Saturday, November 30, 2013

WEALTH AND POWER


There is many a storied Catholic saint who is lauded by Christian writers, teachers, priests, and prelates, for renouncing wealth and power and embracing poverty (Francis of Assisi, Anthony of Padua, Frances de Sales, et. al.). However, let them be reminded that they could not have renounced it had they had not had it to begin with. Let there be more wealth and power. For if good people do not claim it, bad people will.

EVANGELII GAUDIUM: FRANCIS AND ISLAM

While almost all of the conservatives seem taken aback by the pope's bashing of the free market, the real trouble lies in what he says in par. 253 (Evangelii Gaudium):

"Faced with disconcerting episodes of violent fundamentalism, our respect for true followers of Islam should lead us to avoid hateful generalisations, for authentic Islam and the proper reading of the Koran are opposed to every form of violence."

Let's read that again: "...authentic Islam and the proper reading of the Koran are opposed to every form of violence." And how are we to reconcile this view with the actions of Mohammed himself? According to the pope, Muhammed was not an "authentic" Muslim.

AUTHORITY OF CHURCH DOCUMENTS

The recent Apostolic Exhortation by Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium, which contains some troublesome passages, as well as many of the things he has said since taking office, require us to check the authority of papal and/or church documents.

EWTN has the following:

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