capitalism
57 pieces tagged “capitalism”, newest first.
Capitalism, Socialism and the Pope
Pope Francis’s visit to Cuba and the United States and his previous efforts to bring about a rapprochement between the two countries brings the world’s attention to three facts. First, Cuba is one of two remaining communist countries in the world — countries dedicated to the belief that individuals have a duty to live for the state. Second, although the United States does not have the freest economy in the world (Hong Kong and Singapore get that honor and we now rank number 16!), it is the symbolic fountainhead of capitalism — a country whose founding document proclaims the right of everyone to pursue their own happiness. Three, there are still people in the world who contend that communism is better.
The Pope-Exploiter in Chief
Normally, the issue of the pope’s infallibility wouldn’t much concern me, but it does get my attention when opportunists attempt to leverage his heft to advance their political agenda. As an evangelical Christian, I don’t subscribe to the view that the pope is infallible, but I respect Catholics who do and have no desire to offend them in the slightest. So let’s put aside the question of whether the pope is infallible and assume, for argument’s sake, that he is. The next question is on what range of issues is he deemed infallible? Without researching the matter too deeply, I think we can safely assume that it is only on doctrinal matters. But where do we draw that line? The question is interesting because theology often overlaps with politics and because everything in our society seems to be about politics these days.
What Pope Francis Should Tell America
I, as with almost all of my fellow Catholics, am awaiting Pope Francis’ arrival this week with Christmas-morning type anticipation. This relatively new pope is maybe the most popular man on the planet as he spreads the core Christian message of loving thy neighbor and caring for the least among us. He is an apostle of hope and virtue, and he comes at a perfect time when so many millions of Americans are mesmerized by such false idols as egomaniac Donald Trump. A national publication recently labeled me one of Francis’ four most severe Catholic critics, along with Ken Langone, a founder of Home Depot. My critique has been over the Vatican’s alliance of late with anti-Christian environmental groups on global warming and his recent encyclical letter attacking free-market capitalism — which he says leads to “poverty and income inequality.”
