Pope criticizes "savage capitalism" in visit to food kitchen

[Enrique]

Last edited Tue May 21, 2013, 06:38 PM - Edit history (2)

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - Pope Francis criticized what he called "savage capitalism" on a visit to a food kitchen on Tuesday, in an address in which he called for the values of generosity and charity to be revived.

"A savage capitalism has taught the logic of profit at any cost, of giving in order to get, of exploitation without thinking of people... and we see the results in the crisis we are experiencing," the pope said.

Francis greeted the men and women coming to the 'Gift of Maria' food kitchen, located at the walls of the Vatican.

The first non-European pontiff in centuries, the Argentine-born pope last week called for financial reform, condemning a "dictatorship of the economy" and a "cult of money".

Francis has set a simpler style for the papacy since taking office in March, shunning traditional ornate garments and living in a guest house instead of the Apostolic Palace. He has said he wants the 1.2-billion-member Catholic Church to defend the poor and to be more austere itself.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/05/21/us-pope-capitalism-idUSBRE94K12K20130521

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edit: my take on this is not whether the Pope is a good guy or a bad guy. It's how this affects the debate. Rick Santorum brings up his faith during his next campaign, or Newt Gingrich, a reporter can ask them what they think of the Pope's comments about capitalism. Are you with the Kochs or the Pope? edit: how could I forget, Paul Ryan?

[JI7]

1. i like it when he attacks this

[The Magistrate]

2. When He Starts Ordering Denials Of Sacraments And Excommunications, Sir

His talk about this sort of thing will matter.

[atreides1]

5. Good point

He talks the talk, but can he walk the walk?

[Enrique]

8. i think it matters now

i personally don't see the connection between sacraments and excommunications and his critique of capitalism, and I doubt many people listening to him see such a connection. Also, he claims to be instituting reforms in the church bank. I do see that as relevant to what he said earlier about the need for reform in banks generally.

[The Magistrate]

19. So Long As Such Are Threatened In Regard To Abortion Or Marriage Equality, Sir

It definitely matters if statements like this are backed up with action or not. Action is the test of sincerity and commitment. If he allows bishops to threaten religious sanctions in these sexual matters, and does not see to religious sanctions being brought to bear on Catholics who abuse and exploit workers and the poor, then people are free to draw the conclusion, and correct to draw the conclusion, that he has no real concern over anything but sexual matters, and simply makes politic noise in other directions. I care little for a cleric's noise.

"Don't watch the mouth, watch the hands."

[cprise]

36. Agreed... "Savage reproduction at any cost"

is just as harmful to humanity and the environment as savage capitalism. In fact, the former feeds the latter by acting as a guaranteed supply of desperate, compliant labor.

Its no accident that South Americans--particularly women-- have been leaving the Catholic church in droves and now we get a South American Pope. More than any other issue, these women refuse to be compliant baby-makers with no career prospects.

[treestar]

22. That's not how the church works

Or any church. Isn't the Catholic church already authoritarian enough? But the right to receive a sacrament is not determined, in the Catholic Church, by an political view. Remember when some bishop said he would not give communion to John Kerry or Joe Biden?

[The Magistrate]

41. Exactly, Ma'am, And That Is The Measure Of Concern

The barring from sacraments is not a political question, not determined by a political view, but by a moral measure, by a claim that a person is doing something in violation of doctrine, committing an egregious sin, which renders him or her unfit for receiving a sacrament. Catholic clergy in authority take the matters of abortion and homosexuals' rights seriously enough to regard disagreement with them as sin; until disagreement with them on questions of exploiting workers and the poor is treated with similar seriousness, treated as sin, then it is clear that they take sexual matters far more seriously than they take actual injury to poor and working people. No matter how much talk about 'social justice' or 'concern for the poor' they may mouth, this will remain the case, until Catholic business owners are threatened with denial of sacraments or excommunication for paying starvation wages and maintaining dangerous workplaces and the like. Unless backed by action, talk is worthless.

[get the red out]

3. He's right

I hope he can sway some people into realizing how true this is.

[vt_native]

4. A little early to be goin' off the Rez...

Don't 'cha think?

[rurallib]

6. he's the top dude - doesn't he define the rez?

[newfie11]

7. +1

[bvar22]

20. He IS the "Top Dude",

AND,
he is infallible to boot!

[rurallib]

21. so if he be infallible, the rez is where he says it is!

[Cal33]

29. It doesn't look like either of you really understand what "infallibility of the pope" is all about.

It is very limited in scope.

[bvar22]

44. "It is very limited in scope."

Thats exactly what my Proctologist said, before....

[Posteritatis]

37. I really wish people would at least *pretend* to know how papal infallibility works. Ugh. (nt)

[bvar22]

40. Lighten Up.

That's the problem with fundamentalists:
No sense of humor, and take everything personally.
Get a hobby or something.

[Myrina]

43. +10

[Posteritatis]

45. Please, continue to explain to me what my religious views are. (nt)

[Javaman]

9. Oh really? how's the vatican bank doing these days? nt

[silverweb]

10. I like this Pope.

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]I don't believe the fairytales anymore and I still vehemently disagree with many of the Church's positions, particularly on women and reproductive issues.

So far, however, Francis is being true to his namesake from Assisi and true to the gospels, and that heartens me greatly.

[colorado_ufo]

14. Amen.

[juajen]

39. I agree. The air is fresher.

[Zoeisright]

11. So?

What's he going to do about it? Going to part with some of the Vatican's billions and gold to help the poor?

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

12. Time will tell.

[Judi Lynn]

13. Good, good news. Thank you. n/t

[Skittles]

15. oh please

an insane aversion to birth control contributes to poverty too

[WillyT]

17. Now Skittles... Don't Go Kickin' Papal Ass...

[ZRT2209]

16. you go, Pope!

[Plucketeer]

18. When he starts wading into the deepest, darkest backwaters of the disenfranchised

That's when I'll raise an eyebrow. Example is more inspiring than dictates.

[calimary]

23. Point well taken. But at least it's a start.

I rather like the term "savage capitalism." I hope it's a slogan that sticks.

[bvar22]

24. Definately an improvement over the last guy.

"Change" begins with raising consciousness, and , of course, he IS 100% correct in his assessment of unregulated Capitalism.
You won't be hearing any "leaders" in the Western World telling that truth.

The new Pope reminds me of one this guy:

[font size=3]"The worst enemy of humanity is U.S. capitalism. That is what provokes uprisings like our own, a rebellion against a system, against a neoliberal model, which is the representation of a savage capitalism. If the entire world doesn't acknowledge this reality, that nation states are not providing even minimally for health, education and nourishment, then each day the most fundamental human rights are being violated."[/font]
----Bolivian Reform President Evo Morales

That sounds "extreme" today,
but it wasn't not too long ago.
FDR said much the same thing in his Economic Bill of Rights.
There IS precedent HERE for this kind of movement.

[Skeeter Barnes]

25. How dare he criticize our national religion?

[Enrique]

26. not an exaggeration imho

just think, could an American politician even say "savage capitalism?" Doubtful, that would be blasphemy.

[Skeeter Barnes]

27. I don't think you're even supposed to say it here.

[dkf]

28. He would be better off showing the generosity of a very rich church.

Than criticizing.

[demosincebirth]

30. Like how?

[dkf]

31. Wow...how many ways can you help people in need?

It's unlimited! How does the church lecture on greed when their net worth is ungodly large. It's larger than most capitalist entities.

[Beacool]

33. You do realize that the Catholic Church is basically the largest NGO in the world, right?

[dkf]

34. And rich rich rich rich.

Which means they can do more more more.

[Beacool]

32. I like this Pope and I wish him a long life.

John Paul I didn't live too long.

[Amonester]

35. I doubt any contemporary reporter will ever think of asking him such a question.

Too much thinking required.

[socialist_n_TN]

38. Well, I can make a united front with Liberation Theology....

on some issues. Now, make the Church anti-capitalist and we'll talk.

[Walk away]

42. I'll be impressed by this "Puppet Pope" when he starts changing the rules and telling the truth...

out loud, about the criminals, extortionists and pedophiles that have been running his organization. Name names and quit puling about corporations that the church most likely has investments in. Open your stinking coffers and take care of the poor without shoving your backward ideas down their throats. A church that tells the poor that condoms cause aids while it claims to be "helping" them is disgusting.