What it says to me is that my private property is not really mine. It says that others should have a say in how I should invest my resources. This country’s whole reason of existence was based on John Locke’s Right of Life, Liberty, and Property. The sanctity of private property is the cornerstone of the American system as created by our Founders. The United States is not a child of backward feudal absolutist continental Europe, no, the United States sprang from the bosom of the Protestant Anglosphere. That is why north of the Rio Grande, success, south of the Rio Grande, failure.
“What it says to me is that my private property is not really mine. It says that others should have a say in how I should invest my resources”
Isn’t it possible that what it says is, every person, especially if one is a Christian, but at least if one considers oneself “moral” or “caring”, should not horde one’s possessions but rather always wish to first share it with others who are in need?
I think that’s a pretty reasonable interpretation of the Pope’s words. And it’s certainly not “Anti American”. Unless one considers being greedy/selfish a “good American”.
Also there’s nothing in the sentence I quoted to you or anywhere in this latest from the Pope that says “others should have a say in how I invest my resources.”
The recent actions by the Pope have been exhortations to every individual on the planet. Meant to be read and considered by every individual, a plea to everyone at once to not put oneself first, but rather put others first, always. This is the Christian way after all.
This is truly how nations and governments (entities composed of people, by definition) are effectively changed anyway. By changing the hearts and minds of the people that comprise them. Not by additional forces of the State as a whole, imposed upon individuals. But individuals changing the society they live in, from within.
Just something for you and others to consider as you read/hear his words. The ultimate fact here is that he can be interpreted two ways: one, as asking for more and more state control, or two, asking for more state sponsored “subsidiarity”. The latter is quite Catholic, and also, quite individualistic.
The ultimate choice of what you want to believe he implores is, of course, up to you. But I ask you, and anyone reading this, to read/hear the Pope’s words as a person merely asking each of us to follow a very simple rule: love your neighbor as yourself.
The “sanctity of private property”? So you believe that property is holy? That is pretty much incompatible with the teachings of Jesus Christ.