was now at the End of Days.
"There needs to be some justice and I believe there is God's justice in action in what's going on here (the financial crisis), " Mr Bidgood said. "(If) we look at Bible prophecy, we are going towards a one world bank and a one world monetary system.
"And if you believe the word of God, and you read Revelations ... you will see clearly what is being spelt out. We are in the End Times."
Mr Bidgood was speaking at the Voices for Justice function, organised by the Micah Challenge, a multidenominational Christian group.
Micah coordinator Amanda Jackson told The Age, Mr Bidgood had been invited to speak.
Banks should do more: Benedict
Meanwhile, Pope Benedict has urged banks to help families experiencing financial problems, Associated Press reports.
The Pope says one of the primary objectives of banks is to support the weakest in society while also spurring productivity.
The pontiff was speaking at his weekly audience on Wednesday attended by officials from the southern Italian credit bank Calabrian.
Vic agencies unite
In another story, leaders of major Church based peak welfare bodies in Victoria, Anglicare Victoria, Catholic Social Services Victoria, The Salvation Army and UnitingCare Victoria and Tasmania, have called on the Victorian Government, and on Parliament, to ensure that meeting the needs of those most disadvantaged members of our society is a key element of their response to the global financial crisis.
In a letter sent to Ministers and MPs this week, the agencies drew on the impact of the global financial crisis on social services in Australia, a report by ACCESS Economics that their federal counterparts commissioned last week.
"High quality social services are integral to a society that places the dignity of the human person and our collective responsibility for the common good at the heart of policy making," Mr Fitzgerald emphasised.
In addition to this, however, the writers highlighted the ACCESS Economics finding that "high quality social services are an integral part of a productive economy. Investment in such services is a benefit not just to those in desperate need of services, but also reduces long term social costs and enhances the overall productivity of the economy."
"The current global financial crisis...will have an acute impact on the most disadvantaged members of society, as well as pushing increased numbers of low and middle income earners to seek the services of welfare agencies."
"The demand for social services is already rising and will rise substantially in the short term."
"Growing and changing needs will require increasing and innovative policy responses thataddress the core origins of the mounting pressures."
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(Source: CTHN)