Replies

Frank,

The bottom line is, the RCC is worth BILLIONS of dollars. It has a porfolio of investments in every sector imagineable. It owns staggering amounts of art, jewels, gold & other precious metals and just about every other natural resource know to man. The value of it’s real estate worldwide is unimaginable. Without it’s vast wealth, the RCC’s power would be greatly diminished. God’s power on earth is The Holy Spirit. It is not dependant upon the wealth of the world. Christ told his apostles to give away everything they own & follow Him. I believe he would tell the pope of Rome (who lives like a king) the same thing.

Was it John who requested, in one of his epistles, that one of the other apostles bring his winter cloak, that he forgot so he could be warm for the approaching winter? Imagine that!?!? All Christ chosen few owned pretty much only the clothes on their backs & their parchments & Holy Books. Shall we take a peek inside PB16’s massive bejeweled walk-in closet?

I don't follow your point. The "art, jewels, gold, etc." you mention (again, if you're talking about the Vatican Museums and Archives) don't belong to the Church. The Italian Republic owns them. The chalices and such in every Parish are made of precious metals, yes - but, we believe that their contents become the Body and Blood of Christ. Now, you may not believe that, but, if you had the Body of Christ before you, would you not clothe it in riches, as the woman did in Matthew 26?

The real estate portfolio you mention confuses me. Yes, there are Churches, Hosptials, Orphanages, Soup Kitchens, Schools, etc. all over the world which belong, in some way, to the Church. Should the Church not offer these services?

And this, Shall we take a peek inside PB16’s massive bejeweled walk-in closet? is just unnecessary. Have you been inside the Papal apartments?