Posted on 11/26/2013 5:46:30 AM PST by cizinec
In it, economic inequality features as one of the issues Francis is most concerned about. The 76-year-old pontiff calls for an overhaul of the financial system and warns that unequal distribution of wealth inevitably leads to violence.
"As long as the problems of the poor are not radically resolved by rejecting the absolute autonomy of markets and financial speculation and by attacking the structural causes of inequality, no solution will be found for the world's problems or, for that matter, to any problems," he wrote.
Denying this was simple populism, he called for action "beyond a simple welfare mentality" and added: "I beg the Lord to grant us more politicians who are genuinely disturbed by the state of society, the people, the lives of the poor."
(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...
I would suggest that the disposition of the property of the church be determined by the authorities of the church,
and that the spokesman/head of the church respect others’ property in the same way.
“No, Mr Pope and any leftists out there - if the poor get violent over not having the gov’t give them the fruits of others’ labor, those who are being “violented upon” should defend themselves.”
I’ll bet the Obama type chump calling himself a pope is
anti-gun also and most definitely against anyone protecting
themselves and their children. Especially from pedophile
homosexual priest.
Wrong.
The Pope offers NO solutions to any of the problems.
Wrong again.
The solution is, as always, conversion and almsgiving. The Gospel solution.
He condemns “welfare mentality” but goes on to parrot ridiculous memes on “wealth redistribution.”
So generous people voluntarily helping the poor are the same as people who think they are entitled to other people's money?
Ping for later
"Vatican budget shows surplus for 2012, reversing record deficit of 2011"
http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=18356
The Church is not "sitting on unimaginable wealth" - the Vatican's operating budget is smaller than that of the Church of England, which has about 5% of the Catholic Church's membership.
You're comparing apples and oranges. While it's true that the Vatican's budget is relatively small at $326 million, wouldn't it be more appropriate to compare the Church of England's budget to that of the entire Catholic Church? Which, by the way, is estimated to be $170 billion, approximately 500 times more than the budget of the Vatican.
http://www.economist.com/node/21560536
Oh good another news story by liberal media on what the pope said. Its simply amazing how credible the media gets as soon as they have anything to say about what’s being said by the new pope.
Now, now... I’m not going that far.
But I will say that along with this “threat” you hear from the left is the inherent condoning of the violence - to which I answer that such violence will be met with appropriate, entirely justified, defensive force.
Coming from the Vatican? He can start by giving away the wealth of the Vatican...and we know that won’t happen.
Matthew 19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
Yeah, that Jesus. What a nut.
Actually, he is “beseeching politicians to guarantee all citizens “dignified work, education and healthcare”, and wrote, “As long as the problems of the poor are not radically resolved by rejecting the absolute autonomy of markets and financial speculation and by attacking the structural causes of inequality, no solution will be found for the world’s problems or, for that matter, to any problems,”.
He didn’t condemn the welfare mentality, but expects governments to go beyond it.
Anyone who expects governments to ‘solve’ poverty is asking governments to control wealth. That destroys personal freedom. You cannot make the lazy and foolish wealthy. You can only cut down the smart and hard-workers until all are equally poor.
Who do you think is going to put the fetters on capitalism the Pope call for?
The Pope can not and has not changed the CCC on homosexuality.
There will be no professed homosexuals allowed in the priesthood.
The Pope’s teachings on sharing the wealth come straight out of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Pope is not a communist and is not a socialist. Why do liberals always have to miscontrue what the Pope says.
1 John 3:17
But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?
Matthew 19:21
Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”
Luke 3:10-11
And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.”
1 Timothy 6:17-19
As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
1 Timothy 6:9-11
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.
Luke 21:1-4
Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
He prescribed that for that individual. It wasn’t a general commandment.
When has the church opened its doors so the poor can have food and rest and a place to live.
Sell everything the RCC has and give it to the poor, and we’ll believe you.
In the USA, the pathetic taxpayers have given trillions to the poor and what do we have to show for it? More poor, many of whom constantly complain that it still isn’t enough.
and that the spokesman/head of the church respect others’ property in the same way.
That, ladies and gentlemen, is what you call a Walk Off Home Run. Game Over.
Well stated.
“Fetters” are either internal or external.
Internal restraints are “imposed” by the individual on himself as a matter of morality and responsibility to God.
External restraints are nothing but force or the threat of deadly violence in order to coerce behavior.
You can try to convince people to comply with the former, and that’s entirely moral, but if/when you fail, and attempt the latter, you’ve become a thief at best and have put yourself in the position of God at worst.
It’s quite something to see FReepers accepting what an msm reports about the Pope, when our default here is to expect that everything they print is slanted and agenda driven.
“Now, now... I’m not going that far.”
I hear ya. It’s just that capitalism is the only proven
method for raising the standard of living for so many and
charity is what helps the unable to survive. Now he’s going
the collectivist rout and history has proven that it causes
more poverty and lowers the standard of living for most people. I think Obama has made an Iranian type deal with
the pope called Francis. May be making tithes to the
church mandatory. Maybe the lure of a state religion is to
attractive for Francis the pope to ignore.
I know you wouldn’t go that fare either.
You can read his words here:
Yes, that is the VATICAN’s website.
“While the earnings of a minority are growing exponentially, so too is the gap separating the majority from the prosperity enjoyed by those happy few. This imbalance is the result of ideologies which defend the absolute autonomy of the marketplace and financial speculation. Consequently, they reject the right of states, charged with vigilance for the common good, to exercise any form of control. A new tyranny is thus born, invisible and often virtual, which unilaterally and relentlessly imposes its own laws and rules. Debt and the accumulation of interest also make it difficult for countries to realize the potential of their own economies and keep citizens from enjoying their real purchasing power. To all this we can add widespread corruption and self-serving tax evasion, which have taken on worldwide dimensions. The thirst for power and possessions knows no limits. In this system, which tends to devour everything which stands in the way of increased profits, whatever is fragile, like the environment, is defenseless before the interests of a deified market, which become the only rule... With this in mind, I encourage financial experts and political leaders to ponder the words of one of the sages of antiquity: “Not to share one’s wealth with the poor is to steal from them and to take away their livelihood. It is not our own goods which we hold, but theirs”.
” Welfare projects, which meet certain urgent needs, should be considered merely temporary responses...We can no longer trust in the unseen forces and the invisible hand of the market. Growth in justice requires more than economic growth, while presupposing such growth: it requires decisions, programmes, mechanisms and processes specifically geared to a better distribution of income, the creation of sources of employment and an integral promotion of the poor which goes beyond a simple welfare mentality. I am far from proposing an irresponsible populism, but the economy can no longer turn to remedies that are a new poison, such as attempting to increase profits by reducing the work force and thereby adding to the ranks of the excluded.
205. I ask God to give us more politicians capable of sincere and effective dialogue aimed at healing the deepest roots – and not simply the appearances – of the evils in our world! Politics, though often denigrated, remains a lofty vocation and one of the highest forms of charity, inasmuch as it seeks the common good.[174] We need to be convinced that charity “is the principle not only of micro-relationships (with friends, with family members or within small groups) but also of macro-relationships (social, economic and political ones)”.[175] I beg the Lord to grant us more politicians who are genuinely disturbed by the state of society, the people, the lives of the poor! It is vital that government leaders and financial leaders take heed and broaden their horizons, working to ensure that all citizens have dignified work, education and healthcare...
... Indeed, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find local solutions for enormous global problems which overwhelm local politics with difficulties to resolve. If we really want to achieve a healthy world economy, what is needed at this juncture of history is a more efficient way of interacting which, with due regard for the sovereignty of each nation, ensures the economic well-being of all countries, not just of a few.”
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