Pope offers rare 'mea culpa' about neglect of middle class

Reuters ^ | 7-13-2015 | PHILIP PULLELLA

[Citizen Zed]

Pope Francis acknowledged on Monday he had neglected problems of the middle class and said he was willing to have a dialogue with Americans who disagree with his criticism of capitalism.

Francis, speaking to reporters on the papal plane returning from a grueling 8-day trip to Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay, also said he hoped the Greek crisis could lead to more oversight so other countries would not experience the same problems.

During the hour-long conversation with the Francis, who has made defense of the poor a major plank of his papacy, a reporter asked why he had hardly ever spoken about the problems of the "working, tax-paying" middle class.

He offered a rare papal mea culpa, thanking the reporter for his "good correction."

"You're right. It's an error of mine not to think about this," he said.

"The world is polarized. The middle class becomes smaller. The polarization between the rich and poor is big. This is true. And, perhaps this has led me to not take account of this (the problems of the middle class)," he said.

Francis said he spoke about the poor often because they were so numerous but that ordinary working people had "great value."

"I think you’re telling me about something I need to do. I need to do delve further into this ....," he said

The pope, who is due to visit Cuba and the United States in September, said he was willing to have a dialogue with Americans who have seen his criticism of the global economic system and capitalism as an attack on their way of life.

"I heard that there were some criticisms from the United States ... I haven't had time to study this well but every criticism must be received, studied and then dialogue must follow," he said.

[Citizen Zed]

I think the Pope must watch CNN.

[SoFloFreeper]

Just preach the Gospel, Francis.

Be a man and stand against tyranny—like Pope John Paul II did....and quit the hand wringing.

Signed,

A non-Catholic. :)

[Mollypitcher1]

The so called “Pop” is a Communist. ‘Nuff said.

[oblomov]

“I think you’re telling me about something I need to do. I need to do delve further into this ....,” he said.

When I’m wrong, STFU always works for me. But then, I’m not a guy in a funny hat claiming to be the Vicar of Christ.

[tet68]

Just because there is disparity doesn’t mean it’s
un-natural.

[PGR88]

The Pope uses the same incorrect and dishonest distinctions between “capitalism” and Marxism. Of course, the word capitalism was invented by Marx himself, so of course its going to a false, ideologically loaded term.

What he should call for is “economic and personal freedom.”

All of the poverty and economic abuse he is referring to is not “capitalism” - it is the result of statism, bureaucratic inefficiency, government corruption, socialism or crony capitalist central planning.

[PATRIOT1876]

Ooops!

Somebody just told me that you guys have a lot of the money. Heh heh. Keep putting that money in the collection plates!

Nothing from nothing brings nothing and cheap from cheap brings poor, you know.

So sorry, nobody’s perfect....although I am infallible.

...especially about that global warming stuff. I know all there is to know about that. Believe me!

Soon there will be no more of you pesky middle classers anyway and then we have a worldwide 3rd world and you will all OBEY!!!!!

[Alex Murphy]

Francis, speaking to reporters on the papal plane returning from a grueling 8-day trip to Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay, also said he hoped the Greek crisis could lead to more oversight so other countries would not experience the same problems.

During the hour-long conversation with the Francis, who has made defense of the poor a major plank of his papacy, a reporter asked why he had hardly ever spoken about the problems of the "working, tax-paying" middle class. He offered a rare papal mea culpa, thanking the reporter for his "good correction." "You're right. It's an error of mine not to think about this," he said. "The world is polarized. The middle class becomes smaller. The polarization between the rich and poor is big. This is true. And, perhaps this has led me to not take account of this (the problems of the middle class)," he said.

[Dr. Thorne]

After using the middle class as a cash cow, the Catholic church now wants to make nice.

Frank:

- Give back most of the money you extorted from the terrified middle class by lying to them about getting into Heaven by giving money to the church.
- Open your books regarding all the priests and monks who have been sexually savaging boys for centuries.
- Admit that worshiping humans is heretical and pagan. Tell your parishoners to worship God alone.

Then, I will believe that you give a damn about the middle class.

[oblomov]

I wonder how much extra fuel is required so that the diamond-encrusted papal plane can get off the ground?

[FredZarguna]

Sean always has such sage advice.

[Tzimisce]

Karl Marx HATED the middle class.
And he hated the system that made the middle class possible (Capitalism).

Naturally the Communist Pope has nothing to offer the middle class.

[Army Air Corps]

Was this a brief moment of mental clarity for Pope Che?

[SkyDancer]

Well from what he’s saying about the evils of capitalism you won’t have to worry about a middle class anymore. Just really rich or really poor.

[miss marmelstein]

He’s never thought about the middle class? What a maroon he’s turning out to be. I seriously don’t think he’s very bright.

[MUDDOG]

Like in 1200 AD (the high point of the papacy).

[Gamecock]

[BenLurkin]

[SunkenCiv]

"I heard that there were some criticisms from the United States ... I haven't had time to study this well but every criticism must be received, studied and then dialogue must follow," he said.

No, it doesn't. We're right, you're wrong. It's time for you to resign. You won't of course, you're not through destroying Roman Catholicism.