The Latest: Pope Speaks of Importance of Poverty to Church

New York Times ^ | SEPT. 20, 2015

[TroutStalker]

HAVANA — The latest developments in Pope Francis' visit to Cuba and the United States. All times local:

6:30 p.m.

Pope Francis has spoken off-the-cuff at length for the first time during his trip to Cuba, breaking from prepared remarks to deliver a sermon that focuses extensively on the importance of poverty to the Roman Catholic Church.

He also warns of the dangers of falling prey to the temptations of wealth.

In Francis's word: "Our dear mother church is poor. God wants it poor, as he wanted our Holy Mother Mary to be poor."

[trebb]

Yeah - the Church is absolutely verging on having to house all them poor people under bridges.

[time4good]

Jesus parable: “Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’’ Mt 20:15

Funny, your quote of Jesus' parable reminds me of another distortion by the Left and Socialists of the Bible - the book of Acts - they love quoting all of the verses about the early Church combining all their goods for helping each other - totally missing the point about it being a CHOICE by each believer. For a crystal clear example - the situation with Ananias and his wife. It wasn't that they didn't chip in - it's that they lied about it. In Peter's condemnation he said they had full control of the proceeds before and after the sale. The 'church' didn't dictate or demand. But he dropped dead when he put on a false face.

Acts 5:1Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet. 3Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”