I live in a Central America country in which the population lives on an average of $130 per month. Being this part of the world the battleground where the Liberation Theology (LT) was promoted and carried out, it is unsettling to hear the words of the Holy Father “a poor Church for the poor” because of the use the leftists movements will make of that phrase for their political gain.
If it means a preferential option for the poor based on Christian charity, I’m 100% for it. But if it means a preferential option for the poor to further the class warfare (poor vs. rich, poor NATION vs. rich NATION), prevalent in the leftist leaders of these nations then I’m not for it as class warfare is not a Christian teaching. Back in the 70’s and 80’s, when the LT was being pushed in these nations, the result was that some of our countries were thrown into wars that left thousands of dead only to make possible the Marxist/communist takeover of governments. Many priests (most of them Jesuits) were behind the LT movement, and as mentioned the emphasis was made on the overthrow of rightists regimes, backed up by the USA in their global confrontation with the USSR, with very little if not a complete lack of the spiritual well being of the poor. The liberating part was of a political regime, not a spiritual liberation from sin. I remember the phrase “Jesus was the first revolutionary” being told around and thousands of Catholics truly believing that Jesus Gospel was being carried out in the fights against dictators and the shedding of the blood of the oppressors.
I’m also worried about how the media will report what the Pope is saying. No one can denied that the left controls most of the mass communication outlets, be it TV, newspaper, magazines and radio. They can distort (and will distort) what the Pope says and again millions of Catholics will be deceived. Catholics like Pelosi and Company will say they side with the Pope and his preferential option for the poor, but instead of giving from her own purse she will take money out of your pockets to fund social programs that will waste most of the funds.
As for the Vatican treasures, the Pope cannot sell them, they are not his. I read somewhere that there are Italian laws that prevent the selling of these treasures by the Vatican.
One final note: in our countries the poor are not just economically poor, they are -unfortunately- poor in their moral values too. Single mothers abound, men with multiple women having kids is also very high among them. Many feel they have a right to steal, “things are for those who need them” they say. Parents send their children to beg for money in street corners while they are semi hiding in the distance. Men spend whatever money they get in vices: smoking, alcohol, drugs. There was an old saying, “poor, but honest”. That is not the norm nowadays.
While on a trip to another country I was asked “Where do the richest poor of the world live?” I was surprised by the question. My host gave me the answer, “here in Puerto Rico. The US Government sends millions of dollars to give away to the poor, they give them an apartment, A/C, a TV, oven, refrigerator, electricity, water, washer, dryer, and they never work. You’ll find a car parked outside and they even use the money to buy drugs”.
I understand that we have to be charitable, so let’s be charitable, but I also believe these truths have to be known.** Beware of those who will usurp our Christian charity to promote their political agendas.**
