Words from Pope Francis
"The existing financial system that fuels the unequal
distribution of wealth and violence must be changed, the Pope warned.
"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?" Pope Francis asked an audience at the Vatican.
The global economic crisis, which has gripped much of Europe
and America, has the Pope asking how countries can function, or realize their
full economic potential, if they are weighed down by the debts of capitalism.
“A new tyranny is thus born, invisible and often virtual,
which unilaterally and relentlessly imposes its own laws and rules,” the
84-page document, known as an apostolic exhortation, said.
"To all this we can add widespread corruption and
self-serving tax evasion, which has taken on worldwide dimensions. The thirst
for power and possessions knows no limits", the pope’s document says.
He goes on to explain that in this system, which tends to
devour everything which stands in the way of increased profits, whatever is
fragile, like the environment, is defenseless before the interests of a deified
market, which has become the only rule we live by."
I know some of my conservative friends, who think one being
asked to give some of what they have worked to earn (although many of the rich
don't work, their investments just roll along feeding their bank accounts) to
help and support others is wrong, will not like this.
They support
thei attitude by suggesting the poor "don't deserve" such help, that
they are lazy, drug addicted, "moochers". I agree some do take advantage of programs
that support them. But most don't. And it doesn't really matter. Once wealth and power are deified, we are way
out of line, in terms of what the Sacred has illustrated as "the way"
in the person of Jesus.
Any country, any culture that goes this way will die, not
because the Sacred will make that happen, but because such a lust for wealth
and power always destroys.
No comments:
Post a Comment