Posted on 01/10/2015 11:56:58 PM PST by Olog-hai
Pope Francis is insisting that his concern for the poor and critique of the global economic system isn’t some novel, communist-inspired ideology but rather the original and core “touchstone” of the Christian faith.
Some U.S. conservatives have branded the first Latin American pope a Marxist for his frequent critiques of consumerism and focus on a church “that is poor and for the poor.” But in an interview contained in a new book, Francis explains that his message is rooted in the Gospel and has been echoed by church fathers since Christianity’s first centuries.
“The Gospel does not condemn the wealthy, but the idolatry of wealth, the idolatry that makes people indifferent to the call of the poor,” Francis says in “This Economy Kills,” a study of the pope’s economic and social teachings, excerpts of which were provided Sunday to The Associated Press. …
(Excerpt) Read more at hosted.ap.org ...
If the Pope doesn’t want to be understood as a Commie, or at least a pinko, then he shouldn’t be talking about “the economy,” but about the poor.
If he thinks there are thieves abroad who are MAKING the poor poor, then he should name them. If there are policies that are hurting the poor, he should name them.
But just condemning the “worship of money” and other rhetoric of that sort enlightens no one. It indicates NOTHING about what needs to be done.
The poor will always be with us.
Crony capitalism and communism make more poor people.
Liberty helps more people help mor people.
Our system is getting more evil and the pope is not helping
Charity and “helping the poor” should be voluntary, not forced at the end of a gun with taxes. That’s the difference!
There is also a type of idolatry of the poor and downtrodden.
Ambiguity is very anti-Catholic. Truth is alway clear and concise in Catholic teaching and never skirted. You never couch evil in terms to make it appear “acceptable”.
Communism is when the State steals money from the productive to redistribute it and it is ALWAYS evil-—just like any theft of private property.
Charity is ALWAYS voluntary and can’t be performed by government. Forced “moral” behavior ( like it always is in Communism) is NEVER moral behavior.
This Orwellian speak-—where this pope seems to be wishy-washy—really bothers me. Just like “Liberation Theology” is Marxism and godless and evil -—as Pope Benedict XVI stated, and ALL other popes who for over a century wrote how EVIL Communism and Marxism and islam is.
Truth/God (and God’s Laws) never change and destroyingTraditions (Vatican II) is pure Marxism.
Charity starts at home... and what an opulent home it is!
Luke 18: 18 A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’”
21 “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said.
22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
“There is also a type of idolatry of the poor and downtrodden.”
I think they’re called “poverty pimps” and francis is one of them.
Those first century Christians held things in common because it was (1) voluntary, (2) a matter of self preservation for that time and place and (3) for Christians only. Helping the poor was separate and almsgiving. St. Paul said if you don't work you don't eat. Now plenty work and barely eat and plenty others don't work because there are no jobs that pay a living wage but most who don't work don't want to and get all their bodily needs met in sinful ways.
Did any pope ever say anything about dealing or using drugs?
I know we are evil if we don't go along with his global warming agenda which I don't. Arthur McGowan vented his fury of what that would lead to on another thread and that was sobering indeed. I will ping him because I used his name but he needn't respond.
The Church is for everyone, not just the poor. The Pope (or his messengers/publicists) failed.
How does the Gospel say we should pay for it, Padre? Elect politicians who will steal the money from those of us who get up in the morning and go to work everyday?
bump
The only economic systems out there starving people is communism and socialism.
Those objects are not the Pope’s personal possessions. Did you even notice that the Pope in the photo is no longer Pope? He didn’t get to take anything with him.
Those are vessels used in the worship of God. Jesus praised the woman who anointed his feet with costly perfume.
Who was it who said, “This could have been sold, and the money given to the poor”?
Oh, yes! It was JUDAS.
Calling for the theft of the rich for the poor is a sin, Calling for the rich to give to the poor isn’t, what side is the Pope on? It is becoming clear.
When Judas said that, it was in the context of his having an eye to getting hold of such money himself, since he was the one in charge of the money bag. John unabashedly referred to Judas as a thief.
We are concerned for our poor. We’re concerned they’re too fat.
That’s not “idolatry”, being a “poverty pimp” is a career choice.
The Sermon on the Mount does indeed set a very high bar for believers, which is who the pope is talking to. We do not live in a theocracy, however.
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