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Pope Francis often sprinkles his writings or public speeches with pungent zingers on issues like inequality and environmental destruction. But he unexpectedly omitted one of the punchiest lines in his prepared remarks to Congress, as he skipped past a line condemning the role of money in politics. “If politics must truly be at the service of the human person, it follows that it cannot be a slave to the economy and finance,” the pope’s advance script stated.
Federico Lombardi, a Vatican spokesman, said Francis omitted the passage by accident.
The line appears to challenge the dominant role of money in American politics.
A paragraph in the prepared text quotes briefly from the Declaration of Independence — the passage on self-evident truths — and then says, "If politics must truly be at the service of the human person, it follows that it cannot be a slave to the economy and finance." The paragraph defines politics in terms of the "compelling need to live as one" and building a common good that "sacrifices particular interests in order to share, in justice and peace, its goods, its interests, its social life." That passage would have come up 20 minutes into the speech, but Francis omitted it. It's unclear whether that was purposeful or he inadvertently skipped it. Francis, who has said English is difficult for him, spoke verbatim from his prepared remarks for the entirety of the rest of his speech. The message would have fit other remarks he made — and has made previously — about economic and political inequality. Last March, the Crux reported on an interview in which Francis criticized political money in Argentina, his home country. "In the financing of electoral campaigns, many interests get into the mix, and then they send you the bill," Francis was quoted as saying. He added, "Everything needs to be transparent and clean." He also and spoke approvingly of public financing: "Perhaps public financing would allow for me, the citizen, to know that I'm financing each candidate with a given amount of money."
originally posted by: EA006
a reply to: InnerPeace2012
I'm not happy either. He's supposed to be announcing E.T's
I'm beginning to think the internet isn't being 100% honest with me.....
For most on ATS, who are already aware of the corrupt political system driven by corporations, can agree message behind this one liner. But why could the Pope just say it like it's suppose to.
The Vatican has a very dense and widespread investment portfolio – holding billions of shares in the most powerful international corporations. Just to give you an example – the Vatican is heavily invested in Gulf Oil, General Motors, General Electric, International Business Machines, Shell and many others. The Catholic powerhouse also has large investments with the Rothschild family, and a number of world-renowned banks. In the United States alone, the Vatican is deeply invested in the Morgan Bank, the Chase-Manhattan, the Bankers Trust Company and a number of others. Their investments are so diverse and abundant, that it could make for a separate story.
“‘The Catholic Church,’ he said, ‘must be the biggest corporation in the United States. We have a branch office in every neighborhood. Our assets and real estate holdings must exceed those of Standard Oil, A.T.&T., and U.S. Steel combined. And our roster of dues-paying members must be second only to the tax rolls of the United States Government.’”
originally posted by: EA006
a reply to: InnerPeace2012
I'm beginning to think the internet isn't being 100% honest with me.....
originally posted by: Blaine91555
a reply to: InnerPeace2012
He seems a fairly nice guy. Why not direct your complaint towards the real culprits sitting in his audience. You just don't like the Pope and use this as a reason to attack him?
For most on ATS, who are already aware of the corrupt political system driven by corporations, can agree message behind this one liner. But why could the Pope just say it like it's suppose to.
originally posted by: Blaine91555
a reply to: InnerPeace2012
I will admit, I'm not that big on any church leader addressing Congress, but I do think churches in general do a better job of some things than government ever will.
originally posted by: Xcathdra
a reply to: InnerPeace2012
With all due respect to his Holiness but does he really think he can claim the moral high ground when it comes to money and politics?
* - Vatican banking scandal
* - Vatican Money laundering
* - Vatican Tax scandal
* - Vatican departments hiding hundreds of millions of Euros secretly tucked away.
* - Vatican corruption scandal
all the while they still hide the complete 3rd secret of Fatima...