‘I quote the Gospel, they call me a Communist’

[PTL]

Two former Communists, Bella Dodd and Manning Johnson, spoke on Communist infiltration of the Catholic Church. Dodd, an important Communist party lawyer, teacher and activist, converted to Catholicism in April 1952 under the tutelage of Bishop Fulton J. Sheen. Stating that the Communist infiltration was so extensive that in the future “you will not recognize the Catholic Church,” Dodd also asserted that:
“In the 1930’s, we put eleven hundred men into the priesthood in order to destroy the Church from within.”
“Right now they are in the highest places, and they are working to bring about change in order that the Catholic Church will no longer be effective against Communism.”

jesus-is-savior.com/False%20Religions/Roman%20Catholicism/communism.htm

There is American Congressional record of Bella Dodd’s testimony about this. You can search for it.

 

[Robert_Bay]

Please don’t link to anti-Catholic websites

 

[openmind77]

… he naively thinks that more government involvement would lessen whatever injustices and exploitation that is being done.

Are you saying the pope is naive ?

. He does not specify exactly what is unjust about the economy as a whole,.

It is pretty obvious what is unjust - the richest country in world has so many poor people who are hungry, without healthcare or a decent living wage and there are people who want to take away what little help they get

 

[ProVobis]

Are you saying the pope is naive ?

It is pretty obvious what is unjust - the richest country in world has so many poor people who are hungry, without healthcare or a decent living wage and there are people who want to take away what little help they get

Yet Americans are the most generous people in the world on a per capita basis.

 

[Inisfallen]

The bishop probably was influenced by marxism. When people speak of the root causes of poverty,they are usually speaking suggestively of the free market economy and businesses. But before marxism,the root causes of poverty were always known to be sloth,lack of industry and resourcefulness,ignorance and dissipation,because that is what people commonly observe.

So the only causes of poverty are “sloth,lack of industry and resourcefulness,ignorance and dissipation”?

The circumstances of one’s birth can’t have anything to do with one’s poverty? Tell that to a child born in a Brazilian favela. Lack of access to education, health care, even clean drinking water don’t have anything to do with that child’s poverty?

Or the thousands of people thrown out of work in the recent collapse of the American financial industry. Not so sure “sloth” had anything to do with their situation.

 

[J_Peterson]

The root cause of poverty is sin and I’m not talking about the poor’s sins. Lazarus did nothing but be poor and he went to heaven. The rich man did nothing but ignore the poor and he went to hell. It’s one of the most clear teachings in the New Testement.

 

[Tarpeian_Rock]

He was the bishop (from Brazil?) who said something like “when I feed the poor, they call me a saint, but when I ask why they’re poor, they call me a Communist,” right?

Wise words. How can one help the poor without understanding why they’re poor?

Yup, that’s the one!

 

[FollowChrist34]

The root cause of poverty is sin and I’m not talking about the poor’s sins. Lazarus did nothing but be poor and he went to heaven. The rich man did nothing but ignore the poor and he went to hell. It’s one of the most clear teachings in the New Testement.

The idea of eliminating poverty is an abstraction and a dangerous one - it leads people into leftist ideology which, if unchecked, basically becomes a religion, especially for the secular-minded. Generating wealth can likewise become idolatry, causing people to shift their focus from the common good to the self, personal gain, and materialism; again, a greater danger to the secular-minded. However, these ideologies or cultural influences can adversely influence and distort the Christian faith if one is not careful. We will never eliminate inequality. But we do have a Christian, humanitarian obligation to help our neighbors and ensure that all reasonable efforts are made to provide decent living conditions for them, whether they be down the street or across the globe. This obligation can and often will involve sacrifice. IMHO liberation theology goes too far, so does Paul Ryan/Ayn Rand.

 

[CHESTERTONRULES]

I think the government should use tax money to help the poor with the essentials of food, shelter, and clothing.

But the government shouldn’t be using taxpayer money on evils like abortions and calling this helping the poor.

Good point.

It is difficult to be charitable when you are unemployed!

 

[CHESTERTONRULES]

The root cause of poverty is sin and I’m not talking about the poor’s sins. Lazarus did nothing but be poor and he went to heaven. The rich man did nothing but ignore the poor and he went to hell. It’s one of the most clear teachings in the New Testement.

I disagree.

The root cause of poverty is stupidity and/or ignorance.

Well meaning leftists do more damage than good.

 

[ProVobis]

The idea of eliminating poverty is an abstraction and a dangerous one - it leads people into leftist ideology which, if unchecked, basically becomes a religion, especially for the secular-minded. Generating wealth can likewise become idolatry, causing people to shift their focus from the common good to the self, personal gain, and materialism; again, a greater danger to the secular-minded. However, these ideologies or cultural influences can adversely influence and distort the Christian faith if one is not careful. We will never eliminate inequality. But we do have a Christian, humanitarian obligation to help our neighbors and ensure that all reasonable efforts are made to provide decent living conditions for them, whether they be down the street or across the globe. This obligation can and often will involve sacrifice. IMHO liberation theology goes too far, so does Paul Ryan/Ayn Rand.

I agree. There are all sorts of people who are dependent on others for their well-being, if not survival.

 

[Seamus_L]

Beware of Utopian philosophies. They inevitably result in the belief that the end always justifies the means.

 

[J_Peterson]

I disagree.

The root cause of poverty is stupidity and/or ignorance.

Well meaning leftists do more damage than good.

I’ll agree if by stupid you mean that it’s stupid to not listen to the words our Lord spoke with His own mouth and ignorant in that a person may be ignorant of the fact that God has a special love for the poor and to not provide for them is to not provide for the Lord.

Although I do lean left in some respects (i.e. I’m more of a collectivist than an individualist) , there was nothing leftist about my post.

I agree that we will never eliminate poverty in this world which is why we should try and make it as easy on the poor as we possible can. There will be no poverty after the Resurrection.

 

[CHESTERTONRULES]

I’ll agree if by stupid you mean that it’s stupid to not listen to the words our Lord spoke with His own mouth and ignorant in that a person may be ignorant of the fact that God has a special love for the poor and to not provide for them is to not provide for the Lord.

Although I do lean left in some respects (i.e. I’m more of a collectivist than an individualist) , there was nothing leftist about my post.

I agree that we will never eliminate poverty in this world which is why we should try and make it as easy on the poor as we possible can. There will be no poverty after the Resurrection.

Capitalism is the best method for lifting the most people out of poverty.

I agree that we will always have the poor with us, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t pursue policies which minimize poverty.

 

[Seamus_L]

And who is this THEY the Pope is referring to ? Rush Limbaugh I believe only stated that that some of the Pope’s economic ideas were Marxist, while allowing for the possibility that what he read was a mistranslation.

 

[FollowChrist34]

And who is this THEY the Pope is referring to ? Rush Limbaugh I believe only stated that that some of the Pope’s economic ideas were Marxist, while allowing for the possibility that what he read was a mistranslation.

To be honest, I wondered about that too. Seriously, where in the world are people doing this, a gold star to the first person who can name the country.

 

[christofirst]

To be honest, I wondered about that too. Seriously, where in the world are people doing this, a gold star to the first person who can name the country.

Not a country so much as media personalities and commentators. Glen Beck was another who used the Marxist label on the pope as did the Economist magazine.

 

[FollowChrist34]

Not a country so much as media personalities and commentators. Glen Beck was another who used the Marxist label on the pope as did the Economist magazine.

Agreed, it is a mentality, but it is basically only coming from a particular place. I am NOT trying to stir anything up; I just think it is prudent to be aware that the rest of the world is not doing this and they see it as coming from us; the Pope may see it like that too. Knowledge is power; again, not trying to start anything, facts are facts. I thought about this the other day, that’s all - what does the Pope think of the US, the US Catholic Church, etc. I am trying to see it from his view.

 

[openmind77]

I disagree.

The root cause of poverty is stupidity and/or ignorance.

Well meaning leftists do more damage than good.

Perhaps it is this very myth, conveniently promoted by rich people, which the Pope wants to get rid of, so that people will get needed help without being accused of stupidity or ignorance. Blaming the victim is a perfect way to avoid helping.

 

[anthony022071]

Are you saying the pope is naive?

He sounds naive in regard to his opinions on the government and the economy and the causes of poverty. He seems to just go along with socialist views. I know he is not a socialist,so he must be naive.

It is pretty obvious what is unjust - the richest country in world has so many poor people who are hungry, without healthcare or a decent living wage and there are people who want to take away what little help they get

The proportion of people who go hungry and without access to health care is small. The number of people who are in that condition is large because the population of the country is very large - about 318 million people. As for a decent living wage,that is partly a matter of opinion,and it depends upon whether a person is single or married or married and with children. It is not necessary to be in the middle income range to be in a decent living condition. I am single and far below the middle income range but my living condition is decent.

It isn’t proper for the government to be helping people with their personal needs so that they become dependent upon it and lose their motivation to help themselves and others. It is unnatural. It goes against natural law. The responsibility of helping those in need naturally and properly belongs individual persons,families,neighbors,and churches.