Posted on 12/01/2013 6:43:58 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Pope Francis has authored his first letter and in it he makes a bold statement Tuesday, calling upon world leaders to fight unrestricted capitalism, which he called "a new tyranny." He also called for moving power away from the Vatican and renew of the Church.
In an 84 page document known as an apostolic exhortation, titled, "Evangelii Gaudium" (The Joy of the Gospel) Pope Francis explained some of his positions on key matters in a very official capacity. Among those positions was a warning that unfettered capitalism was a danger.
For Americans, especially conservatives, this may sound like an ominous sign, but it must be viewed in a Catholic light. Capitalism, if unchecked, enables the wealthy to become increasingly powerful without any substantial net benefit to the balance of society. It promotes a form of inequality in which only the wealthy profit by work and all others merely subsist.
Pope Francis referred to this as "a new tyranny" pointing out concerns that as capitalist movements gain ground, many people are being left behind, shut off from opportunity. Meanwhile, those with access to opportunity and wealth commit "idolatry of money" by doing that which is most profitable without regard for the rest of society.
(Excerpt) Read more at catholic.org ...
The American Thinker summarizes it this way:
Overall, Evangelii Gaudium might be best summed up as a call to the faithful to renew themselves in Christ. And, in general, Pope Francis is saying to the entire world, ‘C’mon people, we can do better; we need to do better!’ It’s almost as if he is saying, ‘with all the intelligence and brainpower in the world today, it’s hard for me to understand why things are getting worse instead of better.’
What Pope Francis might be saying to all of us is that there is an awful lot that needs fixing in this world, and all it starts with each of us fixing ourselves first.
Being against unrestricted capitalism does not mean you’re for socialism. Of course, liberals would like to distort the meaning to this. Capitalism works just fine with regulations in place, which exist in the Constitution, by the way.
” Meanwhile, those with access to opportunity and wealth commit “idolatry of money” by doing that which is most profitable without regard for the rest of society.”
So the Pope blasts capitalism, ie the USA, which happens to be the most generous country in the world. Maybe the Pope should look at the ultra luxurious holdings in Vatican city and some of the world’s largest real estate holdings. Would certainly like to hear the church tell lazy slobs who refuse to carry their share of the load and let others support them, to get off their asses and work for a living.
Commie talk.
RE: So the Pope blasts capitalism
I did not see it that way.
Is Jesus Christ a Marxist when he said :
“What shall it profit a man if he gains the world but loses his soul”?
OR
“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”
OR
“Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.”
I’m sure this thread will be shortly be filled with American Protestants who worship money instead of Christ, blasting the Pope for stating that Capitalism is not above criticism.
I wonder which side is worse? the Fedora wearing libertarians or the commies when it comes to misconstruing the Pope’s words.
Unfettered capitalism means that drugs and prostitution are legal. Therefore I am want to “fetter” some things in my ideal free market. I do think that capitalism should be unfettered when it comes to the sale of moral goods, such as bread, juice, tires, computers, etc.
Oh please. It is not as if this flesh being is one more deity. Everybody is a sinner. This church not unlike many others practice communistic tendencies.
Sorry to tell you this but the pope and his church have made themselves irrelevant. It’s a dying institution with no influence, led by a bureaucrat who has no voice and still protects the most guilty. Lawyers are picking the bones of the church, deservedly stripping it of its wealth and property.
Is capitalism greed?
Is the pope also openly condemning the tyranny of Islam and communism?
What provides more freedom for the individual... free, capitalistic markets or government-controlled markets?
Does the pope care about individual freedom?
The pope isn’t God but neither is the Free Market. Christ didn’t die to give us free markets.
Capitalism may or may not be the best economic system we have come up with but , it is not above criticism despite what people here may think.
253. In order to sustain dialogue with Islam, suitable training is essential for all involved, not only so that they can be solidly and joyfully grounded in their own identity, but so that they can also acknowledge the values of others, appreciate the concerns underlying their demands and shed light on shared beliefs. We Christians should embrace with affection and respect Muslim immigrants to our countries in the same way that we hope and ask to be received and respected in countries of Islamic tradition. I ask and I humbly entreat those countries to grant Christians freedom to worship and to practice their faith, in light of the freedom which followers of Islam enjoy in Western countries! Faced with disconcerting episodes of violent fundamentalism, our respect for true followers of Islam should lead us to avoid hateful generalisations, for authentic Islam and the proper reading of the Koran are opposed to every form of violence.
Social justice talk. It’s the new and improved communism.
Just a thought...Early Church..Ananias and Sapphira... what’s that tell us? Really, what is the True Christian Church.
Take a look at John 21:17 and see who Christ is talking to when he says “Feed my sheep”. Hint: It’s not Pontius Pilate.
Yes, Christ warns and commands the Christian against avarice in the pursuit of wealth. But neither does He condemn those who have obtained it. He commands the Church and the individual Christian to help the less fortunate, but He does not place that mandate in the hands of any government, as Francis seems to do.
For the record: I am a Protestant, and not a ‘buck a week’ giver, either.
misconstruing the Pope’s words.
First we need to let the Pope speak for himself, and the Evangelii Gaudium, Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Francis, 2013 never mentioned 'capitalism'. In fact, it was actually pretty bland. Sure, it had stuff like--
...I encourage financial experts and political leaders to ponder the words of one of the sages of antiquity: “Not to share one’s wealth with the poor is to steal from them and to take away their livelihood. It is not our own goods which we hold, but theirs”...
--and --
..The great danger in today’s world, pervaded as it is by consumerism, is the desolation and anguish born of a complacent yet covetous heart, the feverish pursuit of frivolous pleasures, and a blunted conscience. Whenever our interior life becomes caught up in its own interests and concerns, there is no longer room for others, no place for the poor...
--but the real problem with the Pope's exhortation was in with all that was left out. Like the poor need to sober up, get a bath, and start working for a living like the rest of us.
Reality is that there are more poor than rich, but the Pope was telling the rich what to do. Supposedly. My fear is that what was really going on was that he was telling the poor that if they were envious of what the rich had then it was the rich that were 'covetous' not them. Furthermore if the poor want to steal from the rich it was OK because the goodies all belonged to the poor anyway.
The Pope is supposed to be a leader, but instead he appears to be just a follower of a covetous thieving mob.
The pope is a hypocrite-
do as I say, not as I do
The Vatican Bank more than quadrupled its profit last year
http://qz.com/130139/the-vatican-bank-more-than-quadrupled-its-profit-last-year/
The IOR raked in a net €86.6 million in 2012, more than four times its €20.3 profit from 2011.
The Pope should stick to spiritual matters as it’s obvious he’s in way over his head when he speaks of economics.
That last comment is far more scandalous than his words on capitalism.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.