Capitalist’s Growing Need for Greed ~ Go Home Adam Shaw, You’re Drunk

Young Fox News editor, Adam Shaw has continued his criticism of Pope Francis in his latest opinion piece http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/01/23/pope-francis-war-on-aspiration/ with accusations of “misguided snobbery” and just what comes off as overall disdain for the leader of this man’s Church. The representative of Christ on Earth, (referencing Mr. Shaw’s own faith, Roman Catholicism) is, according to Mr. Shaw, a snob who is depriving honest, Catholic capitalist of striving to achieve “success”.

During this recent rant, written in the vein of how dare the Pope blah, blah, blah who does he think he is, God on earth or what? Shaw proceeds to chastise His Holiness, Pope Francis regarding the Pope’s forwardness in not shying away from issues of the world’s growing income gap, greed amongst capitalism, and the general plight of the poor. The Pope has been publicly critical in matters regarding the rise in global poverty versus the small percentage of people who control the world’s wealth.

This type of Papal behavior apparently appalls Adam Shaw, a hardworking 20 something young man who believes the Pope should “ get back in conformity with Catholic social teaching and reality.” Wait, what? Did Adam Shaw just tell the Pope to get real?

Adam, maybe you missed a few catechism classes along the way, but when I went to Catholic school…yes, the real kind with eraser throwing nuns, daily mass, and weekly confession…the social teachings of the Church were essential and prominent in our daily lives.  What is this line you want the Pope to get in with?  What would the Pope be preaching if not about serving the poor, loving one another, and turning away from greed, and corruption? Is this not exactly what Jesus did? Align himself with the causes of the poor?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, "To receive in truth the Body and Blood of Christ given up for us, we must recognize Christ in the poorest, his brethren" 

You accuse our Church’s leader of being misguided in thought, and disparaging of personal achievement, but maybe you and he just have a very different understanding of what exactly “success” is?  The way in which you use the word “success” implies that you define “success” in $$ and material wealth. Even your basic garden variety, C & E Catholic understands that this is not in line with the true social teaching of the Roman Catholic Church. What a shame though for you to bring to our attention that in your young Catholic life our Church has failed to provide you will a clear message of our social teachings which Pope Francis is precisely in line with.

The Catholic Church has long presented her core beliefs as for the common good, and being a Jesuit makes our Pope particularly poverty centered. Francis just appears to be the first leader in a very long time to remind us all of this. Just as His namesake, Saint Francis of Assisi was challenged by God to rebuild his Church, so seems to be the task of our newest leader. It is exactly his open departure from conformity that may be the only saving grace of our badly bruised and beaten Church.

You lead your last article with “Pope Francis’ war on aspiration”, again demonstrating your priority of material wealth over spiritual wealth. The very definition of aspiration is a strong desire to achieve something high or great. Pope Francis is schooling us in the path to the greatest aspiration available to man, to be Christ like. Yet, you spend your good Catholic time bashing the Pope for what? Being a Pope.  

You proclaim that the wealthy are responsible for building the Church, but you are wrong. The Church is built and sustained by Her people, all of her people, rich, poor, the bad, the good. By the Communion of Saints with Christ as our leader, each member gives of themselves for the good of all. This is what the Catholic faith teaches. Our Pope is a religious leader, not a politician Mr. Shaw; His obligation is to lead us in faithful ways not capitalistic ways.

Adam Shaw needs to stop making broad judgments about what his fellow Catholics define as success, and reflect on what the Pope is saying.

Go home Adam Shaw, your drunk, on naivety. 

©2014KikiColl

Human rights are not only violated by terrorism, repression or assassination, but also by unfair economic structures that creates huge inequalities.~Pope Francis I