In stark comparison to his predecessors, Pope Francis' choice of a papal vehicle--a Hyundai--was unpretentious.
Perhaps signifying his vision for the papacy/church, he also rode in a unassumingly small Fiat (which his organization still put a fender-flag on).
You don't see that often at his level! (Well, it might remind you of when America's "Big 3" automaker CEOs needed federal bailout money. After being attacked in the media and Senate for each using a private jet to visit Washington DC--while being supposedly bankrupt--each drove economy-sized, cars to their next visit in Washington DC).
I think the pope has wisely chosen to modify the papal image. His short-lived predecessor (whom he was nominated against, at that time) reverted to papal splendor, excess, and ultra-luxury... bringing back ermine fur, silk slippers, thrones, and crowns (a triple-layered crown for a pope--taller than a typical monarch's), as seen below.
Looking at Melk Abbey, built in 1702, you can tell how the Catholic church "lorded over" kings and peasants alike. See its "royal-like" palatial surroundings and the papal crown hanging above the altar...
It always seemed odd to me that monks, nuns and parish priests adopt a unadorned lifestyle of modesty and austerity--with their main focus on serving God and helping people...
... yet the Catholic hierarchy above them relishes in a lifestyle of luxurious excess--with their main focus on inflating the financial success of the church... and "layering on" more materialism.
Lots of hungry and uneducated mouths could be nourished with the money that's poured into making new luxuries for the church's top-tier (who historically run it like a for-profit, but tax-exempt, business).
Unlike monks, the top-tier of Catholic religion seems to live like royalty (like "high priests" of the ancient Egyptian or Incan or Mayan civilizations). They still live in palaces, amidst hordes of artwork, treasuries, and "secured" libraries, with flag-festooned limousines & private airplanes. They sit on thrones, wear expensive custom-made robes and jeweled accessories, and have their own royal guards. How many religions possess all that?
(Incidentally, aside from the papal limousines and jets, in 1841, two of the papal carriage horses were named "Bandit" and "Pompous". One of the first Popemobiles was called "Lictoria Sex". Early Popemobiles had a "throne chair"... unlike all royal/presidential limousines that didn't.)
Consider all the images above. Quite a contrast from the modest or indebted way that thousands of worshipers live.
As you consider the continued poverty in Catholic communities, know that the word "Sinecure" originated with the medieval Church. It means "an office that requires or involves little or no responsibility, labor, or active service". It was a potent political tool to give cushy overpaid jobs to people to get favors in return: access, bargains, contracts, exceptions, favorable rulings, and support. Think about that word coming from the church.
With a birthrate of zero, Vatican City (surrounded by Rome, Italy) is one of the smallest countries in the world. Lewis and I visited it, admired St. Peter's Basilica, and were fortunate to see the Sistine Chapel inside the papal palace. Occupying merely 1 square mile, it has more than a billion "royal subjects" around the world. It has its own Vatican Bank, newspaper, and postal service. It is ruled politically and religiously by the pope (elected by a "college" of cardinals as its monarch).
The beginning of the Roman Catholic Church was also the beginning of Christian discipline, penance, and continence. It also began celibacy for priests. Christian Europe, from the fourth century onward regarded same-sex relations (which had historically always been allowed) as "peccatum non nominandum inter Christanos" = "the sin not even to be mentioned among Christians" (with devilish punishments). Gone were the days of Greek poets singing of male love, male gods in love with men, and Greek vase-painters portraying homoerotic scenes. Evidence of such was buried/burned, like the Nazi book-burning brigades.
Regardless of the new official Christianity, Roman gods continued to be celebrated simultaneously by the people, as they had been for centuries before Jesus. "Old habits die hard", and skeptics keep their roots.
By the year 891, popes were already entrenched in royal politics, power-grabs between the Byzantine and Western "empires", and in churchly power-plays. It was gruesome. Famously, the dead Pope Formosus was disinterred, dressed as a pope again, put on trial, found unworthy of the title, and ritually--via ancient Roman tradition--"executed", then buried again.
Unlike Buddhist, Native American, or Indian yogi religious leaders, popes strategized ploys with princes, marquis, dukes and bishops. (Bishops are part of the chess board, you know). Popes waged wars and encouraged populations to fight each other. Royalty and aristocracy couldn't do what they wanted regarding marriages and separations... without the pope's approval. Popes brokered and arranged royal marriages. Popes were necessary for king or queen coronations. (That's why the papal crown is a three-tier apparatus, instead of just one crown). Popes put the crowns on the royalty of Europe. They dealt in real estate, bribery, blackmail, and deal-mongering. The Church still holds some of the most valuable real estate in every part of the world! The pope's support was crucial to monarchs fighting rebellions... like Mary, Queen of Scotts and the Spanish kings. Through it all, popes always sought compensation, in return.
Pope John X famously satisfied his lusts and debauchery, instead of the affairs of Christendom, during his 14+ years on the papal throne, to the disgrace of humanity.
In 936, Pope Leo VII (stepson of the king of Italy) allowed his appointed archbishop of Mainz to drive out Jews who refused to be baptized. At least he didn't endorse their forced baptism, as others did. Leo's successor got the pontificate because his relative was the German king. Shortly after, there was even an "antipope", Leone, appointed by Emperor Otto in 963.
Long after the Roman Empire was dead, popes still crowned men as Roman Emperors, to win their egos and physical/monetary support. "Holy Roman Emperor" was a sought-after title--despite it being of little consequence--until only a century ago.
Yet, popes were still put on trial for their worldly ways. e.g.: Pope John XII was accused of being paid for ordaining bishops, and for fornicating with several widows, his father's concubine, and his own niece, and for making the sacred palace into a whorehouse. (Sounds like Roman emperor Caligula! Some things never change in Rome. [see the 1979 film]).
Popes Julius II, Paul III, Gregory XIII and Leo XII were sexually active after receiving their "holy orders"--which is a "cardinal sin" (pun intended). Some delayed their ordination in order to continue their promiscuous lifestyles, fathering illegitimate children. Nine other popes (from 904 until the 1500s) were formally accused of being sexually active during their pontificate. I'm sure that hundreds of others weren't documented.
Pope Nicholas III was renown for his nepotism. Famous author of the 1300s, Dante Alighieri (of Dante's Divine Comedy and Inferno--about the church's hypocrisy and its sins) made satire cartoons about him. Dante also placed the pope in Purgatory (in his book). One hundred years later, Pope Urban VI was thought to have suffered delirium of his power. Others say he was merely forbidding the cardinals from accepting so many bribes, annuities, and bishoprics.
Lots of wealth accumulated at Church headquarters... not necessarily going to the poor or needy or to improving society. The extravagant pontificate of Clement VI wiped out the treasury that had been accumulated during the previous 2 pontiffs! To make more money, popes like Martin V launched wars and Crusades (even commanding children to fight, when the adult population dwindled)!
Few papacies launched peace.
Popes (and their subordinates) engaged in assassination, unjust excommunication, bribery, orgies, executions without trials, and torture of victims. Canonical law like the "1234 Decretals" perpetuated the servitude of Jews. The Vox in Rama was a churchly decree that condemned black cats as incarnations of Satan. The Catholic Church fought against the discoveries of Copernicus, Galileo, Charles Darwin and John William Draper, so that the world would remain uneducated. Papal law involved an "Index of Prohibited Books", including Protestant teachings, the teachings of other beliefs, and works of social satire. (Sounds like the Nazis and Soviets, huh?) After Joan of Arc (called a messenger of God) led the floundering French armies to success, French priests demanded her murder (to preserve their power). In the name of God, the Catholic church insisted that the world was flat, instead of round! At the other extreme, Pope Pius IX ordered that all nude male statues in the Vatican's vast collection be destroyed, because they had penises. (Nonetheless, many popes and their underlings enjoyed homosexuality within the church properties).
All this was done while the church proclaimed itself as salvation for sinners.
It's especially disconcerting to see how the papacy ignores the centuries-old issue of priests molesting boys--all the while maintaining its anti-gay stance. (See the movie "Spotlight").
Have you gone in to some Catholic churches? You assume it's a free place of worship. Yet, they charge you for prayer candles! Some use electronic candles! (that work via coin machines or credit card swipes).
In contrast to those policies, Jesus said, "Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade." (John 2:13-16, when Jesus overturned the commerce tables in the temple).
Americans might think of Christianity as pleasant pastors working at welcoming parishes. Yet, the Roman Catholic Church scared people into membership via "fire & brimstone" methods. They bullied people--and whole civilizations--into joining their religion. If not, they threatened to drive you out of the community, smear your reputation, shame you from your job, or kill you.
"Missionaries" were sent by the Catholic Church to every "New World"... to pilfer its resources, eradicate existing religions (competition), wipe out protesters, and set up churches--to send money back to Vatican City.
Catholics famously used (and still use) "guilt". Guilt is a big part of the religion. Unlike other religions, you can't participate in Communion until you've paid at Confession. In addition to Confession, popes like Paul IV proclaimed that "Outside the Catholic Church there is no salvation". Catholics don't let members of other religions up to their altars or share in Communion (like other Christian regions do). I once brought a coworker to an Episcopal church, and when she realized that it wasn't Catholic, she said in disdain, "What kind of church have you brought me to!?"
Fueled by greed, the Catholic Church began selling Indulgences: the paid-for forgiveness of sins! Sacrilegious to God's commandments and Christs's teachings, the Church inserted itself as the "middle man" and "toll collector". It's like the Mob "strong-arming" local businesses, demanding weekly "protection money". It was illegal, but the Church considered itself above the laws of mankind.
During that scheme, a church employee titled as a Pardoner sold the Indulgences, which naive believers paid the Church for the forgiveness of their sins. Thus, Pardoners became deeply corrupt and abusive for their own profit. Obviously, the scheme favored the rich, who did dastardly evildoings but paid the Church to absolve them so they could bypass God's judgement and go to Heaven.
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Thus, seeing the new pontiff shirk luxurious attire, prefer simple furniture, and ride in an accessible "open air" car...
...shows a step in a welcomed direction. I look forward to seeing his good works. I'm sure he knew the ethical responsibilities before he assumed the "mantle".
*NOTE: On November 22, 2015, the News announced that a telltale book, Merchants in the Temple, by Italian journalist Gianluigi Nuzzi, is due on Thursday but an advance copy was obtained by The Associated Press. It reveals how financially wasteful the Catholic Church has been. In 2012, Nuzzi used Pope Benedict's butler to get documents to furnish his exposé. This book won't help Pope Francis, as he tries to "reel in" the Church's bureaucracy. The book shows how Francis' Reform Commission was hindered by "bloated" officials who enjoyed near-complete autonomy of spending and hiring. (Similar to China's Last Emperor trying to rein-in his royal court's wastefulness... or akin to NYC's police or MTA). "A complete absence of transparency in bookkeeping", the auditors wrote, "Costs are out of control." When the commission learned that the Vatican's saint-making office had no real documentation of its bank accounts, it had the accounts frozen. Nuzzi reveals how Vatican officials and cardinals vie for the fanciest apartments, but when the second-highest-ranking cardinal's neighbor was hospitalized, that cardinal broke through the wall and took a room to add to his own apartment! The pope consequently fired that cardinal, named Sciacca. Worst so far, 378,00o Euros--donated by churches worldwide to help the poor--was only used for Vatican expenses!
Last Christmas, the pope gave a speech about the "15 ailments of the Roman Curia", including living "hypocritical" double lives. Perhaps that is why church attendance dwindles.
It always seemed odd to me that monks, nuns and parish priests adopt a unadorned lifestyle of modesty and austerity--with their main focus on serving God and helping people...
... yet the Catholic hierarchy above them relishes in a lifestyle of luxurious excess--with their main focus on inflating the financial success of the church... and "layering on" more materialism.
Lots of hungry and uneducated mouths could be nourished with the money that's poured into making new luxuries for the church's top-tier (who historically run it like a for-profit, but tax-exempt, business).
It may bring to mind the scene from the Godfather film (below), where the Catholic hierarchy in Rome allows a notorious mobster to enrich some of its subsidies.
(Incidentally, aside from the papal limousines and jets, in 1841, two of the papal carriage horses were named "Bandit" and "Pompous". One of the first Popemobiles was called "Lictoria Sex". Early Popemobiles had a "throne chair"... unlike all royal/presidential limousines that didn't.)
As you consider the continued poverty in Catholic communities, know that the word "Sinecure" originated with the medieval Church. It means "an office that requires or involves little or no responsibility, labor, or active service". It was a potent political tool to give cushy overpaid jobs to people to get favors in return: access, bargains, contracts, exceptions, favorable rulings, and support. Think about that word coming from the church.
With a birthrate of zero, Vatican City (surrounded by Rome, Italy) is one of the smallest countries in the world. Lewis and I visited it, admired St. Peter's Basilica, and were fortunate to see the Sistine Chapel inside the papal palace. Occupying merely 1 square mile, it has more than a billion "royal subjects" around the world. It has its own Vatican Bank, newspaper, and postal service. It is ruled politically and religiously by the pope (elected by a "college" of cardinals as its monarch).
After the fall of the ancient Roman Empire, the pope controlled Rome. For centuries, he was called the "King Pope", ruling over an empire of "papal states" in Italy. [When modern Italy was formed (like the American colonies getting united), the pope hid inside Vatican City, in exile. In 1929, the Vatican City was named as its own country].
From their height, Vatican hierarchy might view the "average people" from a different perspective...
... which might explain why some "living standards" (at both ends) continue after two thousand years. [In fact, only St. Mark's church on East 10th Street, NYC, publicly acknowledges that it donates more money to the "needy" than it spends on itself or its physical adornment.]
Nonetheless, people still beseech the pope for support.
The papacy (a.k.a Holy See) has embassies--called Apostolic Nunciatures--around the globe! Other global religions do not possess such political connections. Other faiths, creeds, and religions don't demand 10% of believers' incomes (called tithing) to pay for dozens of pricey properties, embassies, vehicles, staffs, and wardrobes.
The Vatican also has a "Permanent Observer" who has a seat in the United Nations and attends its meetings.
The current pope was the first in history to take the name "Pope Francis", named after Saint Francis. In 1209, St. Francis preached reform against the rich decadence of Roman Catholic Church governance. He truly took Jesus' message of non-materialism, simplicity, and brotherly love. Surely, this pope is sending the same message. Why?
The current pope's behavior tries to decelerate a history of nefarious papal crimes. I researched the Catholic Church's policies and popes, and wasn't happy with what I found.
Three hundred years after Christ's death, the ancient Roman Empire officially stopped persecuting Christians. (Alas, Christians were not forgiving to other civilizations or religions... despite that being Jesus' teaching). To save its existence, the Roman Empire officially adopted a belief in Jesus Christ's teachings; it made Christianity the official religion. Thus, it eradicated its previous beliefs in all the Roman gods and their centuries-old legends. In an instant, the world was changed.
(When the Roman army conquered the Greek Empire, they adopted the Greek gods and renamed them. So, I suppose it wasn't hard for them to discard the gods in favor of one God, Jesus' father).
As other forms of Christianity were extinguished, it became "the Roman Catholic Church". Its Councils of Nicaea began the process fine-tuning a divination for Christ, and Roman Catholics orchestrated the overlap/adoption of pagan customs and dates. Historians consider that to be their biggest recruitment and retention strategy. Everyone knows that Jesus wasn't born in December, but the Church moved his birthday there because it wanted to recruit a civilization that had its biggest celebration in December. Italian scholars know that ancient Rome allowed all religions to exist, and temples flourished for the Persian god, Mithra. Mithra was born from a virgin in December in the third millennium BCE. Many believe that early Christian leaders applied his folklore to Jesus and merged the tales so the celebration of Jesus Christ could overtake Mithra.
Catholicism was the first religion that taught people to believe in an afterlife in "heaven". THAT drew enormous popularity. Other religions didn't have a heaven. With followers believing in Heaven, the Roman Catholics saw a huge opportunity. They inserted themselves as gatekeepers to heaven (hence the Papal crest: keys dangling in front of you).
If you wanted to get into heaven, you had to satisfy the Catholic church (and its cravings). What a business! It resembles the Italian mafia's extortion tactics (except the cardinals/pope were supposedly "divinely sent" by God!)
From their height, Vatican hierarchy might view the "average people" from a different perspective...
... which might explain why some "living standards" (at both ends) continue after two thousand years. [In fact, only St. Mark's church on East 10th Street, NYC, publicly acknowledges that it donates more money to the "needy" than it spends on itself or its physical adornment.]
Nonetheless, people still beseech the pope for support.
The papacy (a.k.a Holy See) has embassies--called Apostolic Nunciatures--around the globe! Other global religions do not possess such political connections. Other faiths, creeds, and religions don't demand 10% of believers' incomes (called tithing) to pay for dozens of pricey properties, embassies, vehicles, staffs, and wardrobes.
The Vatican also has a "Permanent Observer" who has a seat in the United Nations and attends its meetings.
The Pope and his all-male cardinals (this centuries-old organization still disregards women and homosexuals) have close ties with powerful world leaders... even thought they avoid paying taxes to those leaders' nations.
The current pope's behavior tries to decelerate a history of nefarious papal crimes. I researched the Catholic Church's policies and popes, and wasn't happy with what I found.
Three hundred years after Christ's death, the ancient Roman Empire officially stopped persecuting Christians. (Alas, Christians were not forgiving to other civilizations or religions... despite that being Jesus' teaching). To save its existence, the Roman Empire officially adopted a belief in Jesus Christ's teachings; it made Christianity the official religion. Thus, it eradicated its previous beliefs in all the Roman gods and their centuries-old legends. In an instant, the world was changed.
(When the Roman army conquered the Greek Empire, they adopted the Greek gods and renamed them. So, I suppose it wasn't hard for them to discard the gods in favor of one God, Jesus' father).
As other forms of Christianity were extinguished, it became "the Roman Catholic Church". Its Councils of Nicaea began the process fine-tuning a divination for Christ, and Roman Catholics orchestrated the overlap/adoption of pagan customs and dates. Historians consider that to be their biggest recruitment and retention strategy. Everyone knows that Jesus wasn't born in December, but the Church moved his birthday there because it wanted to recruit a civilization that had its biggest celebration in December. Italian scholars know that ancient Rome allowed all religions to exist, and temples flourished for the Persian god, Mithra. Mithra was born from a virgin in December in the third millennium BCE. Many believe that early Christian leaders applied his folklore to Jesus and merged the tales so the celebration of Jesus Christ could overtake Mithra.
Catholicism was the first religion that taught people to believe in an afterlife in "heaven". THAT drew enormous popularity. Other religions didn't have a heaven. With followers believing in Heaven, the Roman Catholics saw a huge opportunity. They inserted themselves as gatekeepers to heaven (hence the Papal crest: keys dangling in front of you).
If you wanted to get into heaven, you had to satisfy the Catholic church (and its cravings). What a business! It resembles the Italian mafia's extortion tactics (except the cardinals/pope were supposedly "divinely sent" by God!)
When the Catholic Curia squandered its profits from that scheme, it invented the idea of Purgatory before Hell, and it falsely positioned itself as the redeemer for souls that it said were in Purgatory. It levied high prices on people who wanted to pay for souls to be removed from Purgatory and avoid Hell. The Catholic leaders squandered their profits from that, too.
The beginning of the Roman Catholic Church was also the beginning of Christian discipline, penance, and continence. It also began celibacy for priests. Christian Europe, from the fourth century onward regarded same-sex relations (which had historically always been allowed) as "peccatum non nominandum inter Christanos" = "the sin not even to be mentioned among Christians" (with devilish punishments). Gone were the days of Greek poets singing of male love, male gods in love with men, and Greek vase-painters portraying homoerotic scenes. Evidence of such was buried/burned, like the Nazi book-burning brigades.
Regardless of the new official Christianity, Roman gods continued to be celebrated simultaneously by the people, as they had been for centuries before Jesus. "Old habits die hard", and skeptics keep their roots.
By the year 891, popes were already entrenched in royal politics, power-grabs between the Byzantine and Western "empires", and in churchly power-plays. It was gruesome. Famously, the dead Pope Formosus was disinterred, dressed as a pope again, put on trial, found unworthy of the title, and ritually--via ancient Roman tradition--"executed", then buried again.
Unlike Buddhist, Native American, or Indian yogi religious leaders, popes strategized ploys with princes, marquis, dukes and bishops. (Bishops are part of the chess board, you know). Popes waged wars and encouraged populations to fight each other. Royalty and aristocracy couldn't do what they wanted regarding marriages and separations... without the pope's approval. Popes brokered and arranged royal marriages. Popes were necessary for king or queen coronations. (That's why the papal crown is a three-tier apparatus, instead of just one crown). Popes put the crowns on the royalty of Europe. They dealt in real estate, bribery, blackmail, and deal-mongering. The Church still holds some of the most valuable real estate in every part of the world! The pope's support was crucial to monarchs fighting rebellions... like Mary, Queen of Scotts and the Spanish kings. Through it all, popes always sought compensation, in return.
Pope John X famously satisfied his lusts and debauchery, instead of the affairs of Christendom, during his 14+ years on the papal throne, to the disgrace of humanity.
In 936, Pope Leo VII (stepson of the king of Italy) allowed his appointed archbishop of Mainz to drive out Jews who refused to be baptized. At least he didn't endorse their forced baptism, as others did. Leo's successor got the pontificate because his relative was the German king. Shortly after, there was even an "antipope", Leone, appointed by Emperor Otto in 963.
Long after the Roman Empire was dead, popes still crowned men as Roman Emperors, to win their egos and physical/monetary support. "Holy Roman Emperor" was a sought-after title--despite it being of little consequence--until only a century ago.
Yet, popes were still put on trial for their worldly ways. e.g.: Pope John XII was accused of being paid for ordaining bishops, and for fornicating with several widows, his father's concubine, and his own niece, and for making the sacred palace into a whorehouse. (Sounds like Roman emperor Caligula! Some things never change in Rome. [see the 1979 film]).
Popes Julius II, Paul III, Gregory XIII and Leo XII were sexually active after receiving their "holy orders"--which is a "cardinal sin" (pun intended). Some delayed their ordination in order to continue their promiscuous lifestyles, fathering illegitimate children. Nine other popes (from 904 until the 1500s) were formally accused of being sexually active during their pontificate. I'm sure that hundreds of others weren't documented.
Pope Nicholas III was renown for his nepotism. Famous author of the 1300s, Dante Alighieri (of Dante's Divine Comedy and Inferno--about the church's hypocrisy and its sins) made satire cartoons about him. Dante also placed the pope in Purgatory (in his book). One hundred years later, Pope Urban VI was thought to have suffered delirium of his power. Others say he was merely forbidding the cardinals from accepting so many bribes, annuities, and bishoprics.
Lots of wealth accumulated at Church headquarters... not necessarily going to the poor or needy or to improving society. The extravagant pontificate of Clement VI wiped out the treasury that had been accumulated during the previous 2 pontiffs! To make more money, popes like Martin V launched wars and Crusades (even commanding children to fight, when the adult population dwindled)!
Few papacies launched peace.
Popes (and their subordinates) engaged in assassination, unjust excommunication, bribery, orgies, executions without trials, and torture of victims. Canonical law like the "1234 Decretals" perpetuated the servitude of Jews. The Vox in Rama was a churchly decree that condemned black cats as incarnations of Satan. The Catholic Church fought against the discoveries of Copernicus, Galileo, Charles Darwin and John William Draper, so that the world would remain uneducated. Papal law involved an "Index of Prohibited Books", including Protestant teachings, the teachings of other beliefs, and works of social satire. (Sounds like the Nazis and Soviets, huh?) After Joan of Arc (called a messenger of God) led the floundering French armies to success, French priests demanded her murder (to preserve their power). In the name of God, the Catholic church insisted that the world was flat, instead of round! At the other extreme, Pope Pius IX ordered that all nude male statues in the Vatican's vast collection be destroyed, because they had penises. (Nonetheless, many popes and their underlings enjoyed homosexuality within the church properties).
All this was done while the church proclaimed itself as salvation for sinners.
It's especially disconcerting to see how the papacy ignores the centuries-old issue of priests molesting boys--all the while maintaining its anti-gay stance. (See the movie "Spotlight").
Have you gone in to some Catholic churches? You assume it's a free place of worship. Yet, they charge you for prayer candles! Some use electronic candles! (that work via coin machines or credit card swipes).
In contrast to those policies, Jesus said, "Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade." (John 2:13-16, when Jesus overturned the commerce tables in the temple).
Americans might think of Christianity as pleasant pastors working at welcoming parishes. Yet, the Roman Catholic Church scared people into membership via "fire & brimstone" methods. They bullied people--and whole civilizations--into joining their religion. If not, they threatened to drive you out of the community, smear your reputation, shame you from your job, or kill you.
"Missionaries" were sent by the Catholic Church to every "New World"... to pilfer its resources, eradicate existing religions (competition), wipe out protesters, and set up churches--to send money back to Vatican City.
Catholics famously used (and still use) "guilt". Guilt is a big part of the religion. Unlike other religions, you can't participate in Communion until you've paid at Confession. In addition to Confession, popes like Paul IV proclaimed that "Outside the Catholic Church there is no salvation". Catholics don't let members of other religions up to their altars or share in Communion (like other Christian regions do). I once brought a coworker to an Episcopal church, and when she realized that it wasn't Catholic, she said in disdain, "What kind of church have you brought me to!?"
Fueled by greed, the Catholic Church began selling Indulgences: the paid-for forgiveness of sins! Sacrilegious to God's commandments and Christs's teachings, the Church inserted itself as the "middle man" and "toll collector". It's like the Mob "strong-arming" local businesses, demanding weekly "protection money". It was illegal, but the Church considered itself above the laws of mankind.
During that scheme, a church employee titled as a Pardoner sold the Indulgences, which naive believers paid the Church for the forgiveness of their sins. Thus, Pardoners became deeply corrupt and abusive for their own profit. Obviously, the scheme favored the rich, who did dastardly evildoings but paid the Church to absolve them so they could bypass God's judgement and go to Heaven.
The Church also sold "relics"--mostly artificial items that were claimed to be authentic, like "splinters of wood from Christ's cross".
They ignored the fact that Jesus said, "My house shall be called a house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves." (Matthew 21:12-13).
Without any authenticity--and only their faith--modern parishioners still worship relics, and donate money/gifts to them.
Have you read Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales? It's symbolic of medieval society beginning to question the Catholic Church's authority, and exposing church corruption in the behavior of its clergy, false relics, and abuse of Indulgences. One of the characters is a Summoner, a Church officer who brought sinners to the "church court" for penalties. Sometimes they wrote false citations to squeeze money from parishioners. Summoners might use spies and prostitutes to seek out information. So churchly! They worked with Pardoners to create a lucrative income. The story's Monk shows how monasteries had grown to control huge tracts of land, from which they reaped lots of profits (which were not donated to the poor). The story's Prioress is dressed fancily and adorned with luxury, exposing her lack of spiritual concentration. The story's Friar was supposed to live among the poor, giving his earnings to aid their struggle. Yet, in reality, he's a crook and womanizer, seeking only to appease his desires.
They ignored the fact that Jesus said, "My house shall be called a house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves." (Matthew 21:12-13).
Without any authenticity--and only their faith--modern parishioners still worship relics, and donate money/gifts to them.
Have you read Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales? It's symbolic of medieval society beginning to question the Catholic Church's authority, and exposing church corruption in the behavior of its clergy, false relics, and abuse of Indulgences. One of the characters is a Summoner, a Church officer who brought sinners to the "church court" for penalties. Sometimes they wrote false citations to squeeze money from parishioners. Summoners might use spies and prostitutes to seek out information. So churchly! They worked with Pardoners to create a lucrative income. The story's Monk shows how monasteries had grown to control huge tracts of land, from which they reaped lots of profits (which were not donated to the poor). The story's Prioress is dressed fancily and adorned with luxury, exposing her lack of spiritual concentration. The story's Friar was supposed to live among the poor, giving his earnings to aid their struggle. Yet, in reality, he's a crook and womanizer, seeking only to appease his desires.
Monks are supposed to take vows of poverty, yet look at these (tax-free) monasteries and abbeys; they are palatial.
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The Catholic church of King Henry VIII's time was full of corruption and waste. Monks in England lived like Lords on the offerings of the poor. They took children in, but instead of educating them as promised, used them as servants. For hundreds of years, monks wrote the history books--suppressing actual history--to make one favorable to Rome. Annually, the hoards of money that churches, abbeys, and monasteries "floated" to Rome was staggering. A 2013 detective episode of "Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries" involves a 1920s-era Catholic halfway house that actually enslaves orphan girls "for the blessing of living there", while collecting fees for laundry services (that the girls perform).
The Catholic "Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction" prompted quarrels between church and secular governments, as popes declared in the 1600s that clergy were exempt from the jurisdiction of civil and criminal courts around the world!
Roman Catholic cardinals are infamously included as villains in stories of the Musketeers, Knights Templar, Teutonic Knights, and the English Tudor king (see the TV series, The Tudors). The incompetent wealthy French cardinal was instrumental in the Diamond Scandal against Marie Antoinette (he was unpunished). The Borgia popes (see the HBO mini-series), beginning in 1455 were some of the most famously corrupt and power-hungry. After them, the famous Italian banking family of Medici had four popes from their ranks. Divination or bought by money?
The church massacred people/opponents/competition during the Inquisition, the Crusades, and the "sacking of Rome". It violently thwarted other religions like Catharsism in Southern Europe. Yet, it also awarded "papal fiefdoms" (including the serfs) to supporters.
The Church of England was created in 1534 by breaking away from the Roman Catholic organization. The Lutheran church broke away in Germany in 1522. The Presbyterians broke away in 1580. The Baptist church broke away in the Netherlands in 1606. The Greek Orthodox church broke away in 1054, famously having a Patriarch of Constantinople to rival the Roman pope's power.
Today, millions of people wonder how any member of the Church begins with a vow of poverty but sustains their existence amidst luxury by charging money for services can truly be acting for the people and God? Simultaneously, Catholicism is criticized for the Guilt it lays upon its members.
I recall being with several priests and a bishop at a religious supply store. It was after Christmas, and the church had lots of donations. Getting out of one priest's new Cadillac DeVille, the men bought themselves gold and silver pectoral crosses and trinkets... unnecessary luxuries that duplicated things they already had. One priest spent thousands of dollars on new vestments (his others weren't old) and furnishings (new banners and a hand-carved chair for the visiting bishop), to celebrate the opening of a new wing to his suburban church. I'm sure it'll impress new members, but I wonder how many poor families in their districts needed those funds. I don't think parishioners put money into the offering plate for such priestly indulgences.
NYC's Cardinal Dolan was questioned on the $177 million spent on his cathedral (ready in time for the pope's "appearance" during Evening Vespers), while his Archdiocese closed Catholic schools and churches around the city. Dolan (below) replied, "When we have a a renewed, restored, repaired St. Patrick's Cathedral, we're going to be more effectively able to preach the message of service to the poor." Hmmm.
(Researching the media, I learned that Dolan got his promotion to NYC by hiding the Church's money in Milwaukee before lawsuits arrived from families who's boys had been molested by priests. What a Godsend... but for whom? While stashing the money, he gave molesters $20,000 each to leave Church payroll. Milwaukee had 700 priests and nearly 600,000 churchgoers--48 were confirmed sex abuse victims, and 500 more sought restitution).
Jesus taught simply in simple settings. Mankind embellished and "added meaning" to everything, much of it from a desire for power and influence and membership retention.
Has the Catholic Church, Roman Curia, or Vatican Bank used its money and power for good? Has it achieved world peace? Has it bred more understanding, forgiveness, openness, acceptance, equal rights, equal opportunity, or education? Has it ended world hunger or human abuses? One thing is certain: the Vatican Bank--and its foreign accounts--have grown.
The Catholic "Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction" prompted quarrels between church and secular governments, as popes declared in the 1600s that clergy were exempt from the jurisdiction of civil and criminal courts around the world!
Roman Catholic cardinals are infamously included as villains in stories of the Musketeers, Knights Templar, Teutonic Knights, and the English Tudor king (see the TV series, The Tudors). The incompetent wealthy French cardinal was instrumental in the Diamond Scandal against Marie Antoinette (he was unpunished). The Borgia popes (see the HBO mini-series), beginning in 1455 were some of the most famously corrupt and power-hungry. After them, the famous Italian banking family of Medici had four popes from their ranks. Divination or bought by money?
The church massacred people/opponents/competition during the Inquisition, the Crusades, and the "sacking of Rome". It violently thwarted other religions like Catharsism in Southern Europe. Yet, it also awarded "papal fiefdoms" (including the serfs) to supporters.
The Church of England was created in 1534 by breaking away from the Roman Catholic organization. The Lutheran church broke away in Germany in 1522. The Presbyterians broke away in 1580. The Baptist church broke away in the Netherlands in 1606. The Greek Orthodox church broke away in 1054, famously having a Patriarch of Constantinople to rival the Roman pope's power.
Today, millions of people wonder how any member of the Church begins with a vow of poverty but sustains their existence amidst luxury by charging money for services can truly be acting for the people and God? Simultaneously, Catholicism is criticized for the Guilt it lays upon its members.
I recall being with several priests and a bishop at a religious supply store. It was after Christmas, and the church had lots of donations. Getting out of one priest's new Cadillac DeVille, the men bought themselves gold and silver pectoral crosses and trinkets... unnecessary luxuries that duplicated things they already had. One priest spent thousands of dollars on new vestments (his others weren't old) and furnishings (new banners and a hand-carved chair for the visiting bishop), to celebrate the opening of a new wing to his suburban church. I'm sure it'll impress new members, but I wonder how many poor families in their districts needed those funds. I don't think parishioners put money into the offering plate for such priestly indulgences.
NYC's Cardinal Dolan was questioned on the $177 million spent on his cathedral (ready in time for the pope's "appearance" during Evening Vespers), while his Archdiocese closed Catholic schools and churches around the city. Dolan (below) replied, "When we have a a renewed, restored, repaired St. Patrick's Cathedral, we're going to be more effectively able to preach the message of service to the poor." Hmmm.
(Researching the media, I learned that Dolan got his promotion to NYC by hiding the Church's money in Milwaukee before lawsuits arrived from families who's boys had been molested by priests. What a Godsend... but for whom? While stashing the money, he gave molesters $20,000 each to leave Church payroll. Milwaukee had 700 priests and nearly 600,000 churchgoers--48 were confirmed sex abuse victims, and 500 more sought restitution).
Jesus taught simply in simple settings. Mankind embellished and "added meaning" to everything, much of it from a desire for power and influence and membership retention.
Has the Catholic Church, Roman Curia, or Vatican Bank used its money and power for good? Has it achieved world peace? Has it bred more understanding, forgiveness, openness, acceptance, equal rights, equal opportunity, or education? Has it ended world hunger or human abuses? One thing is certain: the Vatican Bank--and its foreign accounts--have grown.
Thus, seeing the new pontiff shirk luxurious attire, prefer simple furniture, and ride in an accessible "open air" car...
...shows a step in a welcomed direction. I look forward to seeing his good works. I'm sure he knew the ethical responsibilities before he assumed the "mantle".
*NOTE: On November 22, 2015, the News announced that a telltale book, Merchants in the Temple, by Italian journalist Gianluigi Nuzzi, is due on Thursday but an advance copy was obtained by The Associated Press. It reveals how financially wasteful the Catholic Church has been. In 2012, Nuzzi used Pope Benedict's butler to get documents to furnish his exposé. This book won't help Pope Francis, as he tries to "reel in" the Church's bureaucracy. The book shows how Francis' Reform Commission was hindered by "bloated" officials who enjoyed near-complete autonomy of spending and hiring. (Similar to China's Last Emperor trying to rein-in his royal court's wastefulness... or akin to NYC's police or MTA). "A complete absence of transparency in bookkeeping", the auditors wrote, "Costs are out of control." When the commission learned that the Vatican's saint-making office had no real documentation of its bank accounts, it had the accounts frozen. Nuzzi reveals how Vatican officials and cardinals vie for the fanciest apartments, but when the second-highest-ranking cardinal's neighbor was hospitalized, that cardinal broke through the wall and took a room to add to his own apartment! The pope consequently fired that cardinal, named Sciacca. Worst so far, 378,00o Euros--donated by churches worldwide to help the poor--was only used for Vatican expenses!
Last Christmas, the pope gave a speech about the "15 ailments of the Roman Curia", including living "hypocritical" double lives. Perhaps that is why church attendance dwindles.
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