Posted on 01/31/2022 6:21:35 PM PST by marshmallow
Pope Francis urges members of Italy’s taxation authority to implement Gospel values as they work to favor the redistribution of wealth and support public services for society’s neediest members.
The Pope met Monday with a delegation of the Agenzie delle Entrate, Italy’s revenue agency, and reflected on the Biblical roots of taxation and its purpose in society.
The theme of taxation, noted Pope Francis, appears regularly in the Bible, and was an aspect of every government that ruled over the Holy Land.
“The Bible,” he pointed out, “does not demonize money, but offers an invitation to use it correctly, to not become slaves to it, and not to turn it into an idol.”
Even the Biblical kings of Israel imposed taxes on their subjects, he said, making it part of life even in ancient times.
Biblical taxation
Tithing, said the Pope, is a little-known but interesting aspect of taxation, in which a tenth of a person’s revenue is given to the king, as Abraham did after he received a blessing from the priest-king Melchizedek.
The Old Testament book of Leviticus employed revenue from the pre-existing practice of tithing to support the priestly tribe of Levi, freeing them up from manual labor to serve in the Temple of God.
Pope Francis also explored the conversions of the tax-collectors Zacchaeus and Matthew due to their personal encounters with Jesus.
“Matthew,” he said, “may have even continued to manage his own wealth, even those of others, but he certainly did so with a different logic: that of service to the needy and sharing with the brothers and sisters, just as the Teacher taught him.”
(Excerpt) Read more at vaticannews.va ...
Frank is an atheist.
Forced religious values via the government and your wallet 🤪
You first Francis
The Vatican can start by giving away 10% of all their artwork and their annual worlwide church donations. Oh, and tear down the Vatican walls and let migrants live in the halls of the Vatican.
Anything less is just deceptive posturing.
Hey Frankie- how about redistributing some of that Vatican wealth? RCINC is the oldest most profitable multinational corporation on the planet.
They cry poor but can afford 700$/hr. attorneys to smear people who were sexually assaulted by their employees (priests)
This Pope is into everything but Religion ,LOL
Hey Popie...unload all that stuff you got laying around the Vatican, that should bring a pretty penny you can give it ALL to the poor and suffering, then and only then I might think of you as my Pope once more, until then...nothing.
Ya hear that, Dims? Even your beloved commie pope says tax should be only 10%.
Doesn’t the Bible lump the tax man with the lowest of the low, the dregs of humanity, and the agent of a despotic Roman regime?
Francis is the first, bona-fide communist Pope.
“The Old Testament book of Leviticus employed revenue from the pre-existing practice of tithing to support the priestly tribe of Levi, freeing them up from manual labor to serve in the Temple of God.”
Which has zero to do with collecting taxes to pay off groups for political advantage.
Let the church pay real estate taxes on ALL churches and church properties in the U.S. and abroad.
It’s for the “poor.” There should be no complaints from Rome.
How soon will all that renaissance art go up for sale to benefit the poor?
Sell the hundreds of billions of dollars in Catholic Real Estate holdings World Wide.
That will go a long way to help the poor.
How about selling the valuable art objects that are in storage, not even the ones on display in the Vatican museums.
seems to me that this pope is guilty of the sin of coveting
For sure.
Back in the Middle Ages the Roman church aligned itself with royalty when they had the power. Now the church is aligning itself with socialist governments.
The church needs to align itself with Jesus, not money.
Dear Francis,
Clearly, God does not force his will on us. He allows us free will as individuals. We decide. He gave this to us. That is the example that you should base your views upon - not one of secular coercion.
Charity comes from the heart. Let people choose to be charitable. It’s the approach Christ took. Paul stopped being a tax collector after deciding to join Christ.
You should pray for humility, acceptance, and patience.
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