But in public debate, it just happened to be Pope Francis who sparked a firestorm in November with an "Apostolic Exhortation" titled Evangelii Gaudium, which translates into "The Joy of the Gospel" or "The Joy of Evangelism." The Vatican generated further controversy through its translation into English. Rush Limbaugh lit the fuse by sharply disagreeing with it.
Of course, the first Pope, Peter, was a capitalist. Peter and Andrew ran a fishing business. Peter had investment capital -- boats, which were expensive, and large nets. They had to catch a lot of fish just to pay back their investment. Peter's and Andrew's house was large and in wealthy Capernaum. The Bible suggests that it was Peter's house where a very large group stayed all together, even though Jesus could slip out unnoticed to pray.
Jesus Christ was a carpenter -- a capitalist, in actual practice. Jesus's father, Joseph, had a carpentry business. As the firstborn, Jesus would have learned his father's trade. Wood was harder to come by for construction back then. It was often a luxury imported from Lebanon. So Jesus had to master great skill and own valuable tools to run his small but high-end business.
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Also, let us get one thing straight: at least Catholic Pope Francis is trying. Bravo. That’s much more than can be said for a lot of Protestant pop-culture celebrities.
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Hey, Obama’s trying too! Doesn’t mean what he’s doing is good.
...one cheap shot deserves another.
Great post.
I’ve lived briefly in Latin America and my husband’s family has a lot of time there. There is not the tradition of the middle class. The so-called democracies are hardly that. The oppression of the Indians by the conquistadors is still well remembered. I remember being caught in the middle of a celebration in Cusco where there were mobs of the local Indian population wearing masks of the conquistadors. They were all drunk and/or stoned and many were shooting off guns. I realized that being of European origin was not something that was going to get me any points. Mr. Mercat and I ducked into a church and hung out there for about an hour until the mob moved on or disbursed. There is very little in the way of a social safety net. That’s one of the reasons so many come here illegally. It’s why liberation theology took hold down there. Francis fought liberation theology. That’s not who he is.
Did the Pope really say “unfettered” capitalism or is that what the media says he said?
Amen. High time this was discussed!
the socialist’s seemingly unknowingly depricate Jesus and capital with thier false premise
Isn’t a pity that the pope does not consult the Bible?
For ye have the poor with you ALWAYS, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.
Mark 14:7
Capitalism is not the issue. The lack of willing spirit to help those who are truly poor ( not the bums playing the system) is. Why doesn’t the Catholic Church selloff some its vast wealth and give it to the poor? And while they are at it, Excommunicate Nancy Pelosi and her Capitalist husband?
No, He did not suggest the rich man would be in Heaven but that the rich man could be in Heaven.
Social Justice: “We’re telling you to do what we say Jesus said and having the government make sure you do it.”
This is all rather straightforward: charity at gunpoint isn’t charity. It is theft. End of conversation.
I’m with Ayn Rand on this one.
"Since the origins of modern capitalism around 1780, more than two-thirds of the world’s population has moved out of poverty. In China and India alone, more than 500 million have been raised out of poverty just in the last forty years. In almost every nation the average age of mortality has risen dramatically, causing populations to expand accordingly. Health in almost every dimension has been improved, and literacy has been carried to remote places it never reached before.Whatever the motives of individuals, the system has improved the plight of the poor as none ever has before. The contemporary left systematically refuses to face these undeniable facts."
-- Robert Novak, from the thread Economic Heresies of the Left (Novak on Caritas in Veritate)
Pope Francis speaks much like Jesus would if he were waking the earth today.
It is a scandal that some folks have such enormous wealth while others have nothing. BUT — and that is a big caveat, The sinfulness of this disparity is when those with wealth do not share it, or try to help others. Greed is a sin! So is sloth.
IMHO, the best solution to the world’s troubles is a Christian way of life which includes charity and hard work. It includes the willingness to earn our own living and to help others become independent too.
By-the-way, Pope Francis has stated clearly that personal charity and good works is the best solution to alleviate poverty in neighborhoods, and that big government is NOT the solution.
I think TIME Mag did not realize that PF is actually anti-big government and for more Christian charity.
Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem to donate to charity... so the State could ‘do good’ (by the State's definition of doing good).
Kinda changes the story...
I was watching Fox a few days ago and some business leader said big companies are moving into the cities and out of the suburbs because the cities have a younger/ out of collage work force and it would be cheaper to hire them then the older worker who is married and has kids.
That’s the kind of capitalism that hurts. When companies pull the rug from loyal workers with families to support and go after the younger group just to save a buck, mean while their CEO’s get millions or their companies get big hand outs from the government.
But saying that, I’m not in favor of socialism or government hand outs for anyone. I just hate to see older workers get bumped out of their jobs for some college kid.
Love + Force = Rape