originally posted by **Flickker **
Ok thanks, good answer. So he was specifically talking about Christmas and not year round materialism - which he certainly enjoys, gifts or not. So I guess that warrants another question: What is the Pope’s (Church’s) view on materialism, period? I assume it’s okay to live in such opulence. I’m reading the Catechism now but haven’t got to that part yet.
You asked two separate questions.
The Church’s view on materialism is very similar to any Christian Church’s view. Focus on God not things.
What is the Pope’s view? Well clearly he teaches one thing but his clothes he chooses to wear, whether gifts or not, are very expensive. And although I would agree with others when they say it is not wrong for a pope to dress in expensive gifts, I prefered JPII and his acting out of his faith in Christ. He, although wore the clothes, the uniform so to speak, he was often seen in plain brown shoes. I don’t think he ever had expensive sunglasses as the current pope has been photographed in and is being reported in the news.
The way you explained it seemed reasonable to me, but hypothetically, if he WAS being somewhat hypocritical in whatever capasity, ie. failing to live out a certain message as well as he could, then that would be fine with Catholics (and God), as long as the spoken message was clear? You seem to imply that would be the case.
No, it would not be fine with God nor Catholic Christians. Just because we can accept the fact that people are human with human failings, does not mean we should not fight against it/them whenever we encounter it.
What I meant by that is it is an example of how the Church and its teachings are kept true by God’s promises in Scripture, yet the man who is supposed to be leading it, fails to live up to the teachings of the Church.
I understand, but we all have questions. Know that I don’t ask to try and dismantle or put down but to satisfy a genuine curiosity.
Thanks for your time.
Questions are good. But sometimes, it appears as if others expect the Pope to be impeccable, perfect in behavoir. My explanation was trying to show that even if in the worst case scenario, (and there have been some worst case popes in history), even if the pope’s behavoir were not Christian, it does not mean the teachings of the Catholic Church ever stopped being Christian, just as Scripture promises.
We have yet to see much of the fruit of the new pope, except that he may be too attatched to the finer things in life. Either that or he has not figured out how to gracefully say no, without hurting the feelings of the giver. Either way, the fruit of an individual, does not reflect the fruit of all in a Church. The weeds and the wheat are supposed to left to grow together.
God Bless,
Maria
