Pope Francis: Zacchaeus and “legitimate redistribution”

Hotair ^ | 05/09/2014 | Ed Morrissey

[SeekAndFind]

The latest speech from Pope Francis is leading Drudge and the Twittersphere, and for good reason. Any time a world leader talks about “legitimate redistribution” in regard to economic policy, it raises eyebrows, if not hackles. In the case of this pontiff, the highlight of that phrase provokes heightened scrutiny. However, the longer context of Francis’ remarks this morning to UN leadership provides a much more nuanced picture of Francis’ view of economic policy — although probably not nuanced enough for libertarian ears:

With this in mind, I would like to remind you, as representatives of the chief agencies of global cooperation, of an incident which took place two thousand years ago and is recounted in the Gospel of Saint Luke (19:1-10). It is the encounter between Jesus Christ and the rich tax collector Zacchaeus, as a result of which Zacchaeus made a radical decision of sharing and justice, because his conscience had been awakened by the gaze of Jesus. This same spirit should be at the beginning and end of all political and economic activity. The gaze, often silent, of that part of the human family which is cast off, left behind, ought to awaken the conscience of political and economic agents and lead them to generous and courageous decisions with immediate results, like the decision of Zacchaeus. Does this spirit of solidarity and sharing guide all our thoughts and actions, I ask myself?

Today, in concrete terms, an awareness of the dignity of each of our brothers and sisters whose life is sacred and inviolable from conception to natural death must lead us to share with complete freedom the goods which God’s providence has placed in our hands, material goods but also intellectual and spiritual ones, and to give back generously and lavishly whatever we may have earlier unjustly refused to others.

The account of Jesus and Zacchaeus teaches us that above and beyond economic and social systems and theories, there will always be a need to promote generous, effective and practical openness to the needs of others. Jesus does not ask Zacchaeus to change jobs nor does he condemn his financial activity; he simply inspires him to put everything, freely yet immediately and indisputably, at the service of others. Consequently, I do not hesitate to state, as did my predecessors (cf. JOHN PAUL II,Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, 42-43; Centesimus Annus, 43; BENEDICT XVI, Caritas in Veritate, 6; 24-40), that equitable economic and social progress can only be attained by joining scientific and technical abilities with an unfailing commitment to solidarity accompanied by a generous and disinterested spirit of gratuitousness at every level. A contribution to this equitable development will also be made both by international activity aimed at the integral human development of all the world’s peoples and by the legitimate redistribution of economic benefits by the State, as well as indispensable cooperation between the private sector and civil society.

Consequently, while encouraging you in your continuing efforts to coordinate the activity of the international agencies, which represents a service to all humanity, I urge you to work together in promoting a true, worldwide ethical mobilization which, beyond all differences of religious or political convictions, will spread and put into practice a shared ideal of fraternity and solidarity, especially with regard to the poorest and those most excluded.

In this case, the term “legitimate” is a limiting factor when redistribution is placed in the context of the Gospel story of Zacchaeus. Who was Zaccheaus? He was a tax collector — an agent of the government — who overtaxed and profited from his cheating. In Luke 19, Jesus’ visit to Jericho inspires this sinner and cheater to repent when Jesus extends an invitation to join him. What does Zacchaeus do in response? He proclaims his intent to redistribute his ill-gotten gains back to those whom he defrauded, and to willingly and privately share his wealth with the poor. ”And Zacchae’us stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded any one of anything, I restore it fourfold.”

In this exhortation, Francis links legitimate redistribution — ie, social benefits that almost every nation distributes in some form or another — with the larger efforts in the private sphere. Francis calls more for the conversion of the heart in private transactions in this exhortation more than any change in public policy. Much like conservatives like to profess in other contexts, Francis argues here that culture is upstream of politics. If we change hearts to be more generous and less attached to the hoarding of wealth as Jesus did with Zacchaeus, then there will be less need for governments to redistribute by force.

This may not be the most conservative or libertarian expression of economic policies, but it’s basic Catholic teaching on economics for decades, if not centuries. The lesson of Zacchaeus isn’t that government should seize more private property, but that private citizens should convert to a greater love of God and therefore have more solidarity with the poor. Those who oppose social-benefit programs will still find fault with Francis on this point, and there’s plenty of room for debate as to what constitutes “legitimate” efforts in that sphere. It’s clear, though, that he wasn’t calling for widespread and massive confiscation of wealth by governments. In fact, the story of Zacchaeus points out the dangers and injustice that result from that kind of policy.

Just remember — when the media provides only small soundbites of Pope Francis, it pays to read the entirety of his remarks, and to know and understand the teachings behind them.

[redgolum]

It is going to get interesting. Wonder what will happen when he goes and says that divorce carries little penalty.

[DManA]

Consider who his audience was - statist thugs. Try to imagine what THEY heard. "Good work boys, do more."

That appears to be what he is implying.

[Invincibly Ignorant]

He wasn’t speaking ex-cathedra on this issue

Christ's vicar on earth has an "on/off" switch? Convenient.

[Salvation]

Good point.

[newheart]

Thanks for this post. It always takes some clarification after the Pope's words are run through the media filter and Morrissey does a great job of that.

For those who only look at the pictures instead of reading the articles, they should please read at least this one line:

It’s clear, though, that he wasn’t calling for widespread and massive confiscation of wealth by governments.

And it might be wise to remember that another of the most important lessons of the story of Zacchaeus is that Jesus was reaching out to a social pariah extending his grace, just as he did to lepers and prostitutes and (as he would do today) "typical left wing bureaucrats."

[SeekAndFind]

RE: Christ’s vicar on earth has an “on/off” switch? Convenient.

____________________________________

I am not catholic, but I don’t try to define their beliefs for them.

Here is how they define Papal Infallibility:

The Pope is preserved from the possibility of error “when, in the exercise of his office as shepherd and teacher of all Christians, in virtue of his supreme apostolic authority, he defines a doctrine concerning faith or morals to be held by the whole Church.”

I don’t think personal opinion on economics is included or applies.

[itssme]

We're in trouble here. The Pope is the last person I thought I'd be betrayed by. He knows full well what he is asking. You would not hear this coming from Pope John Paul II. My prayers are to Pope John Paul II and the good Lord to help us in this fight against socialism/communism/marxism.

Pope John Paul II was a fighter, a good man and very special. Who exactly IS Pope Francis? We must demand that he repeat his message, repeat it so we can make sure we have not misunderstood his meaning.

[mikrofon]

IIRC, Matthew was also a tax collector – and you did NOT read that Christ sent him back to his post with the Romans to continue “redistributing” the wealth…

[Salvation]

I venture to say, but I don’t have a source — just my opinion.

The Catholic Church is there to help all in disasters, many in their local areas, in fact, they are the number one giver of assistance to the truly needy.

[Salvation]

Quoting from the KJV since I know you can find it in your Bible.

King James Bible
Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

 

King James Bible
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

 

The Sheep and the Goats
…43I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.' 44"Then they themselves also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?' 45"Then He will answer them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.'…

 

The Sheep and the Goats
…39'When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' 40"The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.' 41"Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;…

[Mr Rogers]

"It’s clear, though, that he wasn’t calling for widespread and massive confiscation of wealth by governments."

Well, OK, he did not use the words "massive" or "widespread", but he did call for states to redistribute the wealth of their people, according to some concept of legitimacy:

"A contribution to this equitable development will also be made both by international activity aimed at the integral human development of all the world’s peoples and by the legitimate redistribution of economic benefits by the State, as well as indispensable cooperation between the private sector and civil society."

[Salvation]

It’s in the Bible. It has nothing to do with the Pope.

[Mr Rogers]

Hmmm...”Inasmuch as ye have voted for your government to do it unto one of the least of these my brethren, according to governmental accounting of good and evil instead of My Will, ye have done it unto me”?

[MrB]

“by the State”

ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS MEANS

“at gunpoint”.

[Salvation]

Is this a personal attack? I did not vote for Obama.

[Salvation]

**It is the encounter between Jesus Christ and the rich tax collector Zacchaeus, as a result of which Zacchaeus made a radical decision of sharing and justice, because his conscience had been awakened by the gaze of Jesus. **

One of the prime examples of evangelization and conversion.

[Salvation]

Are you mocking the Bible? I always thought you above this kind of thing. God bless.

[newheart]

You are right, as Morrissey also points out, that the debate hinges on the term “legitimate.” If we assume that the State ought to play absolutely no role in the distribution of social benefits, then we would do just as well to have no government at all. As tempting as that sounds, the result would be chaos. The Pope is not some closeted Marxist and is willing to speak to the flaws in the economic systems of both the Left and the Right.

[Gamecock]

***Who was Zaccheaus?***

If I remember my Sunday school lessons correctly correctly Zaccheaus was a wee little man.

[rollo tomasi]

"...made a radical decision of sharing and justice..."

A tax collector who overcharge with the backing of Roman power repents and quits overcharging along with righteously giving back the money to the people he ripped off in the first place has what to do with government confiscation by gunpoint for redistribution purposes again?

The Pope or this "mistranslation" are being



I don't know if the Pope laid out specifics, but the vagueness of an issue of government redistribution and taxation is very complicated. If left undefined and vague, politicians can run wild over the bewildered Roman Catholics seeking to covet the wealth of others.