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Olde Tyme Religion
Pope attacks global economics for worshipping 'god of money'
2013-09-23
[CA.NEWS.YAHOO] 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.
Money is a marker, representing an exchange of value, goods or services for goods or services. It's neither intrinsically good or evil. It was invented to facilitate trade, sometime prior to Gilgamesh. He's the Pope. He's supposed to know things like that.
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."

He discarded his prepared speech after listening to Francesco Mattana, a 45-year-old married father of three who lost his job with an alternative energy company four years ago.

Mattana, his voice trembling, told the pope that unemployment "oppresses you and wears you out to the depths of your soul".
Posted by:Fred

#10  "Pope attacks global economics for worshipping 'god of money'"

Seems to me you could worship your God just as well in sackcloth and ashes as in your fine raiments, Francis. Or even jeans and a T-shirt.

Think of all the poor people you could feed if you sold all that stuff in the Vatican. Do it For The Children.™

But you won't.

Why does the Biblical passage about the mote and the log come to mind?
Posted by: Barbara   2013-09-23 19:24  

#9  It used to be, you didn't work, you went hungry and slept rough. The "division of labor" changed all that by dividing those who aren't afraid of sweat from the rest. Then the schools got on board with "self esteem," i.e. "you have a right to $150.00 a pair basketball shoes even though you are illiterate and have never worked a single moment in your life." Then, politicians figured out "redistribution" could buy them votes and help them keep their cushy gigs. That's the short version of how we got here.
Posted by: M. Murcek   2013-09-23 09:34  

#8  Shortage of Employment?

Maybe the state should stop fining people for being employed and fining companies for employing people.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles   2013-09-23 09:15  

#7  St. Francis of Assisi to the courtesy phone.

...and urged the unemployed to fight for work.

Obviously the Pope hasn't spent a lot of time in America where the unemployed fight/vote for more benefits not work.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2013-09-23 08:50  

#6  Just how much Money does the Church require, and how much is wasted, not nothing, I'll bet.

What are you going to use? Goats? Chickens?

You got to eat? Or are you going to simply fast and pray?
Live naked?
Posted by: Redneck Jim   2013-09-23 02:23  

#5  Don't forget he is the Argentine Pope.
Posted by: 3dc   2013-09-23 02:07  

#4  Um, if the guy had said "honest work," it would have been strong words. What he actually said was "Work. You know, I maybe show up, drink some ouzo, nap at my desk and go home. And you pay me. Work = dignity..."
Posted by: M. Murcek   2013-09-23 00:42  

#3  "Excuse me if I use strong words, but where there is no work there is no dignity."

Could be talking about us in the States, ya know...
Posted by: Raj   2013-09-23 00:32  

#2  I don't see them heading down to the Salvation Army with all that gilt stuff at the Vatican...
Posted by: M. Murcek   2013-09-23 00:26  

#1  I guess Popes have said that for the last 2000 years or so
Posted by: European Conservative   2013-09-23 00:23  

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