Papal Bull or Affluence Extremism?

In a recent article called Radical Pope, Traditional Values, Robert Colderisi quotes the Pope’s assurances in responses to being called a Marxist by Rush Limbaugh:

“Marxist ideology is wrong,” he told the Italian newspaper La Stampa. “But I have met many Marxists in my life who are good people, so I don’t feel offended. There is nothing in the exhortation that cannot be found in the social doctrine of the church.”

Colderisi goes on: Francis’ economic opinions may appear naïve to those more worried about productivity trends and price-earnings ratios than the 10,000 children who die every day from hunger. But his passion and purpose are timely. Last year, the World Bank reported that the number of extreme poor (those making less than $1.25 a day) had dropped in every region of the world, including Africa, but that the number of those living on less than $2 per day — 2.5 billion people, or 43 percent of the population of the developing world — had hardly budged in 30 years. In other words, improvements in public welfare have barely kept pace with population growth, and there is still much to be done to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor.

I have often heard that the padres in Mozambique quoted as saying: “Do as I say, not as I do.”  So I am impressed to note that Pope Francis declined to live alone in the Vatican palace.  He opted to live in a simple apartment with 2 others.  His predecessor also did the unthinkable – he retired.  No one is saying so, but this could set a precedent as well.  Actions speak louder than words.  This is not being radical, just pragmatic.

By the way, C4L is following suit.  In our case, we are calling it “co-habitation”.  We have devised a way to stay on the same campus while scaling down.  This converts assets from one kind to another in a way that makes C4L more sustainable.  “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

It has been a tough year all round, not just for C4L.  Even Warren Buffet is poised to report that Berkshire Hathaway, his $292 billion company,  failed to increase net worth more rapidly that the S&P 500 index during the past 5 years.  This will be the first time in 44 years that he falls short of the mark since his 1965 takeover of the firm.

Was Warren Buffet called a Marxist when he endorsed the Giving Pledge?  I like Colderisi’s notion that you can still take radical actions while conserving traditional values.  Some years ago I quoted a film called The Blind Side in a previous C4L Bulletin.  A white wealthy Southern family took in a black street kid.  In one of the most poignant scenes in the film, the family invites “Big Mike” to stay with them permanently, after he has been sleeping on the couch for awhile:

Leigh Anne Touhy: Find some time to figure out another bedroom for you.
Michael Oher: This is mine?
Leigh Anne Touhy: Yes, sir.
Michael Oher: I never had one before.
Leigh Anne Touhy: What, a room to yourself?
Michael Oher: A bed.

I have to admit to choking up at this point.   Two Bible verses came to mind: “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head” and “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”  This is not Marxism, this is generosity.  Do you have a blind side to this?

Greatest Hits

Initially, from 1998, C4L Updates - like this one - served as progress reports.  This is part of C4L’s Advancement and they often takes the form of exhortation.

Then in 2006, these updates began to be interspersed with thematic bulletins.  Most of these were on the theme of Childermas – transforming leadership, so that children are safe.

From 2010, the two aspects of Childermas began to diverge.  Transforming leadership has become the dominant theme; in the past year its focus has narrowed – to Triumphalism vs. Constitutionalism.  As for the second aspect - C4L’s focus has shifted from “child protection” to livelihood security for youth.

Quite a collection of challenging reading materials has emerged!  We now invite you to visit our Drop Box… https://www.dropbox.com/sh/49c1ksy7iw66gs9/StBtCrJvPQ?m

Click on Public Engagement, to find these segregated by theme:

• Altruism, koinonia and philanthropy
• Childermas
• Transforming leadership
• Youth rights

Colerisi wrote: The educational role of the church in the developing world has been powerful and often controversial. “All we want is a labor force,” a colonial governor lamented to missionaries in Madagascar a century ago, “and you’re turning them into human beings.”

To blog or not to blog, that is the question?