Pope attacks global economy for worshipping 'god of money'

[adirondacker]

Source: NBC News

By Philip Pullella, Reuters

CAGLIARI, Sardinia — Pope Francis made one of his strongest attacks on the global economic system on Sunday, saying it could no longer be based on a "god called money" and urged the unemployed to fight for work.

Francis, at the start of a day-long trip to the Sardinian capital, Cagliari, put aside his prepared text at a meeting with unemployed workers, including miners in hard hats who told him of their situation, and improvised for nearly 20 minutes.

"I find suffering here ... It weakens you and robs you of hope," he said. "Excuse me if I use strong words, but where there is no work there is no dignity."

snip

Francis said globalization had brought with it a culture where the weakest in society suffered the most and often, those on the fringes "fall away", including the elderly, who he said were victims of a "hidden euthanasia" caused by neglect of those no longer considered productive.

"To defend this economic culture, a throwaway culture has been installed. We throw away grandparents, and we throw away young people. We have to say no to his throwaway culture. We want a just system that helps everyone," he said.


Read more: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/09/22/20638292-pope-attacks-global-economy-for-worshipping-god-of-money?lite

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I have to give him credit for speaking the truth on this issue.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

1. Sell the gold throne. nt

[adirondacker]

3. I'm thinking that there are a fair number on Wall Street that would love to have that in their

vacation home.

[Posteritatis]

10. 'Cause that'll magically end all the problems. (nt)

[Bernardo de La Paz]

14. No. Not all. duh. But it will help some problems and get in tune with Christian theology. nt

[Posteritatis]

20. Precisely what problem would that solve? (nt)

[Bernardo de La Paz]

21. Some people would get fed fish or could be taught to fish or both.

Aligning the church more with christian charitable theology would make it less hypocritical and more morally persuasive.

[Plucketeer]

51. I agree 100%

The BEST way to lead is by example - not by glitz and spectacle. Does the church really NEED it's own COUNTRY to have substance and meaning??? Sell it all. All but what the pope needs to live day-to-day. Hell, I might even get religion!

[Ztolkins]

57. I think it has more to do with credibility of the message

It's hard to take him seriously knowing how well those at the Vatican live, particularly the pope

[Posteritatis]

58. The same pope who's still living in a hotel and just bought a used car older than I am.. (nt)

[elleng]

50. Thanks

[Beacool]

22. In case you haven't noticed, he doesn't use one.

During public audiences he sits on a white chair.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

23. All the more reason to sell the one he owns.

White chair, hunh?



It's progress, but I haven't heard it being put up for sale yet.

[Beacool]

27. HE doesn't own anything.

That suggestion is as silly as if someone said that Obama should sell the Resolute desk. It's not his to sell.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

30. Pope controls it. It is as effective as owning it. If he said sell, would it not be sold? nt

Last edited Sun Sep 22, 2013, 06:04 PM - Edit history (1)

(on edit, clarified to mean the Pope)

[rpannier]

63. Actually he doesn't

Most Church property is owned by the Church and selling the property requires more than a wave of his hand to make it happen.
As people who have follow the Church have noted, "There are restrictions on his power."
You're kidding yourself if you think he can just get rid of it.

[roguevalley]

35. he probably will sell it. I will take my allies where I can

no matter if he doesn't go all the way to all conclusions that I wish, he will stick a knife in a lot of terrible things.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

36. He has been impressive some times so far. nt

[AlbertCat]

2. That's rich!

As rich as the Catholic church...

[pscot]

4. Has the Catholic church accidentally

installed a holy man in the papacy? Strange doings.

[adirondacker]

5. Pretty good timing with the TPP. One can argue against it with the blessing of the Pope! nt

[Enthusiast]

60. It was an oversight.

[Major Nikon]

6. At least that god pays cash instead of an unverifyable promissory note

The Catholic Church makes a big deal about advertising how much they help the poor. What they don't tell you is how very little of their budget goes to that end.

The Economist estimates that annual spending by the church and entities owned by the church was around $170 billion in 2010 (the church does not release such figures). We think 57% of this goes on health-care networks, followed by 28% on colleges, with parish and diocesan day-to-day operations accounting for just 6% and national charitable activities just 2.7% (see chart)

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2012/08/17/the-economist-estimates-the-catholic-church-spent-171600000000-in-2010/

[ForgoTheConsequence]

7. Why ignore everything else?

I was raised lower middle class (on the verge of poor) and I'm receiving a Jesuit education at a cost less than a state school and with a core emphasis on Social Justice. That being said I'm the most marginal of Christians but I do see members of the Catholic faith doing extraordinary things in the community. Do I think as an organization the church is hypocritical? sure, but reform takes time.

[Major Nikon]

12. I don't ignore everything else

In Same-Sex Marriage Fight, Catholic Church Gives More Than $1 Million, Human Rights Campaign Reports

Continuing its efforts to fight same-sex marriage in four ballot measures around the United States, the Catholic Church is now the top donor to the cause among religious institutions, according to a new report from the Human Rights Campaign.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/17/marriage-catholic-church-donations-hrc_n_1975130.html

[adirondacker]

8. I'd love to see the breakdown of other religious organizations for a comparison.

Are there any that you can tout as being the most charitable?

I'm Atheist btw.

[Major Nikon]

11. Churches don't release their financial information

So it's pretty hard to find anything other than estimates.

A study co-written by Cragun and recently published in Free Inquiry estimates that the Mormon Church donates only about 0.7 percent of its annual income to charity; the United Methodist Church gives about 29 percent.

http://www.businessweek.com/printer/articles/62364-how-the-mormons-make-money

[adirondacker]

19. Garrison Keiler was praising the pope on Prairie Home Companion and joked he may be swayed

over to the Catholic Church if this kept up.

[hrmjustin]

28. I believ the Episcopal Church is required to release our info.

[Cal33]

34. This is exactly what Pope Francis is doing his best to change. He has been in office

about 6 months and has already done a lot. Give him time, and he'll get
more done. Don't blame Pope Francis for the errors of past popes. He
inherited them.

[Major Nikon]

48. Just gotta have faith then, yes?

I have yet to see any evidence of reform other than lip service from a massive religious conglomerate which has a serious image problem and declining membership. When we actually see it, then I'll give him credit. Until then it's just more of the same with a little polish on the rough edges.

[Cal33]

80. This pope is a little different. He is also trying to influence people through example. F.i., he

doesn't live in the pope's palace. He chose to live in more humble quarters. Some say he still cooks his own meals. Like I said, 6 months is an awfully short time to make even a dent in a huge, cumbersome
2000-year-old institution like the Catholic Church.

[Major Nikon]

81. I've noticed

But the Catholic church has a serious image problem right now so this may simply be lip service. Historically the Catholic Church has been very good at managing their image. Mother Teresa was basically a manufactured saint. It's hard to believe many of the others weren't as well.

[Major Nikon]

82. Maybe not so much

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/24/pope-francis-excommunicates-priest-greg-reynolds_n_3983059.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/25/catholic-military-chaplains-gay_n_3989043.html

[pnwmom]

42. The health care networks and universities are non-profits open to non-Catholics,

so they should be added in with the other charitable activities.

[Major Nikon]

46. It already was

Furthermore Catholic hospitals often provide the minimum charitable care required to retain tax exempt status(3%). Some have had their tax exempt status stripped because they didn't provide enough. Peacehealth (one of the largest Catholic health care groups) reported 3.4% of it's revenue went to charity.
http://catholicwatch.org/who-funds-charity-care-within-catholic-hospitals/

[pnwmom]

53. And the rest of its revenue went to COSTS, since it is a non-profit. nt

[DeSwiss]

55. COSTS = Lawyer's Expenses

- And more lawyer's expenses.

[pnwmom]

56. Hospitals and universities spend the greatest part of their budget

on staff, with the bulk of the rest going to the physical plant and supplies.

[Major Nikon]

59. So the very best you can say is it's a charity with 97% overhead

And part of the "costs" include paying lawsuits for covering up kid diddling, sending priests on sabbaticals to countries with lax child rape enforcement, really cool golden thrones, and accumulating real estate & priceless artworks on a massive scale.

For this they get blanket government subsidies in the form of tax exclusions and direct grants. I'd just as soon give Jerry Jones a blanket tax exemption. At least the Sunday show he puts on doesn't put you to sleep.

[pnwmom]

65. None of the costs you list are borne by hospitals and universities,

which don't share their revenues with the larger church. Their revenues go only to maintaining the specific medical center or university.

The actual providing of medical care or education doesn't fall under the category of administrative costs. It falls under the category of the delivery of a "service."

[rocktivity]

9. The Pope complaining about global accumulated wealth

Last edited Mon Sep 23, 2013, 09:56 AM - Edit history (1)

is like Hugh Hefner complaining about sexual harassment.


rocktivity

[Major Nikon]

15. They are trying to correct their image problem. Just look at the new pope throne...

[Deep13]

40. Yup, that's an improvement. nt

[Shampoobra]

16. I like this pope, but...

that was funny.

[rpannier]

64. And you wonder why we're never able to move forward with policies that benefit the masses

Try looking at the picture long range instead of making snide comments

[rocktivity]

70. But long-range accumulation of global weatlth

is EXACTLY what has made The Vatican The Vatican.


rocktivity

[Arugula Latte]

13. ... said the head of Plunder Incorporated.

[abelenkpe]

17. Interesting

Have a pretty jaded opinion of the church, but find myself really liking this new pope so far.

[Liberalynn]

68. Same here

[thesquanderer]

18. But we put God's name on our money. So it must be okay. (n/t)

[gopiscrap]

24. I agree with him

[The Wizard]

25. According to teabagger "Christians"

the Pope is wrong. For them it's profits over people.

[adirondacker]

26. I'm hoping this will suck some of the wind out of their sails. nt

[Liberalynn]

69. Some of my cousins are still very devout Catholics who are also

Pukes. I am wondering if now "Papa" says "greed is not good" whether they will start singing a new tune? Will they become more charitable and less judgmental only time will tell.

I am an ex Catholic who believes in God, I just no longer personally believe in belonging to an organized religion.

[Arugula Latte]

29. "We want a just system that helps everyone-except women and gays. They're still 2nd class citizens."

[adirondacker]

32. I can understand your disdain for the Catholic stance on the LGBT community along with

their stances against abortion. The hypocrisy of the church actually made me question religion altogether.

That said, I think that the Pope deserves credit when he steers his flock in the correct direction on major issues. (and scorned when he doesn't) Same goes for the President.

[PatrynXX]

31. Thats the old one thinking here

It used to be a no no of thou shalt not put any other gods above me. ie Money. of late that doesn't seem to apply. but hence Robin Hood (Kevin Costner loading up the priest with gold and kicking him out the window

[Le Taz Hot]

33. As one who has always rejected religion

and, in particular, the Catholic Church because of their culpability in Prop. H8 in CA, I have to hand it to this Pope and see him as a possibly important ally in the fight against the multi-nationals and uber-wealthy.

[roguevalley]

37. I agree Le Taz Hot. An unlikely confluence of forces seem to be

slowly coming together. I will take what I can get and hope together then add up to enough.

[MisterP]

77. IIRC, their last real fling with capitalism per se ended up with their banker dangling from a bridge

[RandySF]

38. Then sell the gold. n/t

[Deep13]

39. And yet he's right.

The way the global economy works causes people to suffer and, as a side note, destroys the environment.

[Bigredhunk]

41. Somewhere Joel Osteen's Head Is Exploding

God wants you to be rich!

[alcibiades_mystery]

43. Poor Rick Santorum...what to do, what to do...

[adirondacker]

44. Good catch! Hard to believe he shares the same religion as JFK did. nt

[Ken Burch]

49. Maybe he'll get confused and go Episcopalian!

:evil grin:

[valerief]

45. Pot, meet kettle. nt

[Ken Burch]

47. I continue to like this guy!

He'll probably let me down at some point, but it's a huge breath of fresh air at the moment.

[Hydra]

66. He may let us down, but he's certainly rocking the boat

I don't think they were expecting what they got here. He's certainly not as left as me, but he's espousing principles that resonated with me when I went to church as a kid(yes, Catholic). More Jesus, less old testament...but I do love the Old Testament screed against the golden calf(bull). Just as relevant now as back then.

[devils chaplain]

52. The Catholic Church is an ancient, slow-moving, behemoth of an institution...

And the way this new Pope has been nudging things is very significant. To belittle it for being very out-of-step with the times is to miss the fact that it's actually drifting in the same direction as the times at all.

[jzodda]

54. This is the first Pope I like. First he says stop harping on Gays and abortion. Now this!

He better watch out. Going after the money is a dangerous occupation. Somebody may try to take him out.

[fujiyama]

61. I honestly fear for this guy's life...

I think there are many Cardinals feeling extremely squeamish about this guy, especially in the US.

[bucolic_frolic]

62. So I don't have to contribute to the mortgage on my corporate built church?

Because attending Church is a corporate endeavor these days

The Church abandons and sells churches in the inner cities

and builds palatial cookie cutter churches amidst the corporate
homebuilder developments, gobbling up farmland in the process
and devouring the finest wood for construction

Then church members drive to church in their deluxe SUV
crossovers and write checks with a payment book stub for the
collection plate while the priest asks for donations for the
mortgage on the church enclave

I know the local churches do a lot of good - food banks, schools
with discipline - but it's not exactly a model of poverty and humility

[lunasun]

76. truth ^

[olddad56]

71. I'm not a catholic, but Pope Francis is the only Pope that has ever made any sense to me.

At least he isn't just toeing the party line. He has the courage to speak out and he has a stance on important issues that I can appreciate.

Now if he can just get the priests to stop fondling the little boys, then maybe they could donate the billions they save in lawsuits and legal fees to help feed the starving.

[windsormich19454]

72. He really should take his own advice

If he's genuinely concerned about the world's less fortunate, he should give away a great deal of his immense wealth. Oh, and while he's at it, he should really do something about the issue of his fellow bishops diddling with little kids. Otherwise, this is a perfect example of the pot calling the kettle black.

Not that I believe anything that comes out of this man's mouth to begin with.

[BainsBane]

73. How do you know he has personal wealth?

I've never heard that alleged. If you are referring to the Vatican, that's not his wealth.

[gopiscrap]

74. welcome to DU

[Arugula Latte]

75. Welcome to DU, windsormich!

And you make a good point. The papal apologists around here are pretty thick these days. Meanwhile the Church still stomps its many victims into the dust.

[madrchsod]

78. his vast wealth? i didn't know the pope made that much money.

[TomCADem]

79. It Is Refreshing to Have A Pope Refer To The Gospel

The New Testament does not dwell on or discuss abortion or gay marriage, yet that has been the focus of the Catholic church in modern times. Ironically, little mention is made by the clergy of Jesus upsetting the tables of the money lenders in the Temple.