Pope Francis has recently stirred up yet another controversy over his thoughts on wealth distribution. The Woke Pope was speaking to a delegation from the Agenzia Delle Entrate, Italy’s revenue agency, where He blessed the tax collectors.
The Pope says everyone has to pay their fair share of taxes, particularly the wealthy, so that the weakest members of society are not 'crushed by the most powerful' people. https://t.co/sNrOOjkp67
— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) January 31, 2022
The Pope went on to encourage the government agency to continue their work in the redistribution of the Italian people’s money to help the poor. Yes, He acknowledged that the work of tax collectors often looks like they are “putting your hands in other people’s pockets, but that what they do is a valuable service.”
Does the Pope Love People or Government?
The Pope’s remarks continued with “In reality, taxation is a sign of legality and justice,” he said. He went on to urge the wealthy to pay their fair share.
Pope Francis blesses tax collectors, says taxation is ‘a sign of legality and justice.’
We are happy to see that @Pontifex agrees that it's time for a #wealthtax.
Via @globeandmail ↓https://t.co/krVUTxDH6R pic.twitter.com/gOUW8MhDM9
— Millionaires for Humanity (@Mills4Humanity) February 2, 2022
“It (taxation) must favor the redistribution of wealth, looking out for the dignity of the poorest who risk always ending up crushed by the powerful,” he said. “Let us work so that the culture of the common good grows and — this is important — so that the universal destination of goods is taken up seriously.”
Taxation “must favor the redistribution of wealth, looking out for the dignity of the poorest who risk always ending up crushed by the powerful.” https://t.co/XwEA4csxLW
— America Magazine (@americamag) January 31, 2022
O the surface this can look very much like Jesus’ interaction with the tax collector in the story of the tax collector and the pharisee in Luke 18: 9-14. But Jesus was rebuking the Pharisee for his pride, and later in scripture even rebukes the Pharisees for their over-collecting of money from their congregation.
Pope blesses tax collectors, calls taxation ‘a sign of legality and justice’ #informalsector #taxevasion #undeclaredwork @EconomyInformal @rccESAP @ILO_EMP_Policy @EU_ELA @Illicit_econ https://t.co/rY5zdZ9QiA via @stltoday
— Colin Williams (@Colin_CWilliams) February 1, 2022
Yes, Jesus says to give Caesar what is Ceasar’s when it comes to the collecting of taxes but it was never in the mindset that government power is who is responsible for the poor and needy of our communities.
In fact, Jesus put a strong emphasis on the individual as well as the church to take care of those who are in need. The liberal talking points of the wealthy paying their fair share is a bogus argument for high taxation which only truly limits the middle and lower classes. Causing more to sink to poverty rather than rise from it.
Blessed are the tax collectors: Pope praises Italy’s inland revenue workers #NewsBreak. He just keeps failing the Church https://t.co/U9zMYyoAa6
— Hamilton Horseman (@HamiltonHorsem1) February 2, 2022
So does Pope Francis, a socialist sympathizer, really care about people? Maybe he thinks so but what he promotes actually harms them. Maybe if church leaders, like the Pope, advocated for a flat tax system. Let’s say that 10% should be the limit, you know the same amount God himself asks for us to tithe. We then may have the ability, and the circulation of wealth, to better advocate for better health care, create more job opportunities, and grow the middle class rather than shrink it.
