The Vatican is Thowing Stones

I hesitate to remind the Pope that he who is without sin should cast the first stone.

 

Reuters news reported Pope Francis "attacked unfettered capitalism as "a new tyranny", urging global leaders to fight poverty."  Again, my greatest issue with leaders of organized religion is the hypocrisy.  I will bet that the monthly upkeep on just one of the cathedrals in Vatican City would feed the poor in Italy for a year or more.  I mean, really, have you seen the size and opulence of these places?  Not to mention the value of the art, the properties throughout the world, the business investments, and the banks I understand they own.

 

But, the Pope's heart is right on target.  Global leaders should be looking at this issue and attacking the "unfettered capitalism" in favor of fighting poverty.  This message gets lost in the clutter of the Vatican wealth, however.  If the Pope wants everyone to listen, which they are more than ever with this new pope, he needs to take the first step by selling some priceless art, the Sistine Chapel, or St. Peter's Basilica.  Show us the Church is serious, and the faithful will fall in line.

 

What the Vatican needs to stop doing is attacking the global economic system and "idolatry of money" while they are raking it in from tourists 24/7/365.  

He writes of economic inequality, absolute autonomy of markets and financial systems and calls for an overhaul, all wonderful ideas from a pope that is cut from a different cloth than those before him.  He drives a Ford Focus and calls for austerity of those around him.  His arguments must get through the deaf ears in the Vatican, however.  He might be better served taking on his own house before he takes on global super powers. 

 

The example the Vatican makes will go a long way to showing a different path for the world.  But, for right now, he should remember that people in glass houses...