“What it says to me is that my private property is not really mine. It says that others should have a say in how I should invest my resources”
Isn’t it possible that what it says is, every person, especially if one is a Christian, but at least if one considers oneself “moral” or “caring”, should not horde one’s possessions but rather always wish to first share it with others who are in need?
I think that’s a pretty reasonable interpretation of the Pope’s words. And it’s certainly not “Anti American”. Unless one considers being greedy/selfish a “good American”.
Also there’s nothing in the sentence I quoted to you or anywhere in this latest from the Pope that says “others should have a say in how I invest my resources.”
The recent actions by the Pope have been exhortations to every individual on the planet. Meant to be read and considered by every individual, a plea to everyone at once to not put oneself first, but rather put others first, always. This is the Christian way after all.
This is truly how nations and governments (entities composed of people, by definition) are effectively changed anyway. By changing the hearts and minds of the people that comprise them. Not by additional forces of the State as a whole, imposed upon individuals. But individuals changing the society they live in, from within.
Just something for you and others to consider as you read/hear his words. The ultimate fact here is that he can be interpreted two ways: one, as asking for more and more state control, or two, asking for more state sponsored “subsidiarity”. The latter is quite Catholic, and also, quite individualistic.
The ultimate choice of what you want to believe he implores is, of course, up to you. But I ask you, and anyone reading this, to read/hear the Pope’s words as a person merely asking each of us to follow a very simple rule: love your neighbor as yourself.
>> Isn’t it possible that what it says is, every person, especially if one is a Christian, but at least if one considers oneself “moral” or “caring”, should not horde one’s possessions but rather always wish to first share it with others who are in need? <<
.
The second commandment.
Love thy neighbor as thy self.
That would be fine if that's all he said. But he asked for Gov'ts to engage in guarantees for the poor. This isn't personal charity, it's Gov't intrusion.
But what is need and why are they in need? If someone spends $100 a week at a nail salon and then complains about not being able to afford groceries are they really in need? Is someone with multiple flat screen TVs who buys three cases of beer, $50 worth of scratch offs and eats in restaurants three times a week in need because they then can't afford a new sweater?
The concept of the "working poor" is a statistical myth. While numerically speaking there are actually a number of people who are genuinely poor through no fault of their own, a study done (and quickly buried) about 20 years ago shows that wealth/poverty was strongly correlated to the number of hours worked per week by the total number of family members working. As I remember 20 hours or less per family usually landed the family in the poverty level, 20 - 40 hours per week landed them in the low but not poverty level. 40 - 60 put them solidly in the middle class, and 80 + usually dropped them into the upper income brackets.