Pope Demands 'Legitimate Redistribution' of Wealth

[cbayer]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_REL_VATICAN_UN?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2014-05-09-06-31-28

May 9, 8:51 AM EDT

BY NICOLE WINFIELD
ASSOCIATED PRESS


VATICAN CITY (AP) -- Pope Francis called Friday for governments to redistribute wealth to the poor in a new spirit of generosity to help curb the "economy of exclusion" that is taking hold today.

Francis made the appeal during a speech to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the heads of major U.N. agencies who met in Rome this week.

Latin America's first pope has frequently lashed out at the injustices of capitalism and the global economic system that excludes so much of humanity, though his predecessors have voiced similar concerns.

On Friday, Francis called for the United Nations to promote a "worldwide ethical mobilization" of solidarity with the poor in a new spirit of generosity.

more at link

[AtheistCrusader]

1. He should lead by example.

http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/03/08/wealth-of-roman-catholic-church-impossible-to-calculate/

[cbayer]

2. This is a very good point and one I would like to see him address in this context.

He has appointed new leadership to take evaluate the financial dealings of the RCC, and perhaps something will come from that.

I am sure he is quite aware of the possible hypocrisy of leading one of the wealthiest (if not the wealthiest) institutions in the world and making statements like this.

He has made statements in the past that he wants the church to be poor and for it's ministers to live the simplest of lives. The proof will be in any subsequent actions.

[AtheistCrusader]

3. I actually don't doubt that there will be some

who do move to answer his call.

But it remains to be seen how many. We'll see. I don't expect overnight change, at least.

[arely staircase]

4. ancient institutions take anlong time to change

But this bishop is changing the tone quicker than I could have ever hoped for.