Posted on 06/29/2014 3:20:21 PM PDT by ebb tide
Predictable as the sunrise.
I worked with Catholic co-workers who voted dem party line. When asked about why they voted for the dems in light of the dems stand on abortion, the answer was always "Because they're *for the poor*"
Problem is, while I see commands from Jesus for us to care for the poor, I don't see anywhere where we are commanded to abdicate the responsibility by foisting it off on the government to do.
That does not fulfill our obligation to individually help the poor. The government cannot show the love of Christ as people can.
It is the job of individuals to do it and we will be rewarded individually for what we did.
I do not think the Pope used the term ‘closet Christians’.
Thanks, narses. Pope Francis is one of the hardest-working Popes in recent memory. I hope that he takes a break soon, and takes Pope Benedict with him. Two weeks or more would be best, but even a few days would be good.
May God bless and protect them.
Not sure why that makes things better for you. He is still implying that Communists are Christians.
I am not sure the Pope understands what capitalism really is and is not.
Mathew 20
12 ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’
13 “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius?
14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you.
15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’
Well, that's good news.
Charity is a big part of salvation, or at least Christ says so. I realize some will disagree and they can take it up with Christ when he returns.
If a government takes from those who have and gives to the have not`s is that going to save any one?
Are the people in government going to be saved, I think not because it is wrong to steal, besides did they give? no they only redistributed it, they gave nothing of their self and got paid a good salary for doing it.
Are the people they took from going to be saved?, no because they gave nothing to no one, it was taken from them.
We are to give of our selves, even giving to some charity organization does not excuse us from doing what is right if we happen to run across some one who needs help.
Real charity can only be fully witnessed when people give it one on one and this is not always possible in a country where they are not free to do so.
We are living in a world where you might be thrown in jail for trying to help a lost child.
Most people would help a lost child but unless you know the law pretty well and also political correctness it may lead one to never try to help any one ever again.
I have never had this experience but have heard about them.
Because I am in utter denial?
No, seriously, I thought Pope Francis was claiming communists to be Christians. The whole unfortunate conversation was messy, as usual, but this communist remark sounded rather tongue in cheek.
He has been an equal opportunity critic of every form of government, cause, and political principle across the face of the earth, by now. I dare say we have been given whom and what we deserve.
I thought that was what the pope *was* saying, actually. What you said. It sounded to me anyway, to be easily in a manner of tongue in cheek, against the communists.
We have all said nearly the same thing as the pope said— like, “the Marxists have highjacked much of the language of the Church, namely the term, ‘social justice’”, for example. We have all seen Pelosi do that. Infuriating.
Don’t worry about it. I could not get this Yahoo.com article to load. So I went looking for other news on what he said. As usual, it’s a sensational headline taken out of context and that has become the norm here on Free Republic. Fortunately Papa Francisco could care less.
Yes, the first part but then he says “So when they speak, one can say to them: ‘but then you are Christian’” To me that implies that he thinks communists actually believe in helping the poor.
Thx.
Our dear man is confusing one minute, exasperating in the next, but is the one our Lord has allowed us and frankly, Pope Francis pretty well reflects the times. Our times are outrageous in their own right.
And, wherever it is thought that if Christianity is meant to be counter cultural, then Francis fits that bill, too. He finds little to admire in much of anything or anyone.
Since it is a given that communism uses the poor and keeps them subservient to the state, in the name of equality, I had to think that he was mocking them. (Or, I chose to think that), because he has experienced Marxism and socialism to some extent first hand. I can’t think he believes they hold any virtue, certainly not the virtue of Christianity.
It was like he was talking against Pelosi, when he described the use of the poor under communist manipulators.
Yes, the jokes are sad, the accusatory sound bites and the selective quotes used as headlines are worse, and the damage is real.
I see the media are now openly baiting the man— as Christ before Pilate, and we know the Catholic Church is on it’s way to the Cross. Just look around.
Yep, nothing new really! It’s amazing how the media and their cabal are always shocked when they find out the Pope is Catholic. Chirping birds.
The Pope teaches infallibly when:
He teaches what has always (more or less) been taught everywhere (more or less) by the hierarchy;
He teaches ex cathedra, i.e., with the express intention of obliging all Catholics to give their assent to a proposition concerning faith or morals.
In the FIRST sense, Francis could be said to have taught “infallibly” on many occasions since becoming Pope. Example: When, on Easter morning, he declares: “Jesus is risen!” Obviously, this is not problem.
In the SECOND sense, Francis has never taught “infallibly.” And he cannot ever teach heresy when speaking in that mode.
The problem is all the times Francis has spouted off on economics or history or the glories of Islam—areas in which he is not protected from error, and the Church is not protected from him.
The “solution” to this problem is two-fold: A Pope who does not hold and spout misguided opinions; a Catholic laity who know when they are obliged to take the Pope seriously and when they are not.
Unfortunately, just as people think that a man is “president” if he lives in the White House, people think the Pope is infallible whenever he is wearing his white beany. (Which is practically all the time.)
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