Pope Francis’s stinging critique of capitalism

[safeinOhio]

Since Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio became Pope Francis in March, the new pontiff has made headlines around the world for his emphasis on social and economic equality. The first major document of his papacy, released today, is no different. Though framed as a call for Catholics to embrace a new evangelization, much of “Evangelii Gaudium” is relevant to both Catholics and non-Catholics — especially the pope’s stinging critique of the unequal economy that we live in. He writes:

Just as the commandment “Thou shalt not kill” sets a clear limit in order to safeguard the value of human life, today we also have to say “thou shalt not” to an economy of exclusion and inequality. Such an economy kills. How can it be that it is not a news item when an elderly homeless person dies of exposure, but it is news when the stock market loses two points? This is a case of exclusion. Can we continue to stand by when food is thrown away while people are starving? This is a case of inequality. Today everything comes under the laws of competition and the survival of the fittest, where the powerful feed upon the powerless. As a consequence, masses of people find themselves excluded and marginalized: without work, without possibilities, without any means of escape.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2013/11/26/pope-franciss-stinging-critique-of-capitalism/

[msongs]

1. so has the pope stopped taking collections from poor people to support his wealthy church?

[mr blur]

2. Well, I hear he's going to sell all the wonderful treasures in the Vatican, go to India,

and give some of the money to the millions of starving, sick people that Mother Teresa failed to actually help but used as a great PR resource.

Oh, I made that up.

[cbayer]

3. There are a few issues on which he is solidly correct.

And this is one of them.

I think his stands on poverty and climate change are going to game changing, even if he position on others issues takes a big step backwards.

[AtheistCrusader]

4. Meanwhile he's the leader of the single wealthiest private organization on the planet.

[edhopper]

5. Who lives better

CEOs or Cardinals?

http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2014/08/us/american-archbishops-lavish-homes/