Pope Benedict XVI was at it again this weekend, this time at an outdoor Mass in Paris where he condemned the world’s love of money and power. The Associated Press reported that the pope labeled the “unbridled ‘pagan’ passion for power, possessions and money as a modern-day plague.”
Paraphrasing from the New Testament, Benedict decried “insatiable greed” and said “the love of money is the root of all evil.”
“Have not money, the thirst for possessions, for power and even knowledge, diverted man from his true destiny?” the pope asked.
Calling Dr. Freud!
Love of power and money are two prominent characteristics of the Catholic hierarchy, reflected in its top-down, iron-fisted management style, in the deference demanded by bishops and cardinals (”Yes, Your Eminence!”) and in the opulence in which many of the clerics live.
Maybe Benedict’s advisers should tell him to forgo these kind of sermons unless he’s willing to strip his brother priests of their unchecked power and their kingly lifestyles. But then again, the pope has too much power to be challenged that way (thanks to reader Drew for the story tip).
4 responses so far ↓
1 Drew // Sep 17, 2008 at 12:34 am
Maybe if he flew coach, got rid of his nice rings and gold threaded robes for something more normal, and lived somewhere surrounded by significantly less gold that the guards at Ft. Knox it wouldn’t look so damned hypocritical of him?
2 Tim Stroud // Sep 17, 2008 at 4:34 am
Uh Oh. This target is WAY too easy.
Yeah. I’m embarrased for the old guy.
But you have to shine the light on it. Otherwise he can get away from saying ANYTHING to the public.
He’s really out of touch. His institution has lost a lot of support over the years. His top-down, iron-fisted management style just serves to alienate possible supporters. His advisors have let him down.
Wait. Who are we talking about here, McCain or the Pope?
Damn, I’m in the wrong discussion again!
3 Drew // Sep 17, 2008 at 7:33 am
Well, not sure where that whole thing was going, but I sure do agree with that first sentence.
It IS way to easy. The sad part is so many people won’t get the hypocrisy and will continue to hang on his sermons as if they actually have any value.
Some will of course, but this message certainly doesn’t.
4 Jenny // Sep 17, 2008 at 11:08 am
Have you actually been to the Vatican? The entire city is rife with stolen and priceless treasures from other nations. The opulence is sickening.
I’ll probably get beat up for this, but Catholicism is nothing that Jesus would remotely want to be associated with. Seriously – read the New Testament – could you see Jesus living like that? Scaring people into parting with their wallets? Luring little boys into that back of the nave? Or even looking away if others did? Not a chance.
The Pope has nothing in common with Jesus.
You won’t find a Bible in a Catholic church pew anywhere in the world. The heirarchy doesn’t want the parishoners to know what it REALLY says in there. They just want you to follow their own rules of the CCC (Catechism of the Catholic Church)
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