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Judi Lynn

(160,623 posts) Fri Jun 21, 2013, 05:06 PM Jun 2013

Pope blames speculation, corruption for "scandalous" food crisis

Source: Reuters

Pope blames speculation, corruption for "scandalous" food crisis
June 20, 2013 03:09 PM

ROME: Pope Francis said on Thursday that financial speculation and corruption were keeping millions of people in hunger and the financial crisis could not be used as an alibi for failing to to help the poor.

The speech was the latest in a series of criticisms by the Argentinian pontiff, the first Latin American pope, of what he has called "the dictatorship of the economy" and the spread of consumerist values.

"It is a well-known fact that current levels of production are sufficient, yet millions of people are still suffering and dying of starvation. This is truly scandalous," he said in a speech to participants of a United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization conference in Rome.

Francis has made repeated calls to tackle poverty and focus on the needs of the poor since he succeeded Pope Benedict in March. He has made it his mission to rejuvenate an institution reeling from scandals, including widepread sexual abuse by priests, and losing people to other faiths.

Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/International/2013/Jun-20/221020-pope-blames-speculation-corruption-for-scandalous-food-crisis.ashx#ixzz2Wt3FKmtU

13 replies

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Pope blames speculation, corruption for "scandalous" food crisis (Original Post) Judi Lynn Jun 2013 OP

thus says the CEO of one of the wealthiest non-government entities on the planet nt msongs Jun 2013 #1

So the fuck what? Does that change the truth of what he said?nt Dreamer Tatum Jun 2013 #2

Every Vatican-related post is deluged with that sort of reaction Posteritatis Jun 2013 #3

Thanks; darn right. elleng Jun 2013 #4

Hear, hear!!! Beacool Jun 2013 #7

Through the vagaries of history, Brigid Jun 2013 #11

WWJ say? RobertEarl Jun 2013 #13

maybe he could make sins against the poor like this a sin rurallib Jun 2013 #5

To do that would mean a complete revision of Catholic theology. GreenStormCloud Jun 2013 #10

Sins against the poor ought to be one of the "non-negotiables" meow2u3 Jun 2013 #12

He should come over and address the bible thumper repugs in Congress... NYtoBush-Drop Dead Jun 2013 #6

I have no love for religion. Brewinblue Jun 2013 #8

Fucking hypocrite. What's your position on family planning again, Mr. Pope? NickB79 Jun 2013 #9

msongs

(67,441 posts)

1. thus says the CEO of one of the wealthiest non-government entities on the planet nt

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Fri Jun 21, 2013, 05:20 PM

Jun 2013

Dreamer Tatum

(10,926 posts)

2. So the fuck what? Does that change the truth of what he said?nt

Reply to msongs (Reply #1)

Fri Jun 21, 2013, 05:22 PM

Jun 2013

Posteritatis

(18,807 posts)

3. Every Vatican-related post is deluged with that sort of reaction

Reply to Dreamer Tatum (Reply #2)

Fri Jun 21, 2013, 05:25 PM

Jun 2013

I just take it for granted that if the Catholic Church does anything other than commit mass suicide people will crap on whatever gets said.

(I do wonder at times if people think it actually does change the truth of what he said, though. Ugh.)

elleng

(131,107 posts)

4. Thanks; darn right.

Reply to Dreamer Tatum (Reply #2)

Fri Jun 21, 2013, 05:27 PM

Jun 2013

AND he's not exactly been in a position to change the church's history over the centuries. He seems to be doing what he can to change its direction in many ways.

Beacool

(30,251 posts)

7. Hear, hear!!!

Reply to Dreamer Tatum (Reply #2)

Fri Jun 21, 2013, 05:40 PM

Jun 2013

There's so much intolerance toward religion on this site, particularly when it comes to the Catholic Church. Yes, there are some things I don't agree with, but the Church is the largest NGO in the world and the Vatican is mostly a museum. Asking them to get rid of their riches is like asking the US to sell the content of all the Smithsonian museums.

Brigid

(17,621 posts)

11. Through the vagaries of history,

Reply to Beacool (Reply #7)

Fri Jun 21, 2013, 08:37 PM

Jun 2013

The Vatican has found itself the custodian of many priceless treasures. Pope Francis can't exactly rip the frescoes out of the walls and sell them.

RobertEarl

(13,685 posts)

13. WWJ say?

Reply to Brigid (Reply #11)

Fri Jun 21, 2013, 11:17 PM

Jun 2013

Jesus said, if you want to follow him sell all your worldly goods, give the money to the poor.

Right there in the bible, I do believe.

rurallib

(62,448 posts)

5. maybe he could make sins against the poor like this a sin

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Fri Jun 21, 2013, 05:29 PM

Jun 2013

at least equivalent to taking a birth control pill.
Maybe he could advocate birth control so there are less starving people.
I still have some hope for this one

GreenStormCloud

(12,072 posts)

10. To do that would mean a complete revision of Catholic theology.

Reply to rurallib (Reply #5)

Fri Jun 21, 2013, 08:20 PM

Jun 2013

They would have to toss out the doctrine of original sin and its means of transmission.

Protestants dumped it almost 500 years ago.

meow2u3

(24,772 posts)

12. Sins against the poor ought to be one of the "non-negotiables"

Reply to rurallib (Reply #5)

Fri Jun 21, 2013, 11:01 PM

Jun 2013

but that would offend conservatives. We can't have that.

NYtoBush-Drop Dead

(490 posts)

6. He should come over and address the bible thumper repugs in Congress...

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Fri Jun 21, 2013, 05:34 PM

Jun 2013

you know, the hypocrites.

Brewinblue

(392 posts)

8. I have no love for religion.

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Fri Jun 21, 2013, 06:25 PM

Jun 2013

But I really like this guy. And, if he has the fortitude and can stay alive, he might make an an incredibly positive impact.

NickB79

(19,264 posts)

9. Fucking hypocrite. What's your position on family planning again, Mr. Pope?

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Fri Jun 21, 2013, 08:06 PM

Jun 2013

Ya know, that whole "condoms and birth control an family planning are bad and should be frowned upon by the world's Catholics" which is ultimately at the core of why we have a couple billion more mouths to feed than we can sustainably?

Current levels of production are sufficient, for now. They likely WON'T be sufficient for much longer, given what climate change and environmental degradation is starting to do to our farmer's ability to get bountiful yields of crops.

http://www1.umn.edu/news/news-releases/2013/UR_CONTENT_447180.html

Current global food production trajectory won't meet 2050 needs

New University of Minnesota research shows current growth in global crop yields will be insufficient to feed the world in 2050 and identifies focus areas for closing the gap.

Oh, got nothing to say about that? Oh well, maybe next time.

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