Care for poor rooted in Gospel, not communism, Pope affirms

No, the exact opposite. If the government didn’t confiscate 40% of my income, then I would have money to give to the poor.

Moreover, I would not misallocate the money as the government does. I would look for truly needy families and only give them the food or clothing or gas they need — not dollars to buy drugs or cigarettes or liquor.

Over time, the government is leaving us less and less of the sweat of our brow and that directly affects charitable contributions.

Imagine a Pope having to explain that he’s not a communist.

Wow!

Though in that communism is atheistic I would agree with the Pope. He’s a socialist.

Are some people saying they don't believe in Christ's Beatitutdes?

Detailed Contents of Luke’s Sermon on the Plain:

.	LUKE	Matthew
Beatitudes: “Blessed are…”	6:20-23	5:3-12
Woes: “Woe to you who…”	6:24-26	[ch. 23]
Love your enemies (do good, bless, pray)	6:27-28	5:43-45
“Turn the other cheek…”	6:29-30	5:38-42
Golden Rule: “Do unto others…”	6:31	7:12
“If you love only those…”	6:32-34	5:46-47
Love your enemies (repeated)	6:35	x
Be merciful… as God is	6:36	5:48
Do not judge/condemn (cf. Mk 4:24)	6:37-38	7:1-2; 12:36-37
Can the blind lead the blind?	6:39	15:14
Disciples aren’t above teachers (cf. Jn 13:16)	6:40	10:24-25a
Parable of specks and planks	6:41-42	7:3-5
Trees with good or bad fruit	6:43-44	7:15-20; 12:33
Good/evil people produce good/evil	6:45	12:34-35
Don’t just call out, “Lord, Lord”	6:46	7:21-23
Parable of two houses	6:47-49	7:24-27
Conclusion/Transition	7:1	7:28-29; 8:1

Beatitudes and Woes (Luke: 6:20-26)
- 20 Then he looked up at his disciples and said:
  “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
  21 “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled.
  “Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.
  22 “Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man.
  23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets.
  24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.
  25 “Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry.
  “Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep.
  26 “Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets.

Communism loves the poor so much it creates billions of them.

Thanks NYer - excellent post - you already are aware of the following points, however - here is a general commentary:

The corporal works of mercy are expected to be done by Christians voluntarily and not forced through the state, as any pre Vatican II catechized Catholic would know. Way too many Catholics who were formed in the post 1960’s era have bought the mistaken idea that charity=government handouts and that is why the democratic party has successfully ended up harboring psuedo catholic Pelosi/Kennedy/Cuomo types within it. People bought the lies that the socialist approach was the more compassionate approach, which is absurd.

Almsgiving was expected in the ancient Jewish OT biblical world. Sirach 17:22, Tobit 4:5-11.

In the NT. St. Matthew assumes that people are giving alms: see Mattew 6: 2-4. None of this was coerced by the secular state; it was required by Jews and by the early Christians because of their faith.

The idea that communism/social justice somehow IS the gospel is a grave error that has lead down a terrible path for the Church that has messed up/infected Her liturgy, doctrine and indeed very heart. Liberation theology contains this error.

The corporal works of mercy are based on the beatitudes.