Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Pope Francis calls unfettered capitalism 'tyranny' and urges rich to share wealth
The Guardian ^ | 26 November 2013 | Reuters

Posted on 11/26/2013 5:46:30 AM PST by cizinec

In it, economic inequality features as one of the issues Francis is most concerned about. The 76-year-old pontiff calls for an overhaul of the financial system and warns that unequal distribution of wealth inevitably leads to violence.

"As long as the problems of the poor are not radically resolved by rejecting the absolute autonomy of markets and financial speculation and by attacking the structural causes of inequality, no solution will be found for the world's problems or, for that matter, to any problems," he wrote.

Denying this was simple populism, he called for action "beyond a simple welfare mentality" and added: "I beg the Lord to grant us more politicians who are genuinely disturbed by the state of society, the people, the lives of the poor."

(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...


TOPICS: Catholic; Current Events; Religion & Politics
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 121-124 next last
To: dforest

Capitalism is neither good nor evil, people are good or evil...Capitalism is nothing but a tool.

Socialism is ALWAYS evil.


21 posted on 11/26/2013 5:55:54 AM PST by dfwgator (Fire Muschamp.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: cizinec

well, then the church should be the first to divest itself of all it gold/jewels/art/land and investments.


22 posted on 11/26/2013 5:56:16 AM PST by stylin19a (Obama -> Fredo smart)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cizinec

Manchester Guardian distorting Francis’ words again? Wouldn’t be the first time. Every time one finds Francis’ actual words, it turns out that the left-wing media parsed them and he said something completely different when put back into context—especially when it came to gays and atheists (in context of their repentance).


23 posted on 11/26/2013 5:56:32 AM PST by Olog-hai
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Fantasywriter

I should have said ‘country’, not ‘race’.


24 posted on 11/26/2013 5:57:00 AM PST by Fantasywriter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: cizinec

Let’s start with the Vatican they can share all their money and gold with us.


25 posted on 11/26/2013 5:57:03 AM PST by angcat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cizinec
Shockingly, not one intelligent comment on the thread up to post 11.

Several observations:

(1) He is condemning the welfare mentality. That is hardly the mark of a socialist, let alone a communist.

(2) The Church is not "sitting on unimaginable wealth" - the Vatican's operating budget is smaller than that of the Church of England, which has about 5% of the Catholic Church's membership.

The Church actually operates in the red.

(3) When there is trafficking in prostitution, sterilization, etc. it reminds us that markets exist to serve man, they are not ends in themselves.

26 posted on 11/26/2013 5:57:29 AM PST by wideawake
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: angcat
You have literally no idea what you are talking about.
27 posted on 11/26/2013 5:58:04 AM PST by wideawake
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: Olog-hai; cizinec

It doesn’t matter. The leftists on FR who hate the core of Western Civilization - i.e. the Church - will unthinkingly parrot anything the liberal media says, as long as it makes the source of all conservatism look bad.


28 posted on 11/26/2013 5:59:34 AM PST by wideawake
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: wideawake

Your point 2 has to do with cash flow.

What the other posters are referring to is the actual gold and silver that the Church has accumulated through the centuries.


29 posted on 11/26/2013 5:59:57 AM PST by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: Sacajaweau

“When Rome sells all their gold stuff and gives it to the poor...call me.”

Exactly.


30 posted on 11/26/2013 6:00:01 AM PST by cizinec ("Brother, your best friend ain't your Momma, it's the Field Artillery.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: cizinec

Gee, I’m a capitalist in capitalist country with a booming economy. I see a new opportunity to make, say, custom fitted doggie coats for northern climes. I put my own money at risk, employ a bunch of people, and pay other vendors to get the company off the ground. My investment creates jobs.

Gee, I’m rich in a socialist country with a stagnant, government run economy. I bribe politicians to get a government contract. To the degree possible, I outsource work to foreign countries as it’s far cheaper than hiring domestic, union labor.

Which is better for everyone concerned?


31 posted on 11/26/2013 6:02:58 AM PST by vekzen
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: seeker41

The Pope DID NOT SAY that GOVERNMENTS should impose this sharing!!!!


32 posted on 11/26/2013 6:03:12 AM PST by G Larry (Let his days be few; and let another take his office. Psalms 109:8)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: cizinec; SunkenCiv

Keep in mind that for this story, the messenger is the Guardian. Whatever the pope said on capitalism is going to be exaggerated by that left-wing publication.


33 posted on 11/26/2013 6:04:04 AM PST by Berosus (I wish I had as much faith in God as liberals have in government.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wideawake

1. He condemns capitalism in general. The only thing that has brought us real end to poverty is competition and free markets - UNFETTERED competition and free markets, not the regulated crap in Europe.

2. The Pope offers NO solutions to any of the problems. He surely points out what he sees to be the problem: free markets. What do you have instead of free markets? Please explain Rome’s “Third Way,” which is nothing but the socialism that has already failed Europe.

3. He condemns “welfare mentality” but goes on to parrot ridiculous memes on “wealth redistribution.” Wealth redistribution is THE ULTIMATE in the welfare mentality. How can he say, “well, I don’t like the welfare mentality, but welfare for all!” and be seen as internally consistent.


34 posted on 11/26/2013 6:06:06 AM PST by cizinec ("Brother, your best friend ain't your Momma, it's the Field Artillery.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: cizinec

Pretty hard to reconcile

“wealth should be redistributed”

with

“thou shall not steal” and “thou shall not covet”


35 posted on 11/26/2013 6:08:09 AM PST by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: cizinec

So lets see Francis the pope who thinks it’s ok for
homosexuals to be in the priesthood as long as they are
forgiven now says that capitalism is bad and favors
communism. Next we’ll find out he supports NAMBLA.

The anti-Christ is here waiting for society to fall. His
minions have infiltrated everything that is good and
decent and is corrupting from within.

“The pope said renewal of the church could not be put off and the Vatican and its entrenched hierarchy “also need to hear the call to pastoral conversion”.

What he means is conversion to homosexuality. This guy is
Obama 2 and his enemy is not just America but God too.


36 posted on 11/26/2013 6:08:38 AM PST by Slambat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: G Larry
“The Pope DID NOT SAY that GOVERNMENTS should impose this sharing!!!!”

It is vital that government leaders and financial leaders take heed and broaden their horizons, working to ensure that all citizens have dignified work, education and healthcare.

Each meaningful economic decision made in one part of the world has repercussions everywhere else; consequently, no government can act without regard for shared responsibility.

Read it at http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/francesco/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazione-ap_20131124_evangelii-gaudium_en.html. Especially in context, the Pope's words beg to differ.

37 posted on 11/26/2013 6:12:15 AM PST by cizinec ("Brother, your best friend ain't your Momma, it's the Field Artillery.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: MrB
What the other posters are referring to is the actual gold and silver that the Church has accumulated through the centuries.

Are these gold and silver bullion, held in a warehouse? Hardly.

First, the Bishop of Rome does not own the property of his own diocese, let alone the property of any other.

Second, the individual dioceses don't really own the property of their own individual parishes.

Example: in my local parish, there is a monstrance that was given to the church more than a hundred years ago as a gift by parishioners to beautify the altar. The grandchildren of those parishioners still attend the church today,

That monstrance probably contains $150,000 worth of gold by weight alone, and is probably worth far more than its weight since it was beautifully made by skilled goldsmiths long ago.

It is also a blessed object.

Should it be melted down?

Who has the authority to order it to be melted down?

Or should this object which was prayerfully created and prayerfully donated by people who hoped that their children and their children's children would use it in worship be sold to an art broker and displayed in the home of a wealthy collector?

Who would have the authority to do that?

What do you suggest?

38 posted on 11/26/2013 6:13:02 AM PST by wideawake
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: cizinec

Is Francis advocating locking the poor in poverty forever?

These religious guys would be well advised to stay out of economics and politics, it just makes them look foolish and less credible.


39 posted on 11/26/2013 6:14:09 AM PST by SharpRightTurn
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cizinec

So, Caesar’s a moron. What else is new?


40 posted on 11/26/2013 6:14:58 AM PST by arderkrag (An Unreconstructed Georgian, STANDING WITH RAND.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 121-124 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson