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Pope Francis condemns exploitative bosses as 'bloodsuckers' who make workers 'slaves'

Vouthon

Dominus Deus tuus ignis consumens est
Staff member
Premium Member
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...dsuckers-who-make-people-slaves-a7039871.html

Pope Francis condemns exploitative bosses as 'bloodsuckers' who make workers 'slaves'

The Pope has condemned exploitative bosses as “bloodsuckers” and said they make “slaves” out of workers.

Pope Francis also spoke out against unfair employment contracts in a sermon which appeared to refer to both exploited migrants and domestic workers.

Speaking at Mass at the Vatican, he told the story of a girl who found a job working 11 hours a day for 650 euros (£500) a month, and was paid "under the table".

"this is a mortal sin," the Pontiff said.

Referring to unscrupulous employers running unstable seasonal work, he said: "Without a pension, without health care ... then they suspend [the contract], and in July and August [the workers] have to eat air. And in September, they laugh at you about it. Those who do that are true bloodsuckers."

He continued by saying that these employers “fatten themselves on wealth,” the Catholic News Agency reported, and what they do is “is truly a form of slavery.”

“We used to think that slaves no longer exist: they exist. It’s true, people are not going and taking them from Africa to sell them in America, no. But it is in our cities.”

The speech was not a diatribe against wealth, but asked people to consider their relationship to their money and how they earned it.

The Pope has become known for his comments on social justice. On the same day, he spoke to a new delegation of ambassadors to the Vatican on the need to build bridges to deal with the migrant crisis.

While maintaining that fears about migration shouldn’t be ignored, he called for increased communication.

“We must not allow misunderstanding and fear to weaken our resolve,” Pope Francis said, theCatholic News Service reported. “Rather, we are called to build a culture of dialogue, one which enables us to view others as valid dialogue partners, to respect the foreigner, the immigrant and people from different cultures as worthy to be listened to."

"If misunderstanding and fear prevail, something of ourselves dies; our cultures, history and traditions are weakened; and our own peace is compromised.

"When on the other hand, we foster dialogue and solidarity, both individually and collectively, it is then that we experience the best of humanity and secure an enduring peace for all as intended by our Creator," Pope Francis said.
 

ShivaFan

Satyameva Jayate
Premium Member
The genocide in Africa against homosexuals is by Islamic extremists, not this Pope nor by the Catholic church. There are some really lame cases in this discussion, a one trick pony that is really lame.

But as far as this Pope and his sticking his nose in politics, he can get lost as far as I'm concerned, certainly most Americans do not cotton to him telling what form of government we should have and I am not about to trade it in for some idiotic South American vulture government selling the phony lies of free bread if only we give them all the power to be their little turds. I am not interested in this Pope's politics, please stay away along with his agenda to flood America with hordes of illiterate dupes of fascism from South of the Border. The Pope can take the idiot class and house them in St. Peter's Square, not here in the US.
 

The Emperor of Mankind

Currently the galaxy's spookiest paraplegic
The genocide in Africa against homosexuals is by Islamic extremists, not this Pope nor by the Catholic church. There are some really lame cases in this discussion, a one trick pony that is really lame.

The Catholic Church is a contributing factor to the persecution of Africa's LGBTs, as are evangelical Christians from America. And if your "one trick pony" comment is aimed at the RCC aiding and abetting child molesters, it's not lame. It's completely relevant. Mentioning this will continue being relevant as long as the Catholic Church claims moral authority from God; it'll continue as long as the Catholic Church keeps on with its current practices of not releasing the information it has collected over the decades about known paedophile clerics; it'll continue as long as the Pope or any member of the Catholic hierarchy keep on giving un-asked-for statements on moral or ethical issues. People who want to see the Catholic Church treated just like any other criminal organisation aren't going to stop talking about it because you're getting sick and tired of hearing about it. And to be clear, I actually agree with the Pope on this particular issue. I just don't see that he has much room to talk since the Church has been massing wealth for over a millennium and the Church has been caught money-laundering for the likes of the Cosa Nostra.
 

9-10ths_Penguin

1/10 Subway Stalinist
Premium Member
Referring to unscrupulous employers running unstable seasonal work, he said: "Without a pension, without health care ... then they suspend [the contract], and in July and August [the workers] have to eat air. And in September, they laugh at you about it. Those who do that are true bloodsuckers."

He continued by saying that these employers “fatten themselves on wealth,” the Catholic News Agency reported, and what they do is “is truly a form of slavery.”
I can't help but wonder how many Catholic dioceses and Catholic Church affiliated organizations have no seasonal workers, and how many of these employers offer a pension and health care to their employees.
 
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9-10ths_Penguin

1/10 Subway Stalinist
Premium Member
I can't help but wonder how many Catholic dioceses and Catholic Church affiliated organizations have no seasonal workers, and how many of these employers offer a pension and health care to their employees.
@Vouthon
BTW: I checked the job postings for a few dioceses around here. While none of them explicitly said that they don't offer a pension or retirement savings plan, none of them say that they do offer one.

Since we have universal health care here, that's mostly a moot point (though many other employers offer supplementary health insurance for things like optical and drug coverage - no mention of that, either).
 

Milton Platt

Well-Known Member
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...dsuckers-who-make-people-slaves-a7039871.html

Pope Francis condemns exploitative bosses as 'bloodsuckers' who make workers 'slaves'

The Pope has condemned exploitative bosses as “bloodsuckers” and said they make “slaves” out of workers.

Pope Francis also spoke out against unfair employment contracts in a sermon which appeared to refer to both exploited migrants and domestic workers.

Speaking at Mass at the Vatican, he told the story of a girl who found a job working 11 hours a day for 650 euros (£500) a month, and was paid "under the table".

"this is a mortal sin," the Pontiff said.

Referring to unscrupulous employers running unstable seasonal work, he said: "Without a pension, without health care ... then they suspend [the contract], and in July and August [the workers] have to eat air. And in September, they laugh at you about it. Those who do that are true bloodsuckers."

He continued by saying that these employers “fatten themselves on wealth,” the Catholic News Agency reported, and what they do is “is truly a form of slavery.”

“We used to think that slaves no longer exist: they exist. It’s true, people are not going and taking them from Africa to sell them in America, no. But it is in our cities.”

The speech was not a diatribe against wealth, but asked people to consider their relationship to their money and how they earned it.

The Pope has become known for his comments on social justice. On the same day, he spoke to a new delegation of ambassadors to the Vatican on the need to build bridges to deal with the migrant crisis.

While maintaining that fears about migration shouldn’t be ignored, he called for increased communication.

“We must not allow misunderstanding and fear to weaken our resolve,” Pope Francis said, theCatholic News Service reported. “Rather, we are called to build a culture of dialogue, one which enables us to view others as valid dialogue partners, to respect the foreigner, the immigrant and people from different cultures as worthy to be listened to."

"If misunderstanding and fear prevail, something of ourselves dies; our cultures, history and traditions are weakened; and our own peace is compromised.

"When on the other hand, we foster dialogue and solidarity, both individually and collectively, it is then that we experience the best of humanity and secure an enduring peace for all as intended by our Creator," Pope Francis said.
This from the leader of an organization that has fattened itself on the wealth of others hard work?
 

ShivaFan

Satyameva Jayate
Premium Member
The Catholic Church is a contributing factor to the persecution of Africa's LGBTs, as are evangelical Christians from America. And if your "one trick pony" comment is aimed at the RCC aiding and abetting child molesters, it's not lame. It's completely relevant. Mentioning this will continue being relevant as long as the Catholic Church claims moral authority from God; it'll continue as long as the Catholic Church keeps on with its current practices of not releasing the information it has collected over the decades about known paedophile clerics; it'll continue as long as the Pope or any member of the Catholic hierarchy keep on giving un-asked-for statements on moral or ethical issues. People who want to see the Catholic Church treated just like any other criminal organisation aren't going to stop talking about it because you're getting sick and tired of hearing about it. And to be clear, I actually agree with the Pope on this particular issue. I just don't see that he has much room to talk since the Church has been massing wealth for over a millennium and the Church has been caught money-laundering for the likes of the Cosa Nostra.

Actually, no, the persecution by Islamic extremists in Africa makes anything from Christians pale.


No, there is absolutely a strong connection between extreme violent attacks on homosexuals, death penalty for being a homosexual, imprisonment for homosexuality, in Africa, and Islamic extremism in Africa. This sort of antics and violent persecution is much more prevalent in African nations that reach 50% Muslim or more in demographics. Incidents of extreme violence and organized and gang mass murder of homosexuals, including torture prior to murder, against homosexuals have notable higher numbers in the Northern (I am VERY familiar with Nigeria) and Eastern regions of Africa with high incidents of both such attacks and presence of Islamic extremists and the jihadist movements. Yes, Angola (which I am VERY familiar with), Zimbabwe and Namibia, being central and South, are less than 10% Muslim – but one thing they do have in common is communism, and communist states and in particular African communist governments persecute homosexuals and use such divisions to prop up their Kleptocracies and thus parties such as SWAPO which was/is Marxist is also heavily promotional of resources such as oil and capitalistic ventures to support the lavish lifestyles of the communist leaders. However not in as great a magnitude as in the areas of Africa with Islamic extremist presence, but this is rapidly changing in that many of these Marxist or communist Africa nations and the corrupt leaders were heavily reliant on oil and with the drop in price per barrel are now facing challenges from opposition forces to communism – case in point in Angola. So in order to distract from other issues, they are trending towards more attacks on homosexuals as a method to give the peasants some target to blame. However, these antics have not reached the levels of violence and torture coming from the Islamic extremists in Africa.



jLcUtY.jpg


0Ce8S8.jpg
 

VioletVortex

Well-Known Member
I don't like them either, but it's really kind of funny how the right wing Christians are the bosses who exploit workers, but their leader, who you would think would want to appeal to them, is condemning them.
 

The Emperor of Mankind

Currently the galaxy's spookiest paraplegic
Actually, no, the persecution by Islamic extremists in Africa makes anything from Christians pale.


No, there is absolutely a strong connection between extreme violent attacks on homosexuals, death penalty for being a homosexual, imprisonment for homosexuality, in Africa, and Islamic extremism in Africa. This sort of antics and violent persecution is much more prevalent in African nations that reach 50% Muslim or more in demographics. Incidents of extreme violence and organized and gang mass murder of homosexuals, including torture prior to murder, against homosexuals have notable higher numbers in the Northern (I am VERY familiar with Nigeria) and Eastern regions of Africa with high incidents of both such attacks and presence of Islamic extremists and the jihadist movements. Yes, Angola (which I am VERY familiar with), Zimbabwe and Namibia, being central and South, are less than 10% Muslim – but one thing they do have in common is communism, and communist states and in particular African communist governments persecute homosexuals and use such divisions to prop up their Kleptocracies and thus parties such as SWAPO which was/is Marxist is also heavily promotional of resources such as oil and capitalistic ventures to support the lavish lifestyles of the communist leaders. However not in as great a magnitude as in the areas of Africa with Islamic extremist presence, but this is rapidly changing in that many of these Marxist or communist Africa nations and the corrupt leaders were heavily reliant on oil and with the drop in price per barrel are now facing challenges from opposition forces to communism – case in point in Angola. So in order to distract from other issues, they are trending towards more attacks on homosexuals as a method to give the peasants some target to blame. However, these antics have not reached the levels of violence and torture coming from the Islamic extremists in Africa.



jLcUtY.jpg


0Ce8S8.jpg

I don't disagree. Good maps, by the way. What I'm saying is you're not recognising a very significant contributor to the suffering of Africa's LGBT population. I don't dispute that Islamic extremists cause a great deal (probably most) of the suffering LGBTs in Africa experience - I do think, however, that since this thread is about the Pope, Catholicism and Christianity, that mentioning the imported Christian homophobia from Europe and America is worthwhile. Especially in light of the fact the Pope continues to act as though he and his Church are some sort of moral authority.
 

Glaurung

Denizen of Niflheim
I don't like them either, but it's really kind of funny how the right wing Christians are the bosses who exploit workers, but their leader, who you would think would want to appeal to them, is condemning them.
You do understand that the pope is the head of a particular church, not some universally recognised leader of "right wing Christians". I'd would also like to know what leads you to conclude that Christianity is universal among exploitive bosses?
 

C-Faith

Member
You do understand that the pope is the head of a particular church, not some universally recognised leader of "right wing Christians". I'd would also like to know what leads you to conclude that Christianity is universal among exploitive bosses?

The pope is a good man, but he is NOT a representative of Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2: 5)

That is false doctrine
 

metis

aged ecumenical anthropologist
The pope is a good man, but he is NOT a representative of Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2: 5)

That is false doctrine
Did not the apostles "represent" Jesus after Jesus was crucified?

Remember, the word "represent" does not mean "the same as...". My congressman represents me, but he is not me.
 

Acim

Revelation all the time
If getting paid minimum wages for work equals slavery, then suddenly all slaves of the past had not much to complain about, one would think. Freedom not really a question, just a matter of the slave not being paid well enough for their contributions.

IOW, hyperbole much Francis?

To me, this all stems from some fundamental notion we share about having to 'earn a living.' That strikes me as older than the oldest profession.
 

Glaurung

Denizen of Niflheim
The pope is a good man, but he is NOT a representative of Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2: 5)
The pope doesn't claim to represent Christ in the sense that you mean it. The pope claims to be the direct successor of Saint Peter to whom Christ gave authority over the Chruch. Matthew 16:18-19

But in any case, what relevance has that to the post you replied to?
 
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9-10ths_Penguin

1/10 Subway Stalinist
Premium Member
I think the Pope got this one right.
Exploiting workers is awful, but I find it fundamentally hypocritical that the head of an organization that only stopped literally enslaving women 20 years ago would be trying to take the moral high ground on this issue.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magdalene_Laundries_in_Ireland

I also wonder if he'd be willing to open the doors to see how workers are treated in Catholic monasteries and convents around the world. Here in Ontario - like many other places - there's an exemption from the Employment Standards Act for "holders of religious office", and the ESA is the best legislative tool we have in this jurisdiction for stopping the exploitation of workers. It would be a great way for the Pope to put his money where his mouth is to argue that these religious exemptions should be removed from the ESA and similar legislation worldwide... but I'm not holding my breath that this will ever happen.
 

Sunstone

De Diablo Del Fora
Premium Member
Exploiting workers is awful, but I find it fundamentally hypocritical that the head of an organization that only stopped literally enslaving women 20 years ago would be trying to take the moral high ground on this issue.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magdalene_Laundries_in_Ireland

I also wonder if he'd be willing to open the doors to see how workers are treated in Catholic monasteries and convents around the world. Here in Ontario - like many other places - there's an exemption from the Employment Standards Act for "holders of religious office", and the ESA is the best legislative tool we have in this jurisdiction for stopping the exploitation of workers. It would be a great way for the Pope to put his money where his mouth is to argue that these religious exemptions should be removed from the ESA and similar legislation worldwide... but I'm not holding my breath that this will ever happen.

I don't think hypocrisy logically changes the fact he's right, though.
 

9-10ths_Penguin

1/10 Subway Stalinist
Premium Member
I don't think hypocrisy logically changes the fact he's right, though.
No, it doesn't. What I'm objecting to isn't the factualness of what he's saying; it's the attempt through this speech and others to rebrand the Catholic Church as a guardian of social justice, despite its history - some of it quite recent - and current activities.
 
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