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Pope Francis - the best we've got?

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    Pope Francis - the best we've got?

    The encycylical is here



    Ancient conflicts thought long buried are breaking out anew, while instances of a myopic, extremist, resentful and aggressive nationalism are on the rise. In some countries, a concept of popular and national unity influenced by various ideologies is creating new forms of selfishness and a loss of the social sense under the guise of defending national interests. Once more we are being reminded that “each new generation must take up the struggles and attainments of past generations, while setting its sights even higher. This is the path. Goodness, together with love, justice and solidarity, are not achieved once and for all; they have to be realized each day. It is not possible to settle for what was achieved in the past and complacently enjoy it, as if we could somehow disregard the fact that many of our brothers and sisters still endure situations that cry out for our attention


    Not to globalization

    . “Opening up to the world” is an expression that has been co-opted by the economic and financial sector and is now used exclusively of openness to foreign interests or to the freedom of economic powers to invest without obstacles or complications in all countries. Local conflicts and disregard for the common good are exploited by the global economy in order to impose a single cultural model. This culture unifies the world, but divides persons and nations, for “as society becomes ever more globalized, it makes us neighbours, but does not make us brothers”.[9] We are more alone than ever in an increasingly massified world that promotes individual interests and weakens the communitarian dimension of life. Indeed, there are markets where individuals become mere consumers or bystanders. As a rule, the advance of this kind of globalism strengthens the identity of the more powerful, who can protect themselves, but it tends to diminish the identity of the weaker and poorer regions, making them more vulnerable and dependent. In this way, political life becomes increasingly fragile in the face of transnational economic powers that operate with the principle of “divide and conquer”.

    . “Opening up to the world” is an expression that has been co-opted by the economic and financial sector and is now used exclusively of openness to foreign interests or to the freedom of economic powers to invest without obstacles or complications in all countries. Local conflicts and disregard for the common good are exploited by the global economy in order to impose a single cultural model. This culture unifies the world, but divides persons and nations, for “as society becomes ever more globalized, it makes us neighbours, but does not make us brothers”.[9] We are more alone than ever in an increasingly massified world that promotes individual interests and weakens the communitarian dimension of life. Indeed, there are markets where individuals become mere consumers or bystanders. As a rule, the advance of this kind of globalism strengthens the identity of the more powerful, who can protect themselves, but it tends to diminish the identity of the weaker and poorer regions, making them more vulnerable and dependent. In this way, political life becomes increasingly fragile in the face of transnational economic powers that operate with the principle of “divide and conquer”.
    Wealth has increased, but together with inequality, with the result that “new forms of poverty are emerging”.[17] The claim that the modern world has reduced poverty is made by measuring poverty with criteria from the past that do not correspond to present-day realities. In other times, for example, lack of access to electric energy was not considered a sign of poverty, nor was it a source of hardship. Poverty must always be understood and gauged in the context of the actual opportunities available in each concrete historical period.
    Priti patel is a scumbag


    Certain populist political regimes, as well as certain liberal economic approaches, maintain that an influx of migrants is to be prevented at all costs. Arguments are also made for the propriety of limiting aid to poor countries, so that they can hit rock bottom and find themselves forced to take austerity measures. One fails to realize that behind such statements, abstract and hard to support, great numbers of lives are at stake. Many migrants have fled from war, persecution and natural catastrophes. Others, rightly, “are seeking opportunities for themselves and their families. They dream of a better future and they want to create the conditions for achieving it”.[36]

    Fuck Trumpian Catholics


    6. We should also recognize that destructive forms of fanaticism are at times found among religious believers, including Christians; they too “can be caught up in networks of verbal violence through the internet and the various forums of digital communication. Even in Catholic media, limits can be overstepped, defamation and slander can become commonplace, and all ethical standards and respect for the good name of others can be abandoned”.[48] How can this contribute to the fraternity that our common Father asks of us?

    no justice no peace

    Those who work for tranquil social coexistence should never forget that inequality and lack of integral human development make peace impossible. Indeed, “without equal opportunities, different forms of aggression and conflict will find a fertile terrain for growth and eventually explode. When a society – whether local, national or global – is willing to leave a part of itself on the fringes, no political programmes or resources spent on law enforcement or surveillance systems can indefinitely guarantee tranquility”.[222] If we have to begin anew, it must always be from the least of our brothers and sisters.

    #2
    Liberal perhaps by way of comparison to John Paul II and Benedict XVI, but certainly nothing less than orthodox doctrinally, as topics such as female ordination, contraception, homosexuality and inaction in relation to sexual abuse demonstrate.

    Comment


      #3
      That said, it is certainly the most extraordinary and positive address made by a world leader in recent years.

      Comment


        #4
        Christians and people of good will are today called to work not only for the abolition of the death penalty, legal or illegal, in all its forms, but also to work for the improvement of prison conditions, out of respect for the human dignity of persons deprived of their freedom. I would link this to life imprisonment… A life sentence is a secret death penalty”

        Comment


          #5
          As Nef as quoted.

          Unambiguous in condemnation and opposition to capital punishment

          Comment


            #6
            this bit's good too


            For my part, I would observe that “the Christian tradition has never recognized the right to private property as absolute or inviolable, and has stressed the social purpose of all forms of private property”.[95] The principle of the common use of created goods is the “first principle of the whole ethical and social order”;[96] it is a natural and inherent right that takes priority over others.[97] All other rights having to do with the goods necessary for the integral fulfilment of persons, including that of private property or any other type of property, should – in the words of Saint Paul VI – “in no way hinder [this right], but should actively facilitate its implementation”.[98] The right to private property can only be considered a secondary natural right, derived from the principle of the universal destination of created goods. This has concrete consequences that ought to be reflected in the workings of society. Yet it often happens that secondary rights displace primary and overriding rights, in practice making them irrelevant.

            Rights without borders

            121. No one, then, can remain excluded because of his or her place of birth, much less because of privileges enjoyed by others who were born in lands of greater opportunity. The limits and borders of individual states cannot stand in the way of this. As it is unacceptable that some have fewer rights by virtue of being women, it is likewise unacceptable that the mere place of one’s birth or residence should result in his or her possessing fewer opportunities for a developed and dignified life.

            122. Development must not aim at the amassing of wealth by a few, but must ensure “human rights – personal and social, economic and political, including the rights of nations and of peoples”.[99] The right of some to free enterprise or market freedom cannot supersede the rights of peoples and the dignity of the poor, or, for that matter, respect for the natural environment, for “if we make something our own, it is only to administer it for the good of all”.[100]

            123. Business activity is essentially “a noble vocation, directed to producing wealth and improving our world”.[101] God encourages us to develop the talents he gave us, and he has made our universe one of immense potential. In God’s plan, each individual is called to promote his or her own development,[102] and this includes finding the best economic and technological means of multiplying goods and increasing wealth. Business abilities, which are a gift from God, should always be clearly directed to the development of others and to eliminating poverty, especially through the creation of diversified work opportunities. The right to private property is always accompanied by the primary and prior principle of the subordination of all private property to the universal destination of the earth’s goods, and thus the right of all to their use.[103]

            Comment


              #7
              Excellent stuff. Hope it has some effect.

              Comment


                #8
                It is remarkable that this has got zero coverage in the papers I read

                It's radical stuff and the only place it appears to be discussed is a football chat site




                Comment


                  #9
                  I thought the same. It did get a little bit of coverage on the Guardian, with a link/mini-preview on the main news page if you scrolled down far enough, but it should have got more.

                  To be fair, there is a lot of competition for headlines right now.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    All the Catholics I know, myself included, are going hog wild over it. Liberation theology is back and its back big, awooooo!

                    Comment


                      #11
                      This is good in itself and has the happy bonus that it could be designed to wind up those posh, right wing English Catholics, often converts, the prevalence of whose Brideshead-y fantasies in certain parts of the press is one of the weirder manifestations of historic anti-Irish attitudes in the UK.

                      Although, as DR points out above, to become head of the Catholic Church you do still have to be a massive Catholic.

                      Comment


                        #12
                        https://twitter.com/paulmorrinie/status/1310215608810770432?s=21

                        it’s going to make a problem for Catholic Schools, since quoting the Holy Father will mean banning by the Department of Education.

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Liberation for Cafflix, that's what I preach.

                          The Pope was chatting up a Nun at a Vatican party.She declined his offer of a drink.

                          "Sorry, I'm driving and my moped only has room for one"

                          "No problem, I'll follow on the Encyclical"

                          My vestments? Grazie

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Originally posted by Nefertiti2 View Post

                            it’s going to make a problem for Catholic Schools, since quoting the Holy Father will mean banning by the Department of Education.
                            Half of them are named after Thomas More, so they know what to do.

                            It'd be quite funny to watch Gavin Williamson cut his own leg off while trying to behead someone if it came to it.

                            Comment


                              #15
                              The Catholic Church is a prime mover encouraging anti-LGBT sentiment and abuse worldwide, as well as misogyny and restriction of women and other uterus-havers' rights over their own bodies. Look at Poland, or swathes of South and Central America.

                              Comment


                                #16
                                Guardian has picked up on it again, albeit from the impact on US election and without going into any depth on the epistle

                                https://www.theguardian.com/commenti...-catholic-vote

                                Wasn't aware Biden is catholic, they're turning up all over the place now

                                Comment


                                  #17
                                  Every POTUS is either an Irish Catholic or descended from one whose original home village can stage an execrable photo op early in the Presidency

                                  My Ma greeted the Google era by instructing me to trace any common extended cousins with Old Hickory, whose parents emigrated from just up the road

                                  Comment


                                    #18
                                    On the US connection, if I were in a Senate hearing on the new supreme court justice I might ask a question about this...

                                    Comment


                                      #19
                                      Testing Amy Barrett about her socialist Catholic beliefs would add even more colour to the hearings

                                      Comment


                                        #20
                                        Many of the things Pope Francis is praised for were said by B16 and JP2 as well. Both were great critics of capitalism. JP2 was also really good on racism, and especially on apartheid. B16 was great on ecology (as is Francis). In some ways, they were pretty radical. But that got less play than the abortion and the homophobia stuff.

                                        Comment


                                          #21
                                          It’s possible to get it right on both

                                          https://twitter.com/nowthisnews/status/1233395932072480768?s=21

                                          Comment


                                            #22
                                            Today approves same-sex civil unions.

                                            Comment

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