[LucianOfSamasota]

Cardinal Bergoglio said the challenge to eradicate poverty could not be truthfully met as long as the poor continue to be dependents of the State. The government and other organizations should instead work to create the social conditions that will promote and protect the rights of the poor and enable them to be the builders of their own future, he explained.

The problem of debt and social justice must be of concern to every sector of society, he added, including leaders in government, politics, finance, business, agriculture, industry, unions, the Church and other social organizations.

Not Liberation Theology; but rather a restructuring to allow more opportunity for the working poor? Hard to tell from what I've been able to find thus far.

[cripplecreek]

” Social debt is “immoral, unjust and illegitimate,”

That seems to be very much in line with our founders.

As a very important source of strength and security, cherish public credit. One method of preserving it is, to use it as sparingly as possible; avoiding occasions of expense by cultivating peace, but remembering also that timely disbursements to prepare for danger frequently prevent much greater disbursements to repel it; avoiding likewise the accumulation of debt, not only by shunning occasions of expense, but by vigorous exertions in time of peace to discharge the debts, which unavoidable wars may have occasioned, not ungenerously throwing upon posterity the burthen, which we ourselves ought to bear.

- GEORGE WASHINGTON, Farewell Address, Sep. 17, 1796

[goldstategop]

He is not a socialist. But many on the Right act as if we should punish the poor and those who are imprisoned rather than work to help them transform themselves.

If we are hard-hearted we cannot build a decent and just society. We must live as God teaches us to live and set an example through good works to every one, particularly those most in need of it. Compassion and love cannot be built by a government; it can only come from people acting out of fear of God, not out of fear of the state.

[iacovatx]

There is no system that exacerbates extreme inequality of opportunity and thus promotes poverty more severely than a Marxist/socialist system. Such a system has been empirically established to consistently and repeatedly impoverish the vast majority of people under its control and concentrates privilege, wealth, and power in the hands of a central few.

[muawiyah]

A big issue throughout much of Latin America and the Third World is a question of deeds to property ~ the laws don't protect the poor, and the governments do not enforce what rights they have to property.

In the United States we have laws that are enforced. They are revolutionary ~ and we think that's how things ought to be. The pope agrees. That doesn't mean we can count on him to endorse free markets.

[dfwgator]

Best cure for poverty=capitalism

[from occupied ga]

Extreme poverty is also a violation of human rights, says Argentinean cardinal (New Pope)

The local news was talking about how he was into "social justice" otherwise know as socialism. Not sure were they got their information. If true, already I don't like him.

[Sooth2222]

"In recent decades, he has emerged as a champion of social justice and the poor who has spoken out against the evils of globalization and slammed the “demonic effects of the imperialism of money."

I think that as the first Jesuit pope, he's a very interesting choice -- an aspect that seems to be glossed over by most of the MSM. I wouldn't be surprised if he had pretty much everyone "challenged" -- or extremely annoyed, depending on perspective -- before he's finished.

[Gay State Conservative]

My understanding of Christian teachings (as imperfect and incomplete as it is) suggests that Christ was,to a degree at least,a “socialist”.He made very clear His expectations regarding charitable endeavors.However,He also said “render unto Ceaser” and in that way,IMO,he made it clear that charity needn't be enforced by “Ceaser” nor need it be funneled through him.

[mbarker12474]

Ugh.

We have no right to another’s labor, wealth, or property.

And in the 3779 verses in the four gospels, Jesus Christ NEVER comments on the state’s or society’s various methods for running economies or political systems, much less offer a prescription for preference for one over another.

Christ shows himself repeatedly to be sympathetic with the poor and sympathetic with the oppressed, but never does he offer prescriptions to deal with these worldly issues.

If we can extrapolate at all from the four gospels regarding the economic policies and practices of the state, it would be to suggest that Christ might theoretically eschew the state’s oppression of men by it political meddling in the free choices of men. But even this would mischaracterize Christ’s mission.

He came to save souls, not rearrange social structures.

[Jack Hydrazine]

He sounds quite like a re-distributionist. Gotta spread the wealth to pay off that social debt!

[SMARTY]

Even in the Bible is says something like ‘don't worry about the poor, they will always be with us...’

That is a sort of recollection I have from long ago.. can someone corroborate it for me?

Anyway... what could be MORE immoral and unethical than stealing from honest, hard-pressed and hard-working people to subsidize the amoral and irresponsible lives of 4th and 5th generation losers who WILL NOT take responsibility for themselves or their OWN, routinely bad choices???!!

[apillar]

What does it really matter whether he is to the left of “Hugo Chavez” or to the right of “Ronald Reagan” on economic issues? The majority of Americans (and it’s been my experience, even a majority of American Catholics), really don’t give a rat’s rump what the Pope says if they bother to listen to him speak at all. That’s not meant to be slam at the man or the Papacy, just a statement of fact.

[narses]

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[painter]

The government and other organizations should instead work to create the social conditions that will promote and protect the rights of the poor and enable them to be the builders of their own future, he explained.

Sounds like something Ronald Reagan would say.

[Einherjar]

“Shoes of the Fisherman” Anthony Quinn

Use the riches of The Church to care for them.

[xzins]

This guy sounds like he might be to the corporatist states what JPII was to the communist states.

Social corporatism (a modern fascism) while pretending to be sensitive to the needs of the poor actually ruins their lives by making them dependent on the state.

In reality, since the fascist state has an elite group running things and an elite leader over them, it is really nothing more than a modern form of serial emperors in an aristocratic empire.

That is: Obama and the liberal hierarchy

[PotatoChop]

Great! A world communist pope to go hand in hand with the communist US President!

[dalereed]

Make your own way in this world or lie down and die!!!

[count-your-change]

“Social debt is “immoral, unjust and illegitimate,”

Send my check so y’all can feel good about yourselves again and make it a big check so the feeling lasts.

[SaraJohnson]

We must “share the wealth” via UN global taxation and welfare programs.

He’s an “intelluctual” Jesuit. That is what that means.