[Arthur McGowan]

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.

[savagesusie]

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.

[WVKayaker]

... 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.

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.”

[Josa]

So it’s the idolatry of wealth? Ok, got it. Sell Vatican City. The amount of idolatry exhibited by tourists there every day is obscene. Hey Francis.....it’s what you DO, not what you say

[Tucker39]

When is His Holiness going to start divesting the Church’s gold, jewels and other riches and assuaging some of the miseries of the poor he seemingly wants everyone else to take care of?

[huldah1776]

James 5:1-6 Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. 2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. 4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.

there is nothing new under the sun.

[2001convSVT]

Great post, thanks.

[NKP_Vet]

Where in the Gospels does Jesus teach his disciples to go get governments to take care of the poor? I can’t find it. Apparently Francis can.

[FourtySeven]

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.

This is quite true. Anytime he denigrates free market capitalism, or really speaks ill of the current world economy in general, he's not doing anyone any favors because it automatically implies that there is a "Christian economy" that no one is utilizing. Left unsaid this then leaves open the door to all kinds of interpretation.

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.

It's true when be does this there is no solution offered in clear terms. However it could be argued (especially given the above) that the Pope shouldn't be talking about economic solutions at all, rather just focusing on reminding everyone that the "worship of money" is evil. After all, again, once he (or any Pope) goes down a specific economic road so to speak, he faces the problem above. Unless he's an expert in economics (which this Pope doesn't seem to be) he shouldn't be talking about economics at all, pro or con. He should stick with what he's there for, shepherding the flock, reminding them of common sins (such as the "worship of money").

In other words we can't have it both ways. We can't have him not talk about economics at all and then turn around and have him be silent rather than speaking of the evil of money worship. It's either or. Or it should be.

Doesn't seem like either Pope Francis or the public get this dichotomy.