Is the Pope an enemy of Capitalism? Evangelii Gaudium explains his views

CATHOLIC ONLINE ^ | 12/01/2013

[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.

[James C. Bennett]

Ive noticed that those who believe in the Pope will take any comment he makes, and bend and twist it to sound like its alright and that he is actually saying “this or that” he “didnt mean it the way he said it” etc. Just like the people who are for obama, they take what he does and twist it to make it sound like what he is doing is the “right thing”. It called willful ignorance. Its wanting to believe in a person so bad that they refuse to see what this person is actually up to.

It's idol-worshiping.

[Mr Rogers]

“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.”

Capitalism does not do that. Government protection of the wealthy does that. And government involvement is what the Pope was calling for.

Whoever this writer is, he isn’t a conservative. Nor does he know any more about economics that the Pope does.

From the Pope’s mouth:

“54. In this context, some people continue to defend trickle-down theories which assume that economic growth, encouraged by a free market, will inevitably succeed in bringing about greater justice and inclusiveness in the world. This opinion, which has never been confirmed by the facts, expresses a crude and naïve trust in the goodness of those wielding economic power and in the sacralized workings of the prevailing economic system. Meanwhile, the excluded are still waiting. To sustain a lifestyle which excludes others, or to sustain enthusiasm for that selfish ideal, a globalization of indifference has developed. Almost without being aware of it, we end up being incapable of feeling compassion at the outcry of the poor, weeping for other people’s pain, and feeling a need to help them, as though all this were someone else’s responsibility and not our own. The culture of prosperity deadens us; we are thrilled if the market offers us something new to purchase; and in the meantime all those lives stunted for lack of opportunity seem a mere spectacle; they fail to move us.

No to the new idolatry of money

55. One cause of this situation is found in our relationship with money, since we calmly accept its dominion over ourselves and our societies. The current financial crisis can make us overlook the fact that it originated in a profound human crisis: the denial of the primacy of the human person! We have created new idols. The worship of the ancient golden calf (cf. Ex 32:1-35) has returned in a new and ruthless guise in the idolatry of money and the dictatorship of an impersonal economy lacking a truly human purpose. The worldwide crisis affecting finance and the economy lays bare their imbalances and, above all, their lack of real concern for human beings; man is reduced to one of his needs alone: consumption.

56. While the earnings of a minority are growing exponentially, so too is the gap separating the majority from the prosperity enjoyed by those happy few. This imbalance is the result of ideologies which defend the absolute autonomy of the marketplace and financial speculation. Consequently, they reject the right of states, charged with vigilance for the common good, to exercise any form of control. A new tyranny is thus born, invisible and often virtual, which unilaterally and relentlessly imposes its own laws and rules. Debt and the accumulation of interest also make it difficult for countries to realize the potential of their own economies and keep citizens from enjoying their real purchasing power. To all this we can add widespread corruption and self-serving tax evasion, which have taken on worldwide dimensions. The thirst for power and possessions knows no limits. In this system, which tends to devour everything which stands in the way of increased profits, whatever is fragile, like the environment, is defenseless before the interests of a deified market, which become the only rule... With this in mind, 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”.

” Welfare projects, which meet certain urgent needs, should be considered merely temporary responses...We can no longer trust in the unseen forces and the invisible hand of the market. Growth in justice requires more than economic growth, while presupposing such growth: it requires decisions, programmes, mechanisms and processes specifically geared to a better distribution of income, the creation of sources of employment and an integral promotion of the poor which goes beyond a simple welfare mentality. I am far from proposing an irresponsible populism, but the economy can no longer turn to remedies that are a new poison, such as attempting to increase profits by reducing the work force and thereby adding to the ranks of the excluded.

205. I ask God to give us more politicians capable of sincere and effective dialogue aimed at healing the deepest roots – and not simply the appearances – of the evils in our world! Politics, though often denigrated, remains a lofty vocation and one of the highest forms of charity, inasmuch as it seeks the common good.[174] We need to be convinced that charity “is the principle not only of micro-relationships (with friends, with family members or within small groups) but also of macro-relationships (social, economic and political ones)”.[175] I beg the Lord to grant us more politicians who are genuinely disturbed by the state of society, the people, the lives of the poor! It is vital that government leaders and financial leaders take heed and broaden their horizons, working to ensure that all citizens have dignified work, education and healthcare...

... Indeed, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find local solutions for enormous global problems which overwhelm local politics with difficulties to resolve. If we really want to achieve a healthy world economy, what is needed at this juncture of history is a more efficient way of interacting which, with due regard for the sovereignty of each nation, ensures the economic well-being of all countries, not just of a few.”

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/francesco/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazione-ap_20131124_evangelii-gaudium_en.html

[what's up]

Jesus promotes a free market system.

It is the way of freedom and hope for the poor.

it is a govt controlled system which oppresses the poor and these socialist and communist systems not coincidentally bash Jesus constantly.

[what's up]

Actually, Christ died for our freedom which is reflected in free markets. He cares about our freedom so blessed countries which operate their economies in the most freedom possible.

[slowhandluke]

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.

You are being very polite to only call this scandalous.

[Iscool]

What Pope Francis might be saying

We already read what your pope DID say and it's not what you suggest...

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.

Seems the poor people in China, India, Indonesia, VietNam, Mexico and other countries are moving ahead and and greatly benefiting from the 'new capitalist tyranny' (as America and Europe crumble)...Guess we're not moving fast enough for your pope...

[SeekAndFind]

The English text of his Apostolic Exhortation is posted here:

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/francesco/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazione-ap_20131124_evangelii-gaudium_en.pdf

I did not find the word “CAPITALISM” in the entire document.

[Nevadan]

Look for the word “market”.

[Alex Murphy]

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.

No surprises here.

He even hates Capitalism: "the prevalence of a selfish and individualistic mindset which also finds expression in an unregulated capitalism"
-- From the thread 10 Quotes That Prove The Pope Is A Liberal

[DumbestOx]

As I recall, the Church has long condemned both socialism and unbridled capitalism - since the encyclicals of Leo XIII in the 1800’s I think. I don’t think there is anything new here except an ill-advised change in terminology. What is very significant is “the dog that didn’t bark”: I haven’t heard a peep from anyone about Francis condemning socialism. While I am not going to wade through the current truckload of words myself to find out, I am confident that if Francis had condemned socialism the usual suspects would be screaming about Armageddon if they had not died of apoplexy first. Any obituaries? No? I didn’t think so.

[redgolum]

Distributist,,

I have read Belloc. Great book. But there is one huge fly in the ointment. There needs to be an all powerful body that gets to take from one and give to another.

And you end up with corportism. Distribustism is a nice theory, but won’t work any better in practice because all that power will lead to corruption. Just like now.

[redgolum]

In other words he is more of a socialist than anything. Most Catholics are. Goes back to the rights and regulations of feudalism (which had some rather clear rights for the presents that had to be respected, or the nobles starved).

Also remember he came from South America. Capitalism there is not what it is here. The Latin countries never had the wealth distribution we had in the North.

[ClearCase_guy]

Your comment is a fair one. I fear that all economic systems either require brute force to set up, require brute force to maintain -- sometimes both of these -- or else devolve into corruption and power politics (which is what I see in our system today).

I'm still looking for a perfect economic system. Sadly, Distributism isn't it.

[NKP_Vet]

Are you Catholic?

[WhistlingPastTheGraveyard]

Yes. And I’ve never felt or spoken about any pope like this before in my life.

[NKP_Vet]

“Most Catholics are”.

I’m been called a lot of things, but never a socialist. Learn something new everyday. Can’t wait to tell my wife we’re socialist and all out Catholic friends are socialists too,
especially all those Knights of Columbus in the parish.

[NKP_Vet]

Yea I know what you mean. He tends to talk to much, but don’t let it worry you. What popes have done before him can’t be changed. So he’s not changing anything....even if he wanted to. And dogma is dogma. Not changing.

[BlatherNaut]

Are we really debating what this language means? On FreeRepublic? It's Marxism 101. And Bergoglio has the spiel down as well as any revolutionary college professor. This is a wolf in sheep's clothing. I don't like it any more than you do, but it's the obvious, logical conclusion.

I agree completely. He says what he means and what he believes. Furthermore, his thinking lacks coherency. While in favor of secular centralized government interference in matters of economics (in effect expressing "a crude and naïve trust" in the goodness of secular government), in this same document he criticizes "excessive centralization" of Church governance, which, in his opinion, "complicates the Church's life and her missionary outreach". He states, in regard to episcopal conferences, that "a juridical status of episcopal conferences which would see them as subjects of specific attributions, including genuine doctrinal authority, has not yet been sufficiently elaborated." So the USCCB may at some point be granted the authority to proclaim it's opinion on doctrine (which could potentially differ from the doctrines proclaimed by a different conference). So much for unity within the "One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church" if bishops' conferences (such as a bishops' conference which treats "immigration reform" like an 8th sacrament) are permitted to circumvent or displace the Magisterium.

[WayneS]

Do you know which “sage of antiquity” said “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”...?

[expat_panama]

you know which “sage of antiquity” said...

"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".55

55 SaintJohn Chrysostom, De Lazaro Concio, II, 6: PG 48, 992D.

John Chrysostom (c. 347–407, Greek: Ἰωάννης ὁ Χρυσόστομος), Archbishop of Constantinople, was an important Early Church Father. He is known for his eloquence in preaching and public speaking, his denunciation of abuse of authority by both ecclesiastical and political leaders, the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, and his ascetic sensibilities...  

...John is known in Christianity chiefly as a preacher, theologian and liturgist. Among his homilies, eight directed against Judaizing Christians remain controversial for their impact on the development of Christian antisemitism.

...One of the recurring features of John's homilies is his emphasis on care for the needy.^[39] Echoing themes found in the Gospel of Matthew, he calls upon the rich to lay aside materialism in favor of helping the poor, often employing all of his rhetorical skills to shame wealthy people to abandon conspicuous consumption: