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Title: Pope Francis attacks 'throw-away' economic globalization
Source:
Reuters
URL Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015 ... -economy-idUSKBN0LW0NZ20150228
Published: Feb 28, 2015
Author: James Mackenzie
Post Date: 2015-02-28 13:54:03 by Willie Green
Keywords: globalization
Views: 16130
Comments: 66
(Reuters) - Pope Francis launched a fresh attack on economic injustice on Saturday, condemning the "throw-away culture" of globalization and calling for new ways of thinking about poverty, welfare, employment and society. In a speech to the association of Italian cooperative movements, he pointed to the "dizzying rise in unemployment" and the problems that existing welfare systems had in meeting healthcare needs. For those living "at the existential margins" the current social and political system "seems fatally destined to suffocate hope and increase risks and threats," he said. The Argentinian-born pope, who has often criticized orthodox market economics for fostering unfairness and inequality, said people were forced to work long hours, sometimes in the black economy, for a few hundred euros a month because they were seen as easily replaceable. "'You don't like it? Go home then'. What can you do in a world that works like this? Because there's a queue of people looking for work. If you don't like it, someone else will," he said in an unscripted change from the text of his speech. "It's hunger, hunger that makes us accept what they give us," he said. His remarks have a special resonance in Italy, where unemployment, particularly among young people, is running at record levels after years of economic recession. The cooperative movement in Italy, whose roots go back to 19th century workers' associations, have long had close ties to the Catholic Church, with credit services, agricultural and building co-ops forming an important part of the overall economy. Pope Francis said they could help find new models and methods that could be an alternative model to the "throw-away culture created by the powers that control the economic and financial policies of the globalized world." Perhaps mindful of a wide-ranging corruption scandal linked to some cooperatives in Rome last year, he attacked those who "prostitute the cooperative name". But his overall message was that economic rationale had to be secondary to the wider needs of human society. "When money becomes an idol, it commands the choices of man. And thus it ruins man and condemns him. It makes him a slave," he said. "Money at the service of life can be managed in the right way by cooperatives, on condition that it is a real cooperative where capital does not have command over men but men over capital," he said.
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#5. To: Willie Green (#0)
I have begun to think this pope is the one that will finally destroy Roman Catholicism. Obviously a low-grade choice. He won't make one big mistake, IMO. The papacy is more likely to die a death by a thousand cuts.
Nah. He's just stating the old doctrines in a refreshing new way. The gates of Hell will not prevail against the Church, and Francis is one of the good guys.
He quoted his namesake, St Francis of Assisi, in calling money the “devil’s dung,” according to Vatican Radio. “When money becomes an idol, it controls man’s choices,” he added. “It makes him a slave.” This is far from the first time the Pope has addressed the condition of the working class in the globalized world; in a speech at the U.N. last year, the Pope asked world leaders to redistribute wealth. But won't redistribution of wealth via the UN actually be a way to drown the poor in this vile devil's dung that Francis has so much of personally? The Vatican is a hoard of looting. Maybe Francis should redistribute his own hoard before he lectures others.
Touche. But perhaps the Vatican needs a bit of a war chest just in case all of the molestaion cases haven't be yet settled?
Yeah but I don't find that in scripture either. Nor among the writings of the ancient church fathers. They did speak of and admire voluntary holy poverty quite often. There is no personal spiritual merit involved if people give to the poor at gunpoint. At least, not judging by the scripture and writings of the early churches.
2 Corinthians 9:6-7 English Standard Version (ESV) 6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Well, we of course think of various portions of scripture when we think of Christian charity. To me, it would bring to mind the parable of the widow giving her last coins for the poor in Luke 21: 2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. 3 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: 4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had. Jesus spoke directly of this at other times as well. And one can find accounts among the ancient fathers of wealthy Romans who became members of the early Christian churches and sold off their wealth to donate to the poor. But the popes pay no attention to what Jesus found praiseworthy and even obligatory in those who claim to follow Him. And it is the responsibility of a real Church to set an example on its priorities of charity over hoarding treasures. I find nothing in scripture to commend the notion of building shrines filled with art treasures to attract a big traffic in lucrative The pope commands charity for others but exempts his own vast holdings of treasure from any such redistribution. You aren't supposed to mention what a hypocrite he is to want to hold his hundreds of billions in Vatican assets while demanding that all others should be forced to redistribute their wealth. A tycoon in a dress, preaching poverty but only for others. A poverty pimp in red Prada shoes.
Wow Sunday evening and a very active LF. Over 15 pings to look at. But I digress. I think as we walk with the Lord we see need and are confronted with His Holy standard on giving. That has been my experience.
It's hard to fault your view in any way. Scripture does exalt an inward dwelling Spirit and a willing heart. That said, I don't back down one iota on my all-too-brief observations of the exhortations by and examples of holy charity by Jesus, by His disciples, and by the early church fathers and some well-known accounts of charity by early Roman Christians. (Like Thecla.) : ) There was at least one other account of widespread fame of a young noble Roman couple, fabulously wealthy, who did give up all their possessions in an act of holy charity. I can't recall their names at the moment.
#58. To: TooConservative (#57)
So basically the Pope needs to put up or shut up?:) I think I see the point now:) $how me the money Frankie!
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#7. To: TooConservative (#5)
I have begun to think this pope is the one that will finally destroy Roman Catholicism.
#24. To: Vicomte13 (#7)
#26. To: TooConservative, Vicomte13 (#24)
The Vatican is a hoard of looting. Maybe Francis should redistribute his own hoard before he lectures others.
#33. To: SOSO, Pericles, redleghunter (#26)
Touche. But perhaps the Vatican needs a bit of a war chest just in case all of the molestaion cases haven't be yet settled?
#37. To: TooConservative (#33)
#45. To: redleghunter, Vicomte13, A Pole, A K A Stone (#37)
6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
21 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. tourists pilgrims. 
#56. To: TooConservative, A K A Stone, GarySpFc, liberator (#45)
#57. To: redleghunter (#56)
I think as we walk with the Lord we see need and are confronted with His Holy standard on giving. That has been my experience.
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