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.
In his message for the Roman Catholic Church's World Day of Peace, marked around the world on January 1, he also called for sharing of wealth and for nations to shrink the gap between rich and poor, more of whom are getting only "crumbs".
"The grave financial and economic crises of the present time ... have pushed man to seek satisfaction, happiness and security in consumption and earnings out of all proportion to the principles of a sound economy," he said.
"The succession of economic crises should lead to a timely rethinking of our models of economic development and to a change in lifestyles," he said.
This has GOT to be driving the Religious Right, and the Republican party out of their damn minds!
First they convince themselves that the President is a socialist and now this guy comes along.
Oh well perhaps he just knows which way the economic wind is blowing these days.
I am glad to finally have a church leader who does understand what Jesus said over and over. He always advocated for the sick and the poor and was very hard on the wealthy of the day who refused to help the disadvantaged. The one time He really lost his temper was with those making money off of God. Wake up you greedy televangelists, that means you. I like what Ghandi said, something to the effect of your Jesus I like, but not the Christians. It seems rare these days to find those that truly follow the teachings of Christ. Palin is one of the most fake Christians around.
ReplyDeleteI am not a Catholic, or a member of any other religion. But from what I know about Francis is has always been helping the poor, lived among the poor, and as given most of what he had to the poor.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Francis has been on the "short list" for Popehood for a long time, his name was brought up and voted for when Pope John Paul was elected( before the Nazi goon)
It is probably ONLY because he lives the way he does and believes the way he does that he hasn't already been Pope for a couple of decades.
But, like usual those that go around and tout how "Christian" they are always seem shocked when someone LIVES like a Christian.
Go get 'em Pope Francis!!
BTW Pope Francis has forced the "Cardinal of the alms" out of his office and on to the streets to help people.
If you are unfamiliar with the post, it has long been a Vatican position, where the poor can come, write, petition the church for a bit of money.
It has been a pretty cushy post and really still is but now the guy actually has to go out and find the poor and slip them some cash.
citation, please - will need for baggers.
DeleteHere's one 7:40-
Deletehttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/10484026/Pope-may-have-snuck-out-at-night-to-give-alms-to-poor-Vatican-hints.html
Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, Stuart Varney, Rush Limbaugh - among many others from the right-wing scream-machine have ALL spoken as though they know more about what Jesus said that does the Pope. They say this Pope is wrong - that Jesus was a capitalist...
ReplyDeleteMark 10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
Mark 10:22 And the rich guy said, oh SHIT, because he had a LOT of cool stuff. (I'm paraphrasing this verse, but the rest are right out of the King James Version of The Bible, I promise...)
Mark 10:23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
Mark 10:24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
Mark 10:25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
further:
1 Timothy 6:9-10 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. :10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
I really, really want Mrs Todd Palin to attack the Pope again since he is the most loved Pope in living history by American Catholics, come on Sarah, go for it. Go for it Sarah, Pope Francis will forgive you, but no American(Or any other country in the world) Catholic will .
ReplyDeleteI think the idiot learned her lesson as to Pope Francis...that is one guy for which she'll not be able to spread her usual bullshit.
DeleteShe knows she'd be crucified by the world Catholics and the media.
Come on Sarah - would love to see all of that negative happen to you. Then you could REALLY be the VICTIM!
Methinks her bosses, the Kochsuckers, told her to lay off.
DeleteOverall, it’s a fairly safe path.
ReplyDeleteI’m a lapsed Lutheran and I like him. My husband is a former Catholic and he likes him. Do I think he will dig deeply into the pederasty mess? No. Whole cultures are based on that garbage, just like murder, and it’s more than one man can correct. I think he’ll do what he can, leading by example.
I love the example Pope Francis is setting. Going out at night in disguise to meet w/the poor.
DeleteIt's going to be interesting seeing how the Church in the USA works w/Pope Francis. I hope to see their positions downplayed - get rid of the pomp and circumstance in Masses, etc. Too much money is displayed in many of the Catholic churches I've been in across the nation. From what the priests, cardinals, etc. wear. Plus, it would be nice to see females hold equal positions within the Church.
You know that story about the stranded man sitting on his roof during a flood waiting for help to come? He prays to God for help to come and three different rescue methods arrive, and he turns them away, because he thinks God will do some great miraculous rescue, and.......asks God why He never came, and, of course, the obvious answer is that he got three chances, man-made of course, and passed the chance.
ReplyDeleteThis whole Obama Administration reminds me of this story. It says in the Bible that God appoints men to leading nations......ok, well, that's what it says. And the forgetful Scrooges attack the man and lo and behold, things are improving, the economy, millions are getting relief and are hopeful, then the Pope talks about reducing greed inequality, and encourages compassion, and foreign leaders have a newfound respect for an American President..............as it were, it appears that the U.S. did gets it's divine rescue and the prophets were went to give it some good advice. But the naysayers refuse to get in the boat.
Nice word sausage, 7:42 AM.
DeleteI think your point is very accurate - word "sausage" or not.
DeleteI love that President and Mrs. Obama got such wonderful greetings (welcoming) from the people of South Africa when they were there. He is liked and respected across the world in spite of what the media and Republicans keep trying to push. He's such a good man and I'm happy I voted for him both times.
ReplyDeletePlus, I like this Pope Francis guy and I'm a fallen-away Catholic! Love that he is making the rich/greedy Americans feel guilty. And/or that he is pissing them off by bringing this issue to the world and most directly at the USA! The true Christian teachings!!
We need to help each other - too many poor out there - and, more being made so by our Congressmen in Washington D.C.
In the next elections be sure and vote out the Republicans whenever possible...across the nation...but, especially in the U.S. Congress - beginning w/McConnell from Kentucky. Hopefully, the money that will be poured into Kentucky, in support of his run, will not overwhelm the voters! I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
I love this Pope.
ReplyDeleteI've said this since he day he was elected and he later walked back to the hotel where he was staying and paid his own bill and carried his own luggage back to the Vatican (where he doesn't live anymore):
ReplyDeleteThe gentleman should hire a food taster.
A Fan From Chicago
I have a 4th or 5th cousin or something twice removed and so on and so on. Anyway he works in the Vatican as a historian, Pope Francis as a large group of good people surrounding him.
DeleteI am an ex-Catholic myself and don't mind saying for the very first time that I simply *adore* Pope Francis!!
ReplyDeleteThere is no greater wealth gap in the world than that between the luxurious life of the Catholic church power brokers and the life and death struggles of MOST of the faithful around the world.
ReplyDeleteThe massive income from the Catholic church's investments makes Pope Francis criticism of the wealth gap look like he's woefully out of touch with reality. After he sells off some of the Vatican treasures to build schools and distribute condoms, he can at least look sincere.
The pretty talk isn't hacking it with me.
Until the man stops the child abuse and the destructive, murderous policies toward women that the church has long had, I listen only partially.
ReplyDelete9:50 I wouldn't be a bit surprised to see him sell off stuff in the Vatican - or, he'll do other things from Rome to provide funds for the poor. Sounds like you don't know his track record 9:50. He is walking the talk and I'll betcha he continues doing it more and more.
ReplyDeleteHe's such a different type Pope that I worry for him in Rome. Hope he'll be carefully protected. Many Catholics (the rich ones across the USA) are not liking the stand he is taking and I'm sure many cardinals, etc. within the Church are not happy with him.
He is a 'true' Christian - no doubt about it. Not like so many that say they are and don't walk the walk or live a life like their 'book' teaches...case in point and head of the list would be Sarah Palin (the biggest fraud on this earth!).
A 'true' Christian that excludes women from positions of power. Yep, I can see why 10:33 likes Pope Francis.
DeleteThe biggest thing Pope Francis can do for humanity is have it preached from every pulpit that condoms save lives. Wouldn't cost the Catholic church a single penny.
ReplyDeleteI was born and bred a Catholic. I stepped away from the church a while ago, disenchanted with the hardcore beliefs. I LOVE this guy. As someone mentioned above, I "adore" this man. Pope Francis is truly trying to do good. I think he is genuine. Does the Catholic church have a very long way to go? Absolutely? Not be hackneyed, but was Rome built in a day? He is one man, albeit, with a bit of power behind his punch. But I think he is honest and true and will do what he can with what he's got. Just my humble opinion.
ReplyDelete