Law Professor Elizabeth Price Foley is on target in regard to Pope Francis at Instapundit:
VATICAN TO RECOGNIZE PALESTINE: The Vatican has brokered at “treaty” with the “State of Palestine.” The treaty reportedly deals with the activities of the Catholic Church in Palestine. Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas is expected meet with Pope Francis over the weekend to finalize details.
The Vatican has referred to Palestine as a “state” since November 2012, when the UN voted to upgrade the Palestinian Authority’s status from “entity” to “non-member state.” Just last week, Pope Francis said the Vatican would canonize two nuns who lived in Israel under Ottomon rule as “Palestinian saints.”
It hasn’t been very long since the Palestinian Authority/PLO was widely considered to be a terrorist organization.
Well, it’s all part of a global progressive movement. Pope Francis has been dogged by accusations that he is sympathetic to communism. The Pope doesn’t help allay these concerns when he meets with Raul Castro, reinstates a Marxist “liberation theology,” vocally anti-Israel Nicaraguan priest who won the Lenin Peace Prize, invites a Peruvian liberation theology priest to speak, and hosts the World Meeting of Popular Movements, where he said attendees must unite ”against the structural causes of poverty, inequality, the lack of work, land and shelter, the denial of social and labor rights,” and confront the “empire of money.”
At a minimum, it seems Pope Francis is becoming very cozy with liberation theology, which is essentially a progressive/Marxist vision of Catholicism. A top Soviet bloc defector recently claimed that liberation theology was created by the KGB.
Go here to read the comments. Other than his views on abortion, gay marriage and Satan, Pope Francis would fit in quite nicely as a member of the Democrat caucus in Congress. Conservative Catholics who have given him the benefit of the doubt, and I have been in this category as his Pontificate has given intermittent signs of rationality, really need to stop embarrassing themselves. We have a stone cold Leftist as Pope and his agenda has as much to do with Catholicism as Bill Clinton has to do with chastity. Rubbish is rubbish no matter who says it, and that very definitely includes this Pope.
Is Bergoglio a commie Catholic? His comments and associations do
give one the impression that he is strongly sympathetic to Marxism.
My own opinion is Bergoglio had lost his Catholic faith long ago,
if he ever believed in the teachings of the Church, for a radical
godless ideology with a Christian label that seeks to solve the
problems of poverty and human suffering outside of the teachings
of Christ.
However what Bergoglio has proven to me is the Catholic Church
is in the hands of a very corrupt clergy who, like Bergoglio, have
lost their faith.
We are living in very dark times.
Pope Francis has just made a pack with one of the devil’s angels.
The Holy See has always concluded agreements with régimes of doubtful, or at least disputed, legitimacy, in order to protect the rights of the Church and the interests of Catholics in the territories they controlled, without thereby recognizing their legitimacy or endorsing their policies.
I would not be surprised, however, if the Vatican does favour the Palestinian cause. After all, as Robert Redeker suggests, since the end of the Cold War, “the Palestinians and the contemporary Muslim masses replaced the proletariat in the imagination of intellectuals as the pure, ideal alternative to Western capitalism.” It is part of a world-view shared by many anti-capitalist and anti-globalisation activists, identified by Taguieff, in which there is an almost cosmic conflict between the “Cosmopolitan Satan,” – the “Unholy Trinity” of the United States/Israel/the West on one side and the “dominated and the oppressed” on the other. I find it increasingly common in certain Catholic milieux, both in Scotland and France
“the Palestinians and the contemporary Muslim masses replaced the proletariat in the imagination of intellectuals as the pure, ideal alternative to Western capitalism.” It is part of a world-view shared by many anti-capitalist and anti-globalisation activists, identified by Taguieff, in which there is an almost cosmic conflict between the “Cosmopolitan Satan,”
In short: idiocy.
Not to worry. He is a true son of the Church. He said so himself.
Throwing a bone to the Palestinians, many of whom are Christian, is unremarkable to me. I would be deeply concerned if the Holy See took the position of John Hagee and the Evangelical, neo-con Protestant stripe. After all, Israel is a pure creation of the UN, after the UK washed their hands of the mess of running the Palestine mandate.
There’s also precedent for diplomatic dealings with unsavory or formerly unsavory groups; it’s been done in Ireland, China, and the Soviet Union.
And in regard to Israel, many seem to forget it is a liberal secular state having nothing to do with religious Judaism much less with the economy of salvation of the New Covenant. Only Evangelicals who follow the silly end times theories hatched by 19th century Protestants place any religious significance on the aborting, sexually open state of Israel.
Again, it would be a shame if the Holy See became as small minded as the Southern Baptist convention, at the expense of acknowledging the many legitimate grievances of the non-Jewish occupants of the Holy Land.
Good summary of why this is not earth-shattering news: http://www.cruxnow.com/church/2015/05/13/no-novelty-in-vatican-reference-to-state-of-palestine/
They used UN standard language in an agreement with the group being named; hardly amazing, and could very well be the equivalent of “no comment.”
I’d much rather they didn’t make any such agreements, but that’s at least half because I think all obligations will be demanded, and all violations ignored.
“American Catholic”?! Please. This is an anti-Catholic screed. This is not a Catholic website.
By any measure, this is a Masonic blog named after “American Catholics”
You’ve sucked a lot of ignorant Catholics in.
Well-played, sir, well-played.
Did someone submit us to the “really sad troll” list or something? That’s three this week that are less sharp than the random mumbling of your average street person.
Oh, it’s just someone haunting Instapundit. Explains a lot.
The deal with poverty is that it is so essential to continuation of the Democrat party in power and its key election strategy. In 2012 there were 46.5 million poor people living in the United States, the highest number ever recorded. This is a manufactured number based on the current definition of poverty and the failure to enforce illegal immigration. It is not in the Democrat party’s best interest to have this number reduced as it means loss of votes.
Now if there was a serious concern about the poor efforts would be made to make it possible for them to obtain a better education by bringing competition to bear on the problem. But no this won’t happen because it affronts the teacher’s union another core constituency. President Obama gave in to the teachers union in Washington, D.C. where a charter school system would have improved the education system there. Another part of the welfare problem is deterioration of family cohesiveness brought in part by the perverse measures of welfare itself as outlined by Charles Murray in his book “Coming Apart’.
We could go on and on about the co-opting of poor people and the vast welfare industry they make possible: abortion, prisons, crime, drugs, a significant part of government employment at all levels, higher than necessary taxes, etc. etc.
My point is that nothing will be done about poverty as long as these folks are useful to the Democrat election machine. The simple answer to all of this is to disenfranchise the poor so they couldn’t be used and abused as pawns in the political process. Can you imagine the outcry from progressives and all the others who depend upon this corrupt scheme if someone actually
tried to implement it?
As far as Georgetown, President Obama and Pope Francis engaging in all the pious talk about helping the poor it is nothing more that Pharisaical hypocrisy.
Having grown up “poor,” and not engaging in the dysfunction, and thus not being vulnerable to hijacking by Democratic ploys, you would not be facing outcry only from progressives.
The problem is that they are able to use the power of government to buy favor, not the group they are buying favor from. They also buy favor from the extremely rich and/or powerful, by writing laws to keep them at the top– I’m also against disenfranchising, or silencing, the rich or powerful.
“Other than his views on abortion, gay marriage and Satan, Pope Francis would fit in quite nicely as a member of the Democrat caucus in Congress. ”
“Other than”? I think not. 0 for 3, I would say.
Actions speak louder than words and insofar as abortion and gay marriage are concerned, I believe that Francis is largely mute in respect of the former practice and Jesuitically coy regarding in expressing his views on the latter.
Insofar as Satan is concerned the Italian journalist Eugenio Scalfari reports has Francis stated to him that the souls of the wicked are “annihilated” (cease to exist) rather than damned for eternity. So wherefore the Prince of Darkness?
Steve, you really need to work in the illuminati if you wish to attain troll status on this blog, we do have our standards.
took the position of John Hagee and the Evangelical, neo-con Protestant stripe.
—
“Neocon” is a nonsense term favored by anti-semites and cranks.
—
After all, Israel is a pure creation of the UN, after the UK washed their hands of the mess of running the Palestine mandate.
—
The United Nations did flat nothing to build the agricultural or town settlements in mandatory Palestine, nor did they form, arm, and train the Haganah.
—
There’s also precedent for diplomatic dealings with unsavory or formerly unsavory groups; it’s been done in Ireland, China, and the Soviet Union.
—
China and Soviet Russia are actual states. Not sure who in Ireland you fancy is ‘unsavory’.
—
And in regard to Israel, many seem to forget it is a liberal secular state having nothing to do with religious Judaism much less with the economy of salvation of the New Covenant. Only Evangelicals who follow the silly end times theories hatched by 19th century Protestants place any religious significance on the aborting, sexually open state of Israel.
—
Israel is a constitutional state in a largely Jewish society. That state has as much or as little to do with that society’s cultural touchstones as any other state in any other society. Public policy is actually quite congenial to the Orthodox population therein.
—
Again, it would be a shame if the Holy See became as small minded as the Southern Baptist convention, at the expense of acknowledging the many legitimate grievances of the non-Jewish occupants of the Holy Land.
—
The ‘many legitimate grievances’ are all in your head. If the Arab authorities do not like their situation, they can bargain for something better. This they will not do because it would require renouncing permanent war on their Jewish neighbors. Their reduced circumstances are a function of wishing not to do that. There are no legitimate grievances which can be derived from being pig-headed and malicious.
The biggest threat to Palestinian Christians is not Israel but rather Palestinian Muslims. The Pope haa endorsed a make believe state dominated by a murderous movement, Fatah. This is a shameful endorsement of evil by the Pope.
Foxfier wrote, “The problem is that they are able to use the power of government to buy favor, not the group they are buying favor from…”
In any mature democracy, there will always be two political parties (or coalitions of parties): the friends of corruption and the sowers of sedition; those who hope to profit from existing abuses and those who hope to profit from the disaffection those abuses excite.
FYI: “By any measure” is not an argument. Above we see two Obama-worshiping imlbeciles play the troll throwing around (as caged monkeys fling feces) unsupported slogans: “anti-Catholic screed,” “not a Catholic website,” “Masonic,” and “ignorant Catholics.” It’s so hackneyed but it’s liberal idiots’ (I repeat myslef again) debating skill. It’s all they have.
.
FYI: if Obama (uber supporter of abortion, gay privileges, class and racial envy/hatred, etc.) is “hugely impressed” with this Pope, either Obama is lying or wrong, or Pope Francis is doing something very wrong.
Israel is the pure creation of the Israelis themselves. They won the ’48 war.
Palestine, on the other hand….
I thought Palestine was dominated by Hezbollah.
.
Oh yeah, that’s right. The Fatah murderers dominate the West Bank, and Hezbollah dominates the Gaza strip.
.
So much for the Palestinian “state.”
I wouldn’t call him evil, but I do suspect he’s doing something foolish.
I do not believe the pressure to give them official recognition has the same possible upsides as, say, officially dealing with Nazi Germany did. (And, as has been discussed here before, that involved a lot of the Pope criticizing their actions even before he was Pope, and only being silent when it was pretty dang obvious any official action would result in thousands of Catholics and Jews slaughtered. Notably lacking, here, since notable portions of said groups are already being actively targeted.)
.
I suspect the Pope has the same lack of grasp of how very deeply Christianity is embedded in our culture and world-view. The Nazi movement was not Christian in any form, but the German culture had soaked in it for centuries.
The Islamic world view is just similar enough to really smack you hard when you run into how they’re very, very different, even more alien than the Japanese.
********
Also, Donald, you left out that bringing in Opus Dei can get partial points, as long as it’s either creative or not utterly flimsy.
I stand corrected Foxfier!
, and Hezbollah dominates the Gaza strip.
—
No. Hamas dominates Gaza. The Hezbollah is a largely Shi’ite militia in Lebanon.
Other than his views on abortion, gay marriage and Satan …
*
Once bitten twice shy. Post Synod of the Family 2014, difficult to give the Pope the benefit of the doubt.
I am amazed at the overt racism and hatred expressed here towards the Palestinians. One expects to visit a religious blog and find tolerance and constructive spirituality. Instead, here, one reads venomous blather founded in actual ignorance. Educate yourselves about the facts before engaging in such despicable banter.
The only reference to race in this thread poa is by you. Your comment about educating “yourselves about the facts” would be a very good idea for you if you are a supporter of Fatah.
I am amazed at the overt racism and hatred expressed here towards the Palestinians.
Unless you consider objecting to known, horrific terrorists doing illegal things to be inherently racist because of some reason besides what they have done– which is a racist idea– then I’m quite curious where you think there’s racism here.
.
One expects to visit a religious blog and find tolerance and constructive spirituality.
A long quote from a holy man you really should hear speak:
BISHOP FULTON J. SHEEN
Christian love bears evil, but it does not tolerate it.
It does penance for the sins of others, but it is not broadminded about sin.
The cry for tolerance never induces it to quench its hatred of the evil philosophies
that have entered into contest with the Truth.
It forgives the sinner, and it hates the sin; it is unmerciful to the error in his mind.
The sinner it will always take back into the bosom of the Mystical Body;
but his lie will never be taken into the treasury of His Wisdom.
Real love involves real hatred:
whoever has lost the power of moral indignation and the urge to drive the buyers and sellers from the temples
has also lost a living, fervent love of Truth.
Charity, then, is not a mild philosophy of “live and let live”;
it is not a species of sloppy sentiment.
Charity is the infusion of the Spirit of God,
which makes us love the beautiful and hate the morally ugly.
http://www.evangelizationstation.com/htm_html/Catholic%20Apologetics/Apologetics/love_is_not_tolerance.htm
Instead, here, one reads venomous blather founded in actual ignorance.
If you believe there to be ignorance, than feel free to illuminate it.
Look at the response to simple, second-hand (or further) ignorance or mistake– when it’s supported by more than an unsupported claim. Instead, you can’t even be bothered to say what you believe is “venomous blather.”
.
Educate yourselves about the facts before engaging in such despicable banter.
Again, a blanket accusation with no support.
One starts to suspect that you are defining “hatred,” “ignorance,” “venomous” and “despicable” as merely things which you do not like, while defining ‘tolerance’ and ‘constructive’ as ‘doing what poa wants.’
.
This is a really bad crowd to try bulling with cheap words and unsupported claims.