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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: 12379
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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Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 32.
#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.
I think Francis will be the end of Rome. It's already over in Europe. The U.S. is catching up. And that will leave Rome with South America, parts of Africa and some outposts in Asia.
Globalization has done great harm.
Christianity, being a Jewish sect in its early years, naturally inherits the obligation to help the poor, always considered a religious obligation of any Jew. I don't see anything in scripture that tells us to eliminate poverty by redistribution. This is where Rome converts from authentic Jewish and Christian traditions on charity to embrace Marxist dogma. What part of the scriptures that tell Christians not to store up treasures on earth but in heaven does not ring true to this pope? The examples of scripture are of Christians who sell their own belongings to give to the poor, not hoard a bunch of religious artifacts and art to create shrines to which the rubes will go on pilgrimage. Places like the Vatican. The pope should follow the biblical example, not lecture on economic justice and pander to Marxists. Let the pope sell off his art collection and treasures. Then he can lecture us.
#36. To: TooConservative (#32)
I don't see anything in scripture that tells us to eliminate poverty by redistribution. This is where Rome converts from authentic Jewish and Christian traditions on charity to embrace Marxist dogma. What part of the scriptures that tell Christians not to store up treasures on earth but in heaven does not ring true to this pope? The examples of scripture are of Christians who sell their own belongings to give to the poor, not hoard a bunch of religious artifacts and art to create shrines to which the rubes will go on pilgrimage. Places like the Vatican. The pope should follow the biblical example, not lecture on economic justice and pander to Marxists. Let the pope sell off his art collection and treasures. Then he can lecture us. Agree 100% with your assessment. And Hollywood has addressed such a notion. I am reminded of this movie: The Shoes of the Fisherman
In Genesis 41:33-36, God via Joseph gives his advice to Pharaoh to tax and then spend and subsidize the economy in times of recession: ‘Now therefore, let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, to collect one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven plentiful years. And let them gather all the food of those good years that are coming, and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. Then that food shall be as a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine which shall be in the land of Egypt, that the land may not perish during the famine.’ In Ex 23:10-11, Lev 25:5-7 God is pro government regulation of industry basically halting commerce for the sake of society. In Deut 15:1-6 and Deut 15:3 from Deut 15:7-11 the Scriptures teach a cancelling of outstanding debt and not just an annulment of the interest on the debt. Jesus was pro taxes: In Matthew 17:24-27 we learn that Jesus did indeed pay taxes: “After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?” “Yes, he does,” he replied.” In Matthew 22:15-22 we read: “Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away. (NIV)” This same incident is also recorded in Mark 12:13-17 and Luke 20:20-26. So the gospels leave no doubt that Jesus taught his followers not only in words, but by example, to give to the government any taxes that are owed. In Romans 13:1, Paul brings further clarification to this concept, along with an even broader responsibility to Christians: “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” (NIV) Therefore, we can conclude from this verse, if we don’t pay taxes we are rebelling against the authorities established by God. Romans 13:2 gives this warning: “Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” And finally, regarding the paying of taxes, Paul couldn’t make it any clearer in Romans 13:5-7: “Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.” Jesus was against capitalist banking (Matthew 21:12): Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. Jesus is against markets: John 2:16 “To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market!” Jesus warns the rich against hoarding their money and for giving away their money to the poor: Mark 10:17-25. Warning to Rich Oppressors “Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of [feasting]. You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.”: James 5:1-6 (New International Version)
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#7. To: TooConservative (#5)
I have begun to think this pope is the one that will finally destroy Roman Catholicism.
#20. To: Vicomte13 (#7)
Nah. He's just stating the old doctrines in a refreshing new way.
#30. To: TooConservative, Vicomte13 (#20)
#32. To: Pericles, redleghunter (#30)
(Edited)
Globalization has done great harm.
Replies to Comment # 32. Christianity, being a Jewish sect in its early years, naturally inherits the obligation to help the poor, always considered a religious obligation of any Jew.
#48. To: TooConservative (#32)
I don't see anything in scripture that tells us to eliminate poverty by redistribution.
End Trace Mode for Comment # 32.
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