Posted on 09/23/2015 11:11:49 AM PDT by RogerEsq
DailyCaller OPINION Global Indifference: Pope Francis Cure is A Cause ROGER BANKS @rogerbanksesq Writer
While in America, Pope Francis will almost surely repeat his call for the redistribution of economic benefits by the state as a remedy for what his November 2013 Apostolic Exhortation calls an economy of exclusion and inequality. Presupposing a causal connection between a culture of prosperity and global indifference to the poor, the Exhortation reads as follows:
We end up being incapable of feeling compassion at the outcry of the poor, weeping for other peoples pain, and feeling a need to help them, as though all this were someone elses responsibility and not our own. The culture of prosperity deadens us; we are thrilled if the market offers us something new to purchase. In the meantime, all those lives stunted for lack of opportunity seem a mere spectacle; they fail to move us.
Though leveled at contemporary society, the allegations bring irrepressibly to mind a timeless 19th century fictional protagonist whose name is synonymous with extreme indifference to the needs of others.
Scrooge, when asked for a donation for the poor retorts, I help to support [government establishments for the poor]; they cost enough. Paying taxes to support government welfare, in his mind, obviates private acts of compassion.
Through the exchange, Dickens casts light on the sobering consequences of trying to legislate love. It lessens the incentive to give, and proves a humbug. It provides a plausible justification for refusing to give: money for that purpose has already been confiscated.
If helping seems, as Francis asserts, someone elses responsibility and not our own, perhaps its because the state has seized that responsibility from us. As Ive written in articles over the past ten years, the welfare state imposes, in effect, a tax on the will to give. And theres a related problem, seldom considered.
Redistribution creates favorable conditions for the societal pathogens identified by the pope. What deadens us, contrary to Francis declaration, is not the culture of prosperity. Rather, its the remedy he prescribes. By allocating to itself the role of caring for the poor, through forcible redistribution, the state inculcates the very indifference decried in the popes Exhortation.
Christian compassion, on the other hand, as Francis well knows, is made possible by changing the individual heart, one Scrooge at a time. (In Dickens tale, the potential for transformation was always present in Scrooges first name, Ebenezer, which means rock of help.) In the end, his sacrificial acts of love are the freewill decision of a heart won by the Spirits of Christmas.
Dickens vision is consistent with scripture. Perhaps he was even inspired by Lukes account of Zacchaeus, a wealthy and penurious tax collector with a reputation for defrauding his countrymen. After a visit from Jesus (the ultimate Spirit of Christmas), Zacchaeus decides of his own volition to give away half his wealth to the poor, and promises to repay fourfold anyone hed cheated.
To this penitent outpouring of compassion, Jesus responds, Today salvation has come to this house For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. Christ thus emphasizes salvation not of the poor but of a wealthy man whose deep need is to become a free-will giver.
In the Exhortation, Francis refers to the rich as the happy few. Christ sees them differently. He portrays the rich as most desperate, holding up Zacchaeus as an example of the lost he came to save.
Christs salvation of the rich harmonizes perfectly with his passion for helping the poor. Free-will giving, like Shakespeares quality of mercy, is twice blest;/ It blesseth him that gives and him that takes. Christ meets the needs of the poor to take even as he meets the needs of the rich to give.
Jesus says, It is more blessed to give than to receive. Compulsory redistribution stands to impede the promised more blessed-ness. With each dollar the state takes from a prospective giver, it takes a potential blessing.
In the Second Letter to the Corinthians, Paul distills a ubiquitous biblical teaching: Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Why, then, does this pope advocate compulsion? Does he fear that without the force of government the needs of the poor would be unmet? Then to Francis Christ might say what he said in love to the popes predecessor, even the Apostle Peter himself: O you of little faith.
by Roger Banks Twitter: @rogerbanksesq
Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2015/09/23/global-indifference-pope-francis-cure-is-a-cause/#ixzz3maMUaRPP
The global warming, embrace communist Cuba, grovel for the muslims
commie Pope.
Someone should explain to His Holiness the fundamental difference between “giving” and “forcibly taking.”
Welcome to FR—Glad you posted it in its entirety.
Gee, I wish I was “propserous” enough to fix my leaky roof, or pitted driveway or new tires for my car or.......... have money in my pocket.
Equality 101:
One days work = One days pay
Perpetuation of dependency is NOT being compassionate
I remember when we had commandments.
“Jesus would never use government surrogates to force the people to ‘help others’.” — Philip Freneau
Well done, sir.
The FedGov strives to replace the church in every way including charity and ESPECIALLY moral guidance.
The “deceived” love this Church of FedGov since it does not focus on personal accountability thus allowing them to do what is right in their own minds without any of that pesky “guilt” that comes from the conviction of the Holy Spirit.
There is nothing compassionate about Communism. The pope can pound sand.
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Jesus says that we can store up treasure in Heaven. Many people believe in a form of Karma, that is if you do good, good will come back to you. If we live in a country where the poor are dependent on charity for food and health care, we can freely give to the truly needy — and receive our reward in Heaven or Karma. However, if the government takes that same money against our will and uses it to help the same needy, the effect may be the same, but the Government has stolen our eternal reward.
Great article.The Tragedy of American Compassion by Marvin Olasky.
Great book.
This pope needs a dictionary so he can look up a few words to improve his understanding of language. I would suggest he begin with:
1. Covet
2. Steal
Next, he should ask someone for a copy of the Bible. He obviously has never seen one, let alone has read it. Then, sit down and actually read it. It’s a super book that explains the human condition and the human relationship with God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
If he does this, and then actually believes what he reads, then maybe, I might care to listen to what words he spits out of his mouth.
Thanks x 2!
Thanks for all the insightful, kind, and entertaining feedback! -Roger
It is good, and the pope could probably make some ground with me if he were to mentions God, Jesus, Christ, or some variation even once.
It is theft by politician.
Compassion comes from the heart. Charity is freely given or it is NOT charity.
"Ceterum censeo 0bama esse delendam."
Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)
We have NO poverty in the US. Thanks to capitalism, we have overcome poverty, like the rest of the world should do, without our help. The only poverty we DO have is because those poverty-stricken have chosen it for themselves. I have no sympathy. Socialism, communism and plain despotism is the cause of poverty. We should not assist them.
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