[Dr. Eckleburg]

you label everything that Rome says a lie simply because it comes from Rome. There's little evidence to be found of anything positive or balanced in your writing. On the contrary, there appears to be a concentrated effort to find an "angle" in any news regarding the Church. It's now to the point that your posts are like wallpaper; entirely predictable and familiar to the point where they're barely noticed.

When RCs' arguments fail, which is most of the time, they often resort to making personal comments such as yours which is against the rules of a Free Republic.

But then so is socialism and enforced unionism and coercive taxation and a global authority "with teeth" ruling over this nation's sovereignty, economy, defense and social structure.

So why should anyone be surprised the rules are broken on this forum when the pope feels free to work to destroy what this country has labored to create for two centuries -- a world economy based on the free market and individual liberty?

[wmfights]

...enforced unionism and coercive taxation and a global authority "with teeth" ruling over this nation's sovereignty, economy, defense and social structure.

I'm fearful of any church supporting this kind of thing. Justifying it because it's for "everyones own good" is even worse because people are led to believe that their willing enslavement to govt is a good thing.

Any church that climbs in bed with politicians ends up having to sacrifice it's beliefs for "the greater good". Abortion is a good example. One of the great allies of the Pro-Life movement is the RCC. However, when push comes to shove they provide cover and credibility to politicians that are Pro-Abortion.

A global authority "with teeth" will only be worse.

[marshmallow]

But then so is socialism and enforced unionism and coercive taxation and a global authority "with teeth" ruling over this nation's sovereignty, economy, defense and social structure. So why should anyone be surprised the rules are broken on this forum when the pope feels free to work to destroy what this country has labored to create for two centuries -- a world economy based on the free market and individual liberty?

It's extremely difficult to have a reasoned, balanced discussion on the weaknesses of capitalism on a forum like FR without the inevitable shrieks of "socialist". Add into this mix an element of religious animosity and it becomes almost impossible, I'd say. It's into this climate that the Pope's encyclical has been received

You've worked diligently on this and other threads to polarize the debate by proposing a false dichotomy where there are only two alternatives; capitalism or socialism. Any dissent from the American economic model is therefore socialism. Ergo, the Pope is a socialist.

As I and numerous other Catholics have repeatedly explained to deaf ears, the Church has issues with some aspects of capitalism as well as having major issues with socialism. You'll recall that the Catholic Church was a major player in the defeat of communism in Eastern Europe.

Events of the last 12 months have made plain the weaknesses inherent in capitalism, at least as it is acted out in the America of the 21st century and that seems perfectly clear. Is it too hard to admit that?

I'm still waiting for you to expand on your nebulous statement that "socialist forces in government" were responsible for the economic meltdown. Government policy has certainly played a part in this train wreck but underlying it all was human greed, irresponsibility and dishonesty.

[Petronski]

...the pope feels free to work to destroy what this country has labored to create for two centuries -- a world economy based on the free market and individual liberty...

An extravagant and laughable falsehood, even for you.

[Quix]

Too much truth for comfort, in your assertions, imho.