Thanks for your thoughtful and meaty response.
The situation, issues, choices, actions of the oligarchy et al reminds me of my Dissertation Chairman's comment when I challenged him about some contradictions in Mormonism.
"Life is soooo complex, just about any COCK-A-MAY-ME explanation will do."
I have long respected the RCC's outreaches to the poor etc.
And, actually, I don't mind--to some limited degree--giving money from taxes to Christian orgs to help the poor.
In terms of Francis . . . I initially liked his seemingly practical and 'against the establishment' persona, statements, actions etc.
However . . .
1. the evidence against the Jesuits is vast, deep, extensive and of very long standing.
2. he REALLY IS sounding and acting more and more like a ruthless dyed-in-the-wool globalist.
3. I'm underwhelmed at his efforts to water down Biblical priorities.
4. I'm underwhelmed at his efforts to exalt, molly coddle, appease, support etc. Islam.
5. I'm extremely underwhelmed at his efforts to form a unified one world religion a la Biblical prophecy.
6. I'm underwhelmed at his evidently winking at horrific carp within his authoritative purview as head of the RCC.
Time will tell. However, I'm no longer a fan of Francis. He killed off that perspective, with me, rather quickly.
BTW. I don't for a microsecond believe that THE bedrock reason for the RCC existing was to help the poor etc. Their rising up & politically gathering, coercing Christendom to themselves around AD 300-400 was primarily a power-mongering, wealth-mongering grab. But that's a whole 'nother set of stuff. LOL.
@Quix
I am Catholic. From the beginning of the Catholic Church, their bedrock reason for existing was to help the poor and bring them and others to a belief in Christ and that has never changed and won't. That is the reason this Pope, just as others before him, see the human condition of those trying to get out of these war zones where many of them are dying, and he wants countries to take these poor souls.
He sees this country now ruled by Trump, stopping helping the poor/enslaved/dying people from coming here. He is altruistic and cannot comprehend why we would not take these poor/suffering people.
He is not evil, he is going by Jesus' teaching to help the poor, the weak, as the Catholic church as always done.
Now, let's consider how these incoming refugees are being helped. The Obama administration knew more about the Catholic church than most other people know. They knew the Catholic church belief in helping the poor, so they used the Catholic church, and it is still going on, to take these refugees and find them housing, get them on govn. programs, including health care, and help find them jobs. The govn. GIVES THESE CATHOLIC CHARITIES MONEY TO TAKE THESE PEOPLE. That is where these refugees get help - in Catholic Charities across this country and the govn. gives the various Diocese money to do it.
This is the truth as it is happening in the Diocese of Dallas and Fort Worth; my church is in the Fort Worth Diocese.
Three weeks ago, there was a flier from the Diocese in our church bulletin we get when we go to church. It was a long statement against Gov. Abbott signing new Texas law cracking down on sanctuary cities and making police forces follow the law when an illegal commits a crime - they must inform ICE now. This bulletin was strongly against anyone knowing someone was an illegal and there were suggestions what to do to help illegals stay here. This info. was on both sides of the flier, even suggesting Catholic people get illegals together and teach them how to get a lawyer.
Complaining about the Pope in Rome is not the problem. Our govn. using Catholic Charities across the country, giving them our money to settle refugees from the middle east is the problem.
