Pope attacks mega-salaries and wealth gap in peace message

Reuters ^ | Dec 12, 2014 | By Philip Pullella

[what's up]

Pope Francis said in the first peace message of his pontificate that huge salaries and bonuses are symptoms of an economy based on greed and inequality and called again for nations to narrow the wealth gap.

He attacked the "widening gap between those who have more and those who must be content with the crumbs", calling on governments to implement "effective policies" to guarantee people's fundamental rights, including access to capital, services, educational resources, healthcare and technology.

[Alex Murphy]

"IBTPWM" = "In before 'The Pope Was Mistranslated'".

I'm going to start using that!

[frogjerk]

Reuters says the Pope says: He attacked the "widening gap between those who have more and those who must be content with the crumbs",

The Pope actually says:

In a particular way, the agricultural sector is the primary productive sector with the crucial vocation of cultivating and protecting natural resources in order to feed humanity. In this regard the continuing disgrace of hunger in the world moves me to share with you the question: How are we using the earth’s resources? Contemporary societies should reflect on the hierarchy of priorities to which production is directed. It is a truly pressing duty to use the earth’s resources in such a way that all may be free from hunger. Initiatives and possible solutions are many, and are not limited to an increase in production. It is well known that present production is sufficient, and yet millions of persons continue to suffer and die from hunger, and this is a real scandal. We need, then, to find ways by which all may benefit from the fruits of the earth, not only to avoid the widening gap between those who have more and those who must be content with the crumbs, but above all because it is a question of justice, equality and respect for every human being. In this regard I would like to remind everyone of that necessary universal destination of all goods which is one of the fundamental principles of the Church’s social teaching. Respect for this principle is the essential condition for facilitating an effective and fair access to those essential and primary goods which every person needs and to which he or she has a right.

The Pope speaks about "access" and not guarantees of goods.

Many people on this thread love to just jump on board when it comes to the Pope and do not do their due diligence when it come to the source of these supposed statements like they would if it was attributing statements to their guy or gal. Truly a double standards put on display here.

[frogjerk]

Where does he ask for government intervention specifically in http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/francesco/messages/peace/documents/papa-francesco_20131208_messaggio-xlvii-giornata-mondiale-pace-2014_en.html ?

[frogjerk]

Mr Flagg - where in the document does the Pope ask for the government guarantee these things?

Here is the actual words of the Pope:

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/francesco/messages/peace/documents/papa-francesco_20131208_messaggio-xlvii-giornata-mondiale-pace-2014_en.html

[what's up]

policies are needed to promote the principle of fraternity, securing for people

Really? Gov't policies to promote fraternity? To secure access to capital?

Sounds pretty socialistic to me.

[Artcore]

“Did he condemn capitalism or was it unbridled consumerism?”
__________________________________________________________

It is embarrassing watching folks try and defend this Popes holier than thou, and STUPID pronouncements.

So let me see if I understand this, the Pope has the power to see into people’s hearts and judge how they spend THIER MONEY? Tell Scarlet, why isn’t the Pope condemning totalitarian governments?

Seriously, I’m beyond tired of this socialist sounding pope making one dumb statement after another.

[frogjerk]

"requires de­cisions, programs, mechanisms and process­es specifically geared to a better distribution of income"

Where is this in the words of the Pope's message?

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/francesco/messages/peace/documents/papa-francesco_20131208_messaggio-xlvii-giornata-mondiale-pace-2014_en.html

[Colonel_Flagg]

Here’s the thing. Given the controversy these comments have created, and now that they seem to have been repeated, would it not make sense for an institution as influential as the Vatican to release the Pope’s thoughts in the world’s major languages, approved by his office?

[Colonel_Flagg]

I’ll go and look. How about his office releasing those words directly, as I suggest in #88, for the reasons therein?

[Scarlet7]

When the government helped the Katrina victims or any people who suffer from a natural disaster or famine is that turning away from capitalism?

[FourtySeven]

Thanks for posting that.

It’s clear to anyone (who desires truth over personal agenda) who reads the text you posted, what he actually said and what Reuters says he said are two vastly different things.

It will go ignored though, by those who enjoy lapping up what services like Reuters offers when it suits their agenda, e.g., lambasting the Pope.

[frogjerk]

What I am very curious about is that the the message is directed to the world and not just the United States.

I can think of a whole bunch of nations where there are policies needed to lighten the excessive imbalance between incomes. Like allowing private ownership in communist countries which I assume you would be for.

I am not sure how pushing for this type of policy would be socialist in that circumstance.

[what's up]

Respect for this principle is the essential condition for facilitating an effective and fair access to those essential and primary goods which every person needs and to which he or she has a right.

People do not have an inherent "right" to primary goods, capital access, healthcare access or the other items the Pope mentioned.

Many people will not have "access" to capital because of lousy choices. My access to capital is dependent on hard work. Not everyone works...Gov't should not be involved in guaranteeing them access to capital...or healthcare...or whatever other "primary goods" a Gov't deems necessary.

[frogjerk]

It is released directly on the Vatican web site which no one who wants to hear what they want to hear is going to visit.

[FourtySeven]

Put the following sentence in your own words: ““they possess them as not just their own, but common to others as well, in the sense that they can benefit others as well as themselves”.[13]””

What do you think that says?

[Colonel_Flagg]

"where in the document does the Pope ask for the government guarantee these things?"

__

?"In this sense, effective policies are needed to promote the principle of fraternity, securing for people – who are equal in dignity and in fundamental rights – access to capital, services, educational resources, healthcare and technology so that every person has the opportunity to express and realize his or her life project and can develop fully as a person." - Point five, paragraph two.

___

Who is to implement the 'effective policies' of which the Pontiff speaks? It appears the cruz of the argument lies here. What is your opinion?

[what's up]

It's debatable whether the Federal Gov't should be as involved in natural disasters as they are today. If people were able to keep more of their money States, charities and individuals would have more to help the local situation from free choice...and often would be more effective.

Anyway, the Pope is not talking about natural disasters. He is calling on Governments to provide access to healthcare. That's not a one time deal. That's entitlement.

[frogjerk]

Capital is created, as you state, by work. So, should the government guarantee that every citizen has the same access to apply for a job should certain citizens be excluded? I would argue that right-to-work states are more free in that they are guaranteeing this right-to-work. Shouldn't the government protect my right to apply for health insurance or a gun to protect my family and property.

Everyone seems to be getting sucked in by Reuters implying that the Pope it talking to the United States exclusively. There are plenty of communist and totalitarian regimes in the word that his words apply to more aptly.

[Repeat Offender]

Any minute now the apologists will be showing up to explain how their Man of the Year was misinterpreted, again.

[Brooklyn Attitude]

“Pope attacks mega-salaries and wealth gap in peace message”

More Blah Blah Blah from this Pope. Typical libby platitudes without any actual recommendations. Precisely WHAT does he propose to fix this immaginary problem? Confiscation? Salary limits? HUGE taxes? Should the govt decide how much people earn? Sounds like he want the stupid, lazy and useless to have the same stuff as the productive folks.
Until he suggests specific policies I suggest the Pontiff just keep working his beads.