POPE FRANCIS IS DOWNRIGHT UN-AMERICAN

In his condemnation of capitalism, the Pontiff attacks everything that is held sacred by Americans

In an 84-page document, known as an Apostolic Exhortation, Pope Francis condemned unfettered capitalism, economic inequality and idolatry of money. The Pontiff called for redistribution of wealth and guaranteeing citizens health care.

Holy Moly, what this world isn’t coming to. It looks as though the Cardinals elected some kind of a Communist to head the Catholic Church. Calling for redistribution of wealth comes right out of Karl Marx’s ‘Das Kapital.’ Health care for all citizens … you can't get any more Obmaesque than that.

Unfettered capitalism is what made America great. Doesn’t ‘Ole Francis realize that ‘idolatry of money’ is the American way. The Pope is being downright un-American with his condemnation of capitalism and the worship of money. Instead of Pope Francis, what we have here is Pope Marx.

Please note: Before any of you get your poopies in an uproar, be assured that although the Pontiff does condemn capitalism, income inequality, worship of money, etc., I truly believe the Cardinals made a very wise choice when they selected Francis as Pope. Francis is a Pope of and for the people. I predict he will turn out to be the greatest Pope ever.

POPE FRANCIS ATTACKS ‘TYRANNY’ OF UNFETTERED CAPITALISM, ‘IDOLATRY OF MONEY’
By Naomi O’Leary

Thomson Reuters
November 26, 2013

Pope Francis called for renewal of the Roman Catholic Church and attacked unfettered capitalism as "a new tyranny," urging global leaders to fight poverty and growing inequality in the first major work he has authored alone as pontiff.

The 84-page document, known as an apostolic exhortation, amounted to an official platform for his papacy, building on views he has aired in sermons and remarks since he became the first non-European pontiff in 1,300 years in March.

In it, Francis went further than previous comments criticizing the global economic system, attacking the "idolatry of money" and beseeching politicians to guarantee all citizens "dignified work, education and healthcare."

He also called on rich people to share their wealth. "Just as the commandment 'Thou shalt not kill' sets a clear limit in order to safeguard the value of human life, today we also have to say 'thou shalt not' to an economy of exclusion and inequality. Such an economy kills," Francis wrote in the document issued on Tuesday.

"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 2 points?"

Economic inequality is one of the issues Francis is most concerned about, and the 76-year-old pontiff calls for an overhaul of the financial system and warns that unequal distribution of wealth inevitably leads to violence.

"As long as the problems of the poor are not radically resolved by rejecting the absolute autonomy of markets and financial speculation and by attacking the structural causes of inequality, no solution will be found for the world's problems or, for that matter, to any problems," he wrote.

Denying this was simple populism, he called for action "beyond a simple welfare mentality" and added: "I beg the Lord to grant us more politicians who are genuinely disturbed by the state of society, the people, the lives of the poor."

Since his election, Francis has set an example for austerity in the Church, living in a Vatican guesthouse rather than the ornate Apostolic Palace, travelling in a Ford Focus, and last month suspending a bishop who spent millions of euros on his luxurious residence.

He chose to be called "Francis" after the medieval Italian saint of the same name famed for choosing a life of poverty.