Conservative rich attack Pope Francis's "Marxism"

Sometimes you read things that make you want to laugh out loud, such as in yesterday's Times( www.thetimes.co.uk, January 4, 2014). In a short article entitled "Rich protest Pope Francis's "Marxism", it appears that wealthy Catholic businessmen are hesitating to support Church run projects such as the renovation of St.Patrick's RC Cathedral (the flagship of the Archdiocese of New York) because they take issue with Pope Francis's sharp criticism of unfettered laissez faire capitalism in his new encyclical "The Joy Of The Gospel"- some critics(such as Rush Limbaugh predictably) have even gone so far as to call such criticism "Marxist"( memo to Rush- the Holy Father is about as "Marxist" as Donald Duck!).

Given that concern about the least and littlest of our society has been a regular feature of Catholic moral and social teaching since not just previous encyclicals such as Pius XI's Quadresima Anno(1933) and Leo XIII's Rerum Novarum(1890) but dating back to the time of the Apostles themselves,one wonders how businessmen(and presumably women) such as Kenneth Langone(mentioned in said article) can seriously call themselves "Catholic" in good standing when they oppose Church teaching on such a fundamental matter(kind of reminds me of the late William F.Buckley's comment on Blessed John XXIII's Pacem en Terris encyclical- "Mater, yes- Magister, no!"), esp given the fact that many American Catholics are descended from poor and socially marginalized immigrants once at the lowest level of the US social "totem pole"

(though NOT as low as Native or African Americans- as James Baldwin dryly put- the negro tells you where the bottom is).

Sounds ironic that conservatives are doing in effect what they accuse liberals of- namely being "cafetaria Catholics"- pikcing and choosing which Church teachings they will follow_ I'd say that Mr Langone and his ilk are in danger of excommunicating themselves from the very Church they claim to love!

Anybody think as I do?

Terry

Figured it was only a matter of time until some Conservative idiots started whining about Francis.

Fox News would attack Jesus if he came back and ran for president.

Hah

Personally I think Francis is on the right track- the role of Christianity(esp Catholicism) should be to "comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable" as a wag put it!

Terry

You don't have to be a conservative to dislike the pope. :)

It is ironic they would call him a Marxist too. Heh heh.

Comic Vine is full of liberals ripping on conservatives. 90% of conservatives aren't rich. They just don't want to sit on their lazy asses while the government gives them money. Conservatives are actually working to help the country unlike Obama and that witch... What's her name? Oh yes Hillary.

Also, I don't give a sh!t about what the pope does.

This is the second stupidest thing I've heard today, it would be the stupidest but I read an article earlier today where Morrissey aka the most over rated musician of all time said that eating meat was just as bad as pedophilia.

Are many conservatives even Catholic? I swore most were Protestant?

@supernategames: I've always gone by the motto that if you call yourself a liberal or a conservative you're part of the problem. Almost every problem in America could be fixed if we could stop this right wing/left wing pissing contest.

Thank God that someone gets it...

If I could follow you again, I would.

They need to leave pope Francis alone, he is a good man.

I can see myself go clubbing with this pope.

@saint_rog_el: you're 18, you barely know what clubbing is Lmao

@russellmania77: I'm 21 brah

@saint_rog_el:

@russellmania77 said:

@saint_rog_el:

I don't like where this is heading.

Folks these days are so thin skinned. Seems like it is getting harder everyday to even use language as folks immediately attack their perceptions of definitions without looking at things in context.

That being said, (IMHO) it is not completely beyond the realm of possibility that the Argentine Pope Francis during his seminary days and after has studied Liberation theology which emerged from Latin America and has some similarities with the forms and principles of Marxism. Just a cursory study of the writings of Gustavo Guttierez and his subsequent influence throughout Latin America would bear this out.

Does this mean Pope Francis is a communist or even a socialist no it doesn't. But it is very probable that he is influenced by Liberation Theology.

EDIT Here is a related article

Given that even Blessed John Paul II(due for sainthood on Easter Sunday of this year) hardly a dewy eyed fellow traveller, has alluded to "Marxism's kernel of truth", one wonders if Francis's critics will term the soon to be canonized Pontiff a"Red"?

Terry

I think the new Pope is a breath of fresh air for religion.

#bestpopeever

Upon This Rock I Will Build My Church

For a Protestant perspective if anyone cares.

Seems to me Francis has breathed some much needed life into Catholicism.

I think that is a good thing.

@supernategames: You're a likable guy but your view on politics is WARPED.

I don't see how some people think Christianity supports capitalism, I mean it is Christianity after all so why not look at what Christ himself said on wealth and charity et cetera. Oh yeah that is right, they don't want to be reminded of that because Jesus advocated giving away your wealth to help the poor. They don't care for the parable of Lazarus and the rich man. There is so much suffering in the world and the wealthiest individuals hold so much wealth in their coffers, Just as Lazarus suffered greatly and the rich man easily had the means to help him but didn't. Church doctrine clearly condemns such behavior by demonstrating the rich man being sent to Hell.

@jeanralphio:

That's why I try to stay away from political threads.

I wish the OP would talk about comics AT LEAST once

Hahahahaha....Wait, you're serious? Let me laugh harder.

@totalbalance:

Capitalism depends upon competition which seems counter intuitive to the core teachings of Christianity. However we do all have to live in the world and function within it and of all the broken systems humanity has ever developed to govern itself a democracy fueled by the engine of capitalism seem to be most functional for all involved. The Christian must balance idealism with reality.

@jonny_anonymous: I thought this was the Off-Topic forum where threads didn't have to be guided by comic book subject matter?

@kuonphobos: They don't but usually users at least use the other forums, the OP comes here every few weeks to talk crap about politics and politics only.

Hmmm...that sort of describes me too only I don't often start threads. I don't think I have ever started more than seven or eight including blog entries.

But I see your point.

Such a good article thanks for sharing, I also enjoyed reading your opinions... I fear America is falling behind Europe morally, the Catholic Church is having to modernise to keep in touch with church goers in Italy, France, Spain, Ireland, The UK and others. It is being bombarded with people asking for sexual equality and fairness for the poor and for the church to admit when it is in the wrong. It is taking time but the Catholics are slowly catching up with the Church of England which is only slightly more progressive.

I dare say America will start it's own mega communist Christian faith soon, Christianity has more religions then any other...