The Pope is seeking to intervene in Venezuela, where, once again in the Third Word, a socialist regime has wreaked economic devastation:
Pope Francis has sent a “personal letter” to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in which he address his concern over the “seriousness” of “the county’s situation.”
“I can say that the Pope did write a personal letter to President Maduro concerning the situation in the country,” papal spokesman Federico Lombardi confirmed to journalists on Saturday.
“The seriousness of the situation is also clearly shown in the recent statement by the Bishops on April 27, when the Nuncio Monsignor Giordano very clearly spoke out in favour of dialogue sponsored by the Pope,” Lombardi said.
Additionally, the papal spokesman repeated Francis’ message from the Urbi et Orbi blessing from Easter, where he requested that the Easter message “be felt ever more powerfully by the beloved people of Venezuela in the difficult conditions which they are experiencing, and by those responsible for the country’s future, that everyone may work for the common good, seeking spaces of dialogue and cooperation with all. May efforts be made everywhere to promote the culture of counter, justice and reciprocal respect, which alone can guarantee the spiritual and material welfare of all people.”
After his success as an interlocutor in neighbouring Cuba, and his willingness to plant himself firmly in the middle of political disputes ranging from Europe’s immigration crisis to Ukraine’s civil war, An intervention from Pope Francis into the mounting political tensions in Venezuela appears more and more likely as the various problems affecting the country continue to deepen.
Amid a debilitating energy crisis, shortages of basic goods, and increasing violence, the country’s powers are embroiled in a political deadlock that looks only to lead to a pyrrhic outcome.
Since winning a landslide victory in December’s legislative elections, the opposition took control of the National Assembly with an absolute majority and have approved a series of bills that have been shot down one by one by the country highest court, which the opposition alleges is under the thumb of Maduro’s Socialist government. Maduro, in turn, accuses the opposition of arming a coup against him and of working for regional right-wing and US imperial interests.
Venezuela’s oil export-dependent economy shrank 5.7 percent last year, shortages of basic goods multiplied and prices soared. The government has instituted rolling blackouts and state employees are working only two days a week to conserve electricity.
Go here to read the rest. The Pope might wish to brush up on a statement issued by the Venezuelan bishops last year, go here to read it.
So, “spaces of dialogue” and the “culture of encounter” are what “guarantee” the “material welfare” of all people? Really? How about the form of capitalism as practiced in the United States as recently as under President Reagan. Where GDP growth averaged 3.5% throughout his 2 terms. Usually, when someone is so out of touch and events prove them so spectacularly wrong, they have the good sense to admit their error, or at least to stop talking. I think they call that wisdom.
Has the Pope never read 2nd Chronices 7:14?
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“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
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As the Vicar of Christ, he has a solemn duty to carry THAT message and ONLY THAT message to Venzuela and all the rest of the nations of Earth.
It’s not only Venezuela. Look at Puerto Rico which defaulted on yesterday’s bond obligations/payments. Then, wait for Atlantic City, NJ to follow suit.
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The United States of America: A nation on the brink . . .
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Lesson: Dan Mitchell via Instapundit, “This is the bitter fruit of creationist economics, the erroneous belief that government activity can somehow conjure new wealth and value.” It’s a myth. It’s superstition. It validates Einstein’s definition of insanity. The South Pacific “Cargo Cult” had more-real world validity.
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Every industry deteriorates when government interferes; takes over control and planning. Big government makes big mistakes.
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USA GDP growth hasn’t turned negative, yet. Give Hillary her chance to rectify that condition.
. A better religious fit for a Pope with no degree in economics is for him to try and stop the proposed sex theme park with nearby hotel in Brazil, home to the largest Catholic population….because the NT in Colossians calls lust ” idolatry” which means it draws people to a competitor for the attention that should go to God. Today’s ny times tells the tale:
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/04/world/what-in-the-world/brazil-erotic-theme-park.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=second-column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0
Another case of the blind leading the blind. Pope Francis’ liberal dialog and thinking only leads to bankruptcy which he is proving with a religion based on man, not God, and an economics based on ideology and not reality. When Pope Francis volunteers to help, run away as fast as you can.
The pope has every right to intervene in the internal politics of Venezuela, and every other nation for that matter, and he possesses the means to do it.
This is how it should be done:
In the end, My Immaculate Heart will triumph. The Holy Father will consecrate Russia to Me, and she will be converted, and a period of peace will be granted to the world.
The link to the “statement issued by the Venezuelan bishops last year” is missing.
I can’t find the statement itself on line but I did find this Patheos article about the Venezuelan bishops’ statement.
Oops! I added the omitted link.
So, “spaces of dialogue” and the “culture of encounter” are what “guarantee” the “material welfare” of all people?
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Yes Father of Seven. the Pope is correct. It’s too bad he overlooks this beautiful definition of classical capitalism, and that socialists are the ones who shut down “spaces of dialogue” and the “culture of encounter”.
Yes Tom D, you are correct. But, just like the term “Liberal”, the left has changed its meaning. The same way the left corrupts everything.
Did Francis not ask for the “nations to distribute the wealth”? And so it is in Venezuela.