Posted on 11/28/2013 8:58:12 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Rush Limbaugh and Sarah Palin are starting to sour on the new pope.
In response to Pope Francis’ first Apostolic Exhortation, in which the pontiff denounced “trickle-down theories which assume that economic growth, encouraged by a free market, will inevitably succeed in bringing about greater justice and inclusiveness in the world,” these two paragons of the far right – both of whom regularly invoke the teachings of Jesus to bolster their own political views – have suddenly turned their backs on the man whose actual job description is to speak for Jesus.
Sarah Palin complained that Pope Francis sounded “kind of liberal” in his statements decrying the growing global income equality between the rich and the poor (she has since apologized).
Rush Limbaugh went one step further. “This is just pure Marxism coming out of the mouth of the pope,” he harrumphed into his giant microphone.
Limbaugh, in his trademarked conspiratorial style, speculated that the pope’s tirade against “widespread corruption and self-serving tax evasion” must have been forced upon him by somebody else. “Somebody has either written this for [the pope] or gotten to him,” he said.
Limbaugh is right. Somebody did get to Pope Francis. It was Jesus....
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
The author is from Iran and converted to Christianity and back to Islam. I’ll stick with Rush and Sarah....bottom line the Pope is a leftist.
“The Catholic Church is not a poverty stricken organization.”
No, but what it has is the product of donations to it.
Donations, yeah that’s a lot of donations, don’t u think? The church is ragging on the wealthy but look at the splendor of the Vatican. They are the epitome of wealth and power.
I would take The Pope, or any Televangelist for that matter, much more seriously if they practiced what they preached. I see very few of them taking a vow of poverty.
The Pope lives in one of the most luxurious environments on Planet Earth. Gold, jewels, servants galore. A private jet. And on and on and on.
Almost all do-gooders want to perform their acts of charity with someone ele’s money.
Will the church give some of it’s money for the good of inclusiveness ?.
After Rush’s Tuesday ‘rant’ about the story, he said that he heard that the translation was not accurate. It will remain to be seen whether or not the original English translation is actually the true interpretation of Pope Francis’s words.
Remember that Pope Francis’s interview this summer was translated into a creed that inferred that abortion and contraception and gay lifestyles were not the things to emphasize. It was Jesus and his Gospel we should be evangelizing. Well, it is true that we need to first know Jesus and his gospel, before we begin to proselytize. But just this week, Pope Francis really clarified how terrible abortion was and was not to be trivialized.
I think two things are happening: First the liberals in the news media want to characterize Pope Francis as ‘on their side’, that is liberal; and second Pope Francis will quickly learn that he has to be more careful with how the press will manipulate his words.
I am going to give PF the benefit of the doubt here, and believe that his sincere wish for a charitable Christianity and help for the poor, plus his love of the simple life has been poorly enunciated or poorly translated.
Rush is right, however. He and John Stossel both have claimed that capitalism has gotten more people out of poverty than any other economic system. This is true.
Very good. I can't remember challenging the expression with leftists. I guess very few use it. The true nature of capitalism is "trickle and flow around". Capitalism naturally (organically) and productively spreads wealth. Socialism artificially and destructively spreads wealth.
As demonstrated on September 11, 1857 at Mountain Meadows, Utah?
“Donations, yeah that’s a lot of donations, don’t u think?”
Yes, and thank God for them.
“The church is ragging on the wealthy but look at the splendor of the Vatican.”
And? The Vatican “splendor” is for the Church and faithful and has been used and enjoyed for centuries for the glory of God.
“They are the epitome of wealth and power.”
And why shouldn’t they be? Isn’t God the epitome of good? Why shouldn’t the Church reflect that?
“Trickle-down” is a term of abuse invented by Leftists. It is a straw-man caricature of free-market ideas.”........... By using this term, the Pope disgraces himself and abuses his office. He also reveals that, when it comes to economic ideas, he is ill-educated, and is merely parroting slogans.
Rush mentioned that the use of this term is coincidentally a term used by leftists, and seemed to be not something that Pope Francis would actually say. Seems to me that this ‘slogan’ tripped off the tongue of a liberal translator.
And why shouldn’t they be? Isn’t God the epitome of good? Why shouldn’t the Church reflect that?
You don't really believe that do you? Wealth and power equate to good? Maybe you need to rethink that statement just a little.
Matthew 25:14-30
Rush and Sarah are right. Here is what is actually says:
The economic stuff:
“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.”
For emphasis: “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...of macro-relationships (social, economic and political ones)”....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.”
The Reza guy sees Jesus as a socialist/communist for economics and either does not want or cannot accept Jesus’ message as relating to spiritual life revolution, not a socialist revolution against the Romans at the time and against non-socialists today.
“You don’t really believe that do you?”
Yes, I do.
“Wealth and power equate to good?”
No, but beauty is always set with truth and goodness: Hence, “Truth, Beauty and Goodness.”
“Maybe you need to rethink that statement just a little.”
Nope. Maybe you need to think a little more. Maybe you need to read a book.
Because Iranian Islamofascists care about the Catholic Church.
“It will remain to be seen whether or not the original English translation is actually the true interpretation of Pope Francis’s words.”
The media is using the translation provided by the Vatican. If it is a bad translation, the Pope needs to fire his translators.
However, the problem is that the Pope says whatever makes him feel good without any thought of consequences. So he says, ‘just say no to war’, without thinking about what would have happened if Germany was given free rein in the 1930s.
“Compassionate fellow-feeling, however, can soon become self-indulgent and lead to spiritual pride. It imparts an inner glow, like a shot of whiskey on a cold day, but like whiskey it can prevent the clear-headedness which we need at least as much as we need warmth of heart. Pascal said that the beginning of morality was to think well; generosity of spirit is not enough.”
They should stick to their knitting. Charitable work is part of Christianity, but that is volunteer charity.
Government redistribution is not charitable or Christian.
“he added to and took away from the Bible”
Which one, the one the Pope wrote?
Seriously, go back to Greek and Hebrew texts before Luther.
Nothing has changed.
More economic stuff:
“54. In this context, some people continue to defend trickle-down theories which assume that economic growth, encouraged by a free market, will inevitably succeed in bringing about greater justice and inclusiveness in the world. This opinion, which has never been confirmed by the facts, expresses a crude and naïve trust in the goodness of those wielding economic power and in the sacralized workings of the prevailing economic system. Meanwhile, the excluded are still waiting. To sustain a lifestyle which excludes others, or to sustain enthusiasm for that selfish ideal, a globalization of indifference has developed. Almost without being aware of it, we end up being incapable of feeling compassion at the outcry of the poor, weeping for other people’s pain, and feeling a need to help them, as though all this were someone else’s responsibility and not our own. The culture of prosperity deadens us; we are thrilled if the market offers us something new to purchase; and in the meantime all those lives stunted for lack of opportunity seem a mere spectacle; they fail to move us.
No to the new idolatry of money
55. One cause of this situation is found in our relationship with money, since we calmly accept its dominion over ourselves and our societies. The current financial crisis can make us overlook the fact that it originated in a profound human crisis: the denial of the primacy of the human person! We have created new idols. The worship of the ancient golden calf (cf. Ex 32:1-35) has returned in a new and ruthless guise in the idolatry of money and the dictatorship of an impersonal economy lacking a truly human purpose. The worldwide crisis affecting finance and the economy lays bare their imbalances and, above all, their lack of real concern for human beings; man is reduced to one of his needs alone: consumption.
56. 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.”
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