Pope says communists are closet Christians

Reuters ^ | 6/29/2014

[ebb tide]

Pope Francis, whose criticisms of unbridled capitalism have prompted some to label him a Marxist, said in an interview published on Sunday that communists had stolen the flag of Christianity.

[sportutegrl]

Perhaps he meant that in Communist countries, Christians have to stay in the closet.

[Dave W]

I welcome your comment on “Poverty is at the center of the Gospel.”

[Migraine]

I didn’t say he couldn’t do DAMAGE. I said he’s not a threat to authentic Catholic teaching.

Is papal infallibility authentic Catholic teaching? If so, I would say he is definitely a genuine threat to authentic Catholic teaching (given that he is spouting wrongs, ex cathedra).

[Redmen4ever]

Christian charity is agape. To love others as you love yourself. Christian love is not pity. Ayn Rand was attracted to Jesus’ teaching (actually, Jewish teaching) that we are to love our brother as we love ourselves; and, to Jesus’ comment on this teaching, of universal brotherhood, that we are to treat as brothers all those who treat us as brothers regardless of ethnic, national or sectarian differences. But, she rejected the perversion of Jesus’ teachings in the replacement of agape with pity, and she objected to the recourse to mysticism.

As for communism, communism advocated on behalf of workers, not the poor. Communists did not see themselves as redistributing money from the rich to the poor. Rather, they saw themselves as securing to labor its productivity. They thought that if the state owned the means of production, workers would not be exploited. Thus, Marx said, “Workers of the world unite, you have nothing to lose but your chains.”

Under communism, people did not have the option of not working. People were forced to work, as slave-laborers if necessary. The idea that people who didn’t work or only worked part-time would receive equal benefits as those who worked full-time was not part of communism. This man whom the Catholics represent to the world as inspired by the Holy Spirit continually demonstrates his ignorances of economics. Now, he has displayed his ignorance of communism as he has many times displayed his ignorance of capitalism.

There is a connection between communism and Christianity involving work: Paul writes those who do not work neither shall they eat. An early encyclical taught that the inner compulsion of hunger does not invalidate the bargain between workers and employers. In the Christian view, we should be willing to provide a job of some sort to those who without work would starve. But, we don’t use the force of the state. We rely, if necessary, on the inner compulsion of hunger. In contrast, under communism the force of the state can be used. The real difference between Christianity and communism is that we recognize that man does not live by bread alone. That man has the need to enter into the community of saints as a free man accepted by free men. This is our fervent wish for all. In contrast, the communists reduce us to the material stuff of which we are made. As though we have no need to love others and no need to be loved by others.

[ArcadeQuarters]

The invalid assumption he’s made is that communists care about the poor. Communists want the government to steal from the working class and spend according to the will of the political elite. Communists are destroyers of wealth, not creators. The solution to poverty is wealth creation, not destruction.

[Longbow1969]

I’m confused if this Pope is either terminally incomprehensible or if he’s being translated badly!

Don't be confused, this Pope is a South American Jesuit - he's a socialist. In Argentina he constantly opposed cutting social welfare programs that bankrupt the country over and over again. He probably doesn't view himself as a communist and there is some evidence he didn't completely buy into Liberation Theology, but Pope Francis is most definitely on the very far left where economics are concerned.

Whenever you see the fewer and fewer people coming to his defense begin with "Well he was translated badly....", you can be sure the Pope was spouting off socialist crap again. He isn't being mistranslated, he's an economic idiot.

Catholics should be embarrassed that this is the man on earth whom represents them. This pope is giving immense verbal support to socialists the world over, an ideology that destroys the very soul of populations and has cost millions of lives.

[ebb tide]

The problem is that poverty is not at the center of the Gospel. Salvation is. Also, Jesus told us that the poor will always be with us. Finally, Christ never mentioned that Pontius Pilate and his government should take care of the poor as the Communists claim their governments should.

[Salvation]

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.

[miss marmelstein]

Sigh...I guess I have to do some digging into this. The only thing positive I would say is that even if he’s spouting commie lingo he’s so incomprehensible that he’s probably rendered harmless. Honestly, I cannot understand anything he says - why the heck is he talking about flags? And I ain’t dumb!

[metmom]

Sounds like he’s a closet communist.....

[ebb tide]

Without the closet.

[ebb tide]

Beatitudes (Matthew: 5:1-12)
Christ’s sermon upon the mount. The eight beatitudes.

[1] And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain, and when he was set down, his disciples came unto him. [2] And opening his mouth, he taught them, saying: [3] Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [4] Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land. [5] Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

[3] The poor in spirit: That is, the humble; and they whose spirit is not set upon riches.

[6] Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill. [7] Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. [8] Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God. [9] Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called children of God. [10] Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

[11] Blessed are ye when they shall revile you, and persecute you, and speak all that is evil against you, untruly, for my sake: [12] Be glad and rejoice, for your reward is very great in heaven. For so they persecuted the prophets that were before you.

[Shark24]

Thank you.

[what's up]

Are you then saying the pope is not normal? He states something different.

It may not be doctrine but the leader of the church is saying it.

[marshmallow]

Alright, all you self-righteous, pompous, pope-bashing, gospel-interpreting dim bulbs. Who wrote the following passage?

In any case we clearly see, and on this there is general agreement, that some opportune remedy must be found quickly for the misery and wretchedness pressing so unjustly on the majority of the working class: for the ancient workingmen's guilds were abolished in the last century, and no other protective organization took their place. Public institutions and the laws set aside the ancient religion. Hence, by degrees it has come to pass that working men have been surrendered, isolated and helpless, to the hardheartedness of employers and the greed of unchecked competition. The mischief has been increased by rapacious usury, which, although more than once condemned by the Church, is nevertheless, under a different guise, but with like injustice, still practiced by covetous and grasping men. To this must be added that the hiring of labor and the conduct of trade are concentrated in the hands of comparatively few; so that a small number of very rich men have been able to lay upon the teeming masses of the laboring poor a yoke little better than that of slavery itself. "

Was it:

a) Karl Marx
b) Pope Leo XIII
c) Engels
d) Pope John XXIII

The correct answer will be given in tomorrow's class.

[Uri’el-2012]

Pope says communists are closet Christians

It is clear from this statement,
he is very familiar with communists,
but he is very unfamiliar with Yah'shua.

shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach

[RitaOK]

Panic. Just, “oh my gosh!”. Speechless, here.

[RitaOK]

Oh, Lord, Aquinas, thank you for that translation.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[Redmen4ever]

With regard to the Sermon on the Mount, the Pope is within the mainstream of Christianity in failing to grasp its message and, instead of actually listening to Jesus, make up what they want to hear and listen to themselves. The beatitudes have nothing to do with poverty. The two that seem to have something to do with poverty actually aren’t about poverty.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, Jesus says, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. First, poor in spirit, not poor. The two things - poor in spirit and poor - have nothing to do with each other.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. This isn’t about poverty (not having enough to eat or drink).

None of the other beatitudes are about poverty either. Check it out. The beatitudes are not about poverty. What’s important is being poor in spirit and hungering and thirsting for righteousness. Each of poverty and wealth has its own temptation (Proverbs 30:9). Neither is a sign of the elect. (Matthew 19:26)

[Salvation]

Luke’s Gospel just says “Blessed are the poor.”

Another “Blessed are the lowly.”

There is more than just Matthew’s Gospel.