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Unbridled capitalism is the 'dung of the devil', says Pope Francis

The Pope says he believes in Jesus Christ and God, but how can we be sure? Ruling: Probable agnostic.
 
So, the headline says the Pope said that unbridled capitalism is bad. But the article itself says this:

Quoting a fourth century bishop, he called the unfettered pursuit of money “the dung of the devil”, and said poor countries should not be reduced to being providers of raw material and cheap labour for developed countries.
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I don't see a link to a transcript so it's hard to know which is accurate. People instinctively spring to the defense of "capitalism" as an ideology. But if what the Pope actually said is that the "unfettered pursuit of money" is evil.... how many people disagree with that?

Just saying it's worthwhile to read beyond the headlines before reacting.


ETA: Found the transcript. http://www.news.va/en/news/apostolic-journey-bolivia-participation-at-the-sec

Time, my brothers and sisters, seems to be running out; we are not yet tearing one another apart, but we are tearing apart our common home. Today, the scientific community realizes what the poor have long told us: harm, perhaps irreversible harm, is being done to the ecosystem. The earth, entire peoples and individual persons are being brutally punished. And behind all this pain, death and destruction there is the stench of what Basil of Caesarea – one of the first theologians of the Church – called “the dung of the devil”. An unfettered pursuit of money rules. This is the “dung of the devil”. The service of the common good is left behind. Once capital becomes an idol and guides people’s decisions, once greed for money presides over the entire socioeconomic system, it ruins society, it condemns and enslaves men and women, it destroys human fraternity, it sets people against one another and, as we clearly see, it even puts at risk our common home, sister and mother earth.
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Seems to me that the headline writer put words in the Pope's mouth to draw clicks and rabid message board responses.
 
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$10 Wrangor posts about how much he wants to see Chris Christie debate the Pope.
 
I am betting on Wrangor. Surely, he could beat a socialist pope. That pope ain't got no Wake Forest degree.
 
wrangor has the pope on vaccines also with his expert wife and all
 
Wrangor said:
The pope kind of misses the point. Except for the love of God and fellow men and women, unbridled anything is the dung of the devil. Religion is no exception. So to call out capitalism is missing the true narrative. I would expect a pope to see that. Or maybe I wouldn't. The Catholic Church is a perfect example of this. Unbridled passion for religion has built a religion that requires an elected man to absolve sins rather than the God the pope supposedly worships. This elevation of mankind has brought all sorts of atrocities upon the world. If that isn't the dung of the devil I don't know what is.

Unbridled capitalism is the dung of the devil. So is just about everything else.
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We can only talk in the broadest generalities now?
 
I would lose the intellectual discussion about ideas and ideals. Doesn't mean I'm wrong.


Bless your heart.
 
Wrangor said:
I don't. I would lose. Doesn't mean I am wrong. Unbridled capitalism is no more an enemy than any other unbridled 'ism'.
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So what's wrong with talking about it?
 
No problem talking about the problems of capitalism. There are lots of them. Currently, there are no viable alternatives to capitalism. So, we definitely need to talk about alleviating the problems until we can find something better.

If I understand correctly, 923 has pointed out that the Pope condemned unbridled greed, not unbridled capitalism. That's the clergy's job, condemning sin, and greed, unbridled or not, is one of the seven deadly sins. So, the Pope is just doing his duty by drawing attention to the problem and condemning it.

Beyond condemnations, however, we need solutions to very real and vexing problems.
 
That reminds me, when was the last time congress passed a law of consequence?
 
sailordeac said:
No problem talking about the problems of capitalism. There are lots of them. Currently, there are no viable alternatives to capitalism. So, we definitely need to talk about alleviating the problems until we can find something better.

If I understand correctly, 923 has pointed out that the Pope condemned unbridled greed, not unbridled capitalism. That's the clergy's job, condemning sin, and greed, unbridled or not, is one of the seven deadly sins. So, the Pope is just doing his duty by drawing attention to the problem and condemning it.

Beyond condemnations, however, we need solutions to very real and vexing problems.
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Capitalism is the softer version of greed. I also agree with you that it's the best option currently available.
 
Capitalism is perfectly fine unless it's allowed to run away unchecked...like, you know, letting it influence elections and laws to its benefit.
 
Deadbolt said:
Capitalism is perfectly fine unless it's allowed to run away unchecked...like, you know, letting it influence elections and laws to its benefit.
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+1 but that isn't capitalists fault it is the governments fault. Every other economic system eventually ends in government corruption if given the foothold. The key is whether the government allows. The economic platform will always be on the front steps waiting to be let in the door.
 
It's the fault of those in government who believe that government should not check capitalism.
 
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