The Pope doesn't like Capitalism. That's what he told the people of Bolivia when he visited them. According to the Pope the greed and the pursuit of money ruins society, enslaves people [which is true], etc, etc. http://news.nationalpost.com/news/w...ces-capitalism-greed-and-the-pursuit-of-money Should the church involve itself only with matters of the heart only or do you think the Pope [and the church] should also get involved in politics?
I think he tailored his speech on Capitalism to the country he visited. After all, the president is also the head of the MAS party. Were he to visit an industrial town in the US, his speech would change. As to the church's involvement in politics, we tried that in the middle ages and we got popes more powerful than kings, and the crusades. Even if they tried, the easy access to education and information in general, would make it pretty hard for them.
Only the rich like capitalism because capitalist doesn't care about people, it's all about numbers. The best form of social organization? I really doubt that.
Poverty minded people always blasts Capitalism, always. "Dung of the Devil" is everything that is not centered on God.
You are misquoting him a bit. He said ´unbridled capitalism and greed´... he wasn´t talking about free market societies. He was talking more about sweat shops in china, companies that pollute the environment that harms people and most importantly the acts of the Catholic church when they helped Spain invaded central and south america to steal gold hundreds of years ago. He also spoke out against ´loan agencies´ which traps individuals. While pay-day loan places are visible examples of this in the USA, they aren´t really used by many people. In central and South America though, they are everywhere a big chunk of the population is constantly hunted by loan-shark type people. He is talking about predatory capitalism, not free market economies. This is a better quote from his speech that better explains what he is talking about ´ “ (capitalism) has imposed the mentality of profit at any price, with no concern for social exclusion or the destruction of nature”
I think he should stick with the matters of the heart. The Catholic church is slowly becoming more corrupt anyways.
I'm not religious, so I don't care what he says - but of course many will hang on his every word, unfortunately. He's entitled to his opinions, but I think a man in his position with so much influence should tread lightly and stick mainly to what he's supposed to do and say in public.
I agree with Ewing, he should simply remain to what he's supposed to do and say in society, and I'm no religious expert, but I pretty much doubt that economy reaches even slightly his expertise. He's truly not the right person to criticize capitalism.
This is one of the more vocal pope in history. First it was climate change and now capitalism. He doesn't beat around the bush very much. He has such a profound affect on the world it will be interesting to see what develops as time goes by and what else this guy will say next.
