Posted on 09/24/2015 9:15:07 AM PDT by markomalley
Pope Francis on Thursday gave an historic address to a joint meeting of Congress that delivered big applause lines for Democrats on issues like the need to end armed conflict, welcoming immigrants, and taking steps to stop climate change.
And while Republicans have spent the week reminding people that the pope agrees with the GOP on issues like family and abortion, the pontiff only gave a few brief nods to those issues, and in far less specific terms.
For example, he stressed that the "Golden Rule" reminds people of their "responsibility to protect and defend human life at every stage of its development," a line that drew strong applause. But that line was followed by a call for ending the death penalty, which drew Democratic applause, and he made no explicit mention of abortion.
He addressed family issues at the end of his remarks, but even then, he only mentioned his broad concern for families with words that may have hinted at issues like same-sex marriage, but without any specifics.
"I cannot hide my concern for the family, which is threatened, perhaps as never before, from within and without," he said. "Fundamental relationships are being called into question, as is the very basis of marriage and the family. I can only reiterate the importance and, above all, the richness and the beauty of family life."
But for social conservatives looking for sharper messages on abortion or same-sex marriage, that was about it, and Francis largely met the expectation that he would dodge those sensitive issues in his speech.
The rest of speech was much more specific on themes that Democrats have adopted. For example, as America struggles to deal with radical Islamic terrorism, Pope Francis seemed to give a nod to Democrats who have warned against striking out against Muslims, by saying the U.S. must continue to ensure religious freedom.
"A delicate balance is required to combat violence perpetrated in the name of a religion, an ideology or an economic system, while also safeguarding religious freedom, intellectual freedom and individual freedoms," he said. "We know that in the attempt to be freed of the enemy without, we can be tempted to feed the enemy within."
Later in his address, he cited the importance of ending all armed conflict around the world, and reiterated his view that too much money is made by selling weapons around the world. Francis has been critical of capitalism before, and his comments in this area seemed to highlight that theme again.
"Being at the service of dialogue and peace also means being truly determined to minimize and, in the long term, to end the many armed conflicts throughout our world," he said. "Here we have to ask ourselves: Why are deadly weapons being sold to those who plan to inflict untold suffering on individuals and society?"
"Sadly, the answer, as we all know, is simply for money: money that is drenched in blood, often innocent blood," he added.
The pope clearly sided with Democrats on immigration, and said people should not be "fearful of foreigners," because most everyone was once a foreigner, drawing applause. He said the world is not only facing a refugee crisis in Europe, but an immigration crisis in the Americas, as thousands "travel north" to the U.S. "in search of a better life."
"Is this not what we want for our own children?" he asked. "We must not be taken aback by their numbers, but rather view them as persons, seeing their faces and listening to their stories, trying to respond as best we can to their situation. To respond in a way which is always humane, just and fraternal."
Francis reiterated his Wednesday remarks from the White House on climate, an issue on which he is in clear agreement with President Obama and most Democrats. Many Democrats are hoping his words on the environment can be used to put the GOP in a box later this year when the U.S. and other nations try to make progress on a global climate agreement.
"Now is the time for courageous actions and strategies, aimed at implementing a 'culture of care' and 'an integrated approach to combating poverty, restoring dignity to the excluded, and at the same time protecting nature,'" he said.
The entire framework of Francis' remarks were about how Congress must play an important role in ensuring the welfare of its citizens, a far cry from the repeated Republican calls for a smaller, less wasteful government.
"You are the face of its people, their representatives," he said. "You are called to defend and preserve the dignity of your fellow citizens in the tireless and demanding pursuit of the common good, for this is the chief aim of all politics."
"Legislative activity is always based on care for the people," he said, and added later that America must continue to fight for the poor and the needy.
"They too need to be given hope," he said. "The fight against poverty and hunger must be fought constantly and on many fronts, especially in its causes."
Also, no electricity or air conditioning should be allowed wherever he speaks. NO news coverage because that uses fossil fuels.
He shouldn't go into any building built with modern tools or machinery that used fossil fuels as an ensample to the other lunatics and gullible that still believe in man made global warming/climate change/disruptification.
...or is he a hypocrite?
* big applause lines for Democrats *
Funny, the Democrats are the party that booed God a few years ago.
I guess they like a secular pope.
Yes, both Mexico and Venezuela are oil-producing countries; why doesn’t he go lecture them. At some point our hierarchy is going to realize that every penny robbed from us by our government via socialist taxes is simply replaced with funds set aside for something else - in my case, weekly donations to my parish. I live in NJ, where our Church has gone beyond shuttering/selling schools to doing the same with church buildings; they are reaping what they’ve sown with their implicit support for Dems.
The state has all kinds of force at its disposal to force us to pay taxes; what can the Church do when the giving dries up?
“As this continues, the U.S. pie will surely run out, and the U.S. will be in ruin; in no better shape than Mexico.
That is All “Part of Plan”
To Understand the Prog, you need to understand that with the “Pie” metaphor, they don’t care how much it is, making it bigger or who gets it.
They want to be the one who is handing out the pie and telling the people getting it “Don’t forget who gave you this piece too you”
Even if the piece is small or of terrible quality. “
Sniff.....I smell racism...sniff....
OK,NOW you have done it!!
Trigger Warning !!
Trigger Warning !!
Micro-aggression too !!
Jim Robinson just came up with a 17 word gem....
“God intended man to use the earth’s resources and He is the original designer of “climate change.””
Which is what we have heard on the RF almost non-stop since his ascent to the throne. Will we get any apologies from the Papists? We won't be holding our breath.
LOL, as if Catholics don’t already vote for the Commies anyway.
I'm Catholic, as well, but I don't get too worked up about Pope Francis. Afterall, he is just a man. He has opinions and sins, just as we all do.
My biggest disappointment with Pope Francis is not that he dabbles in leftist rhetoric, but that he seems to ignore his primary mission, as entrusted to him by the cardinals. His role is to guide the flock to a more spiritual life, so that we become more like our Creator; that we should prepare ourselves to dwell in His everlasting kingdom.
All this interest in worldly things is a distraction, and may have been a passion of Archbishop Jorge Bergolio, but he has new duties now. Cardinal Burke and others have tried to gently remind him of this, but so far, Pope Francis seems to relish his new earthly prominence.
Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. John 14:1
IIRC something like 20 % of the population of Mexico has invaded the US. HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH!
Well put!
I’m Catholic as well, and he irritates me more than anything. I have watched the church go down multiple dark roads, and wonder if it will ever recover, but that’s the churches problem. My faith and loyalty belong to Jesus Christ, and not to the churches human leadership. Just like the GOP, I haven’t left them, they’ve left me.
There are only two ways to end armed conflict; Either you surrender; or you force the enemy to surrender.
That's it.
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