While he did not cite the sources for his material, one can readily see from the above post that he relied upon the mainstream media, the very group he often lambasts. He also applied what he read to the US, without recognizing that the church is universal and hence the pope's message is for catholics in all countries.
I'm sure some of you are Rush fans .. was he hoodwinked by relying on msm sources?
“Subsidiarity” still remains the official Catholic teaching against the concentration of power.
The lowest level of authority which is able to address a problem should be left to address that problem.
Francis is no doubt a good man, but like many Clerics, he is an idiot on economic issues.
What is the “correct” translation?
I am seriously hoping that it is a complete misrepresentation of the pope’s message.
But if not...
Since I don’t know what Rush was working from, I won’t comment directly.
But I do know that Pope Francis had a long record of fighting against liberation theology and socialist governments while he was in South America.
Also, as a matter of fact, the free market is not sufficient IN ITSELF to establish a free and decent society. You also need basic religion and morality, so people will control and discipline themselves. The free market can do a lot, but it really isn’t completely sufficient without a certain number of people who have a basic sense of right and wrong.
And, yes, I certainly support the basic logic of a free market. The two things that made Western Civilization what it was were Christianity and economic competition.
Goodness - now is Rush taking statements out of context? - It’s hard to tell as he doesn’t put them into any. It’s the Pope’s job to tell people “THE LOVE of money is the root of all evil”. Calling the wealthy to give is exactly what a Pope should do - he should call ALL people to give and many in the West are wealthy in comparison to the rest of the world. If people don’t see some tyranny in the way some global corporations are run then I am afraid there is little hope for their eyesight - many of these are not USA companies or were once but are now owned by Chicoms, Saudi’s and Asian conglomerates and they do not have any societal concern - they might sponsor their favorite sport but that is about it or maybe their local Jihadi. He did mention the world’s economy which I would say has gone way past Capitalism - it may seem like the same on the surface because people still trade in stocks etc but the major shareholders are not so clear in many cases and the money goes God knows where. It seems to me that the Uber rich and lefties in general are happy to use “Unfettered Capitalism” to bring the whole system down so to that extent it is dangerous. When one guy can change the value of a country’s money by what he keeps or sells then it has all gone a bit far.
Ducking and Running
Mel
I agree with the Pope, ON A PERSONAL LEVEL (ONLY). I will handle my money as the Holy Spirit says (still learning).
But that’s it. Do not judge me on appearances. Which he has done, looking at my spending and giving habits (which he can’t really see).
Let’s hear him encourage folks to get ‘saved’, and on their way to being conformed to the image of Jesus. Their giving will then be directed by God towards His purposes.
Let’s hear the Pope talk about Tithing. /$ Try that with corporations, or Governments!
Not being a Papist I cannot begin to understand all the teachings and nuances of the RC teachings, it has been my understanding that the current pope was previously a socialist community organizer-type cleric in his native country. Ann Barnhardt has nailed this guy as an apostate, and I do give her musings a fair bit of credence.
“There’s nobody who ‘needs’ $6 billion.”
Except community organizers and poverty pimps. Then extravagant vacations to the Taj Mahal and all over the world are reasonable multi-million dollar expenses for the tax payers. But Heaven forbid that the CEO of a large company ride on a corporate jet.
Could it be that the Pope is warning about making money, power, fame,and materalism into an idol god ?
There is a Bible passage warning about “the love of money? “
The Maharushie knows that he (Rush) would come under violent attack if his research wasn't accurate. He wasn't born yesterday. No way he would stick his neck out in analyzing the Pope's various messages without the finest-tuned fact-checking beforehand.
If I had a dollar for everytime Rush has stated, "Words mean things" during the over twenty years I've listened to him almost daily, I would be on a sunny Virgin Island beach resort right now sipping a twenty-dollar Mai Tai.
Leni
Rush is a spiritual infant and economic fool when it comes to genuine Love of neighbor . The Pope is not forcing anyone, he is only asking for people to reach out for social justice to abandon themselves for the less fortunate in a SELF giving manor without expecting any reward.
This fool(Rush) loves an idea that Capitalism is God unto itself.
There are many good things I like about Rush, but sadly I feel this will end up being his demise
Done with Rush. Forever. Haven’t listened much anyway as I have never found him particularly intelligent or correct. He’s clearly in this for self aggrandizement, but he has has dome good moments.
However, for him to denigrate a man of God like this is truly an evil movie. I don’t know what he was thinking, but he has crossed a line. He puts himself above the Pope? How Liberal/Sectarian can you get.
Goodbye Rushbo. Don’t let the door hit oyu in your ample a**.
Most interesting are the built-in assumptions about the man because of the title and the automatic defenses triggered by anything deemed critical of the man and the institution that gave him the title.
The black smoke has always had a very easy time rolling us over, turning us into Cains instead of Abels and getting us to forget all the Father, His Son and the Holy Spirit have taught and teach us from the moment He breathed life into the clods of dust and clay in His hand we each used to be and will be again.
Oh heavenly Father, bless and correct us, for we have lost our way in this desert we have made of your Garden. The wolves have joined with us, donning the garments of your sheep and your lambs and lead and guide us by the light of the deceiver away from your Commandments and your Peace.
I like money. It’s a useful tool. I don’t love it. I certainly don’t worship it. That job is filled.
I like capitalism. I think it works. I think it’s far more good than evil. But I’m not under any misapprehension that it’s perfect, or that its...produce...never stinks. I don’t think even everybody on here believes that, because I read the posts and the comments. That’s not to say that we need the government to cure every instance of capitalism having bad fruits. I don’t even think it always can. I think in some cases it’s part of the problem. Government’s job, its ministry if you will, is ultimately to govern and protect its people’s rights to life, liberty and property. If it’s not doing that well, it’s kind of sad to point to the social-welfare programs and say, well, we’re doing those well at least. Especially when in fact, they’re not doing them well either. I think the best regulator of capitalism is ultimately a well-formed conscience.
And by the way, putting everything on the card is even worse for your national economy than it is for your personal economy.
Honestly, I’d go so far as to say that Francis’ critique of capitalism could just as well apply to some governments as they insist upon becoming players in the financial game. Not to mention any names. Ahem.
Rush is wrong.
I’m a “Protestant,” regularly slammed by Roman Catholic FReepers because I place faith in Jesus over membership in the church of Rome.
That said, if the current Pope is alleged to have said something dumb or scandalous, I won’t believe it. This Pope is an inspiration. He’s a good man.
My family has been Roman Catholic since the 14th century. One distant ancestor( French) has a Pope in her bloodline. When I heard about Francis my first reaction was ‘GOOD! Not an Italian!’ My second was- “Uh oh, a JESUIT!”
Read up on Jesuits. They’ve been the MOST LIBERAL order forever, the socialists of the Church. None of this surprises me. It sounds kind and good in principle, but it practice it is liberal and socialist and will weaken the Church further,IMO.
While the thread was right up to par on what capitalism really is, there was hardly anything concerning what the Pope said.
Not enough there to change my mind, he is still ok as far as i am concerned.
Rush said
So now I’m gonna have to track this down, because I have to tell you, what has been attributed to the pope here doesn’t make sense, with 50 years of the Catholic Church. It doesn’t jibe.