The Pope is now elected. The world is safe. Once more for those who have faith in the new Pope whose powers are not answerable to the mere mortals of the Catholic Church. Ah well as long they can bend the knee prayers are their only answer. Even in the mist of the horrific sexual scandals which seem to be endemic in this institution in the present period, yet the faithful fall over themselves to offer support to this rotten, corrupt, decaying, institution. (At least in Europe) No doubt there are individuals who are part of this institution which believe in doing good but continually find themselves defending a rotten institution/system. For the wealthy the dictators of capitalism, the church are their guardian it is an important guarantor of class peace. When needed men of the cloth are wheeled out to get the risen people back where they belong on their knees, with the promise of pie in the sky when you die. All religions are the same from time immemorial they know which side their bread is buttered on. This new Pope was announced on Irish news in the middle of a discussion on the Irish banks new powers for the repossession of the houses of people crucified by the very same banks in capitals present crisis. This in Ireland is a touchy subject giving the history of Irish people being turned out onto the roads by the British. The news switched to Rome and that was that. So a new Pope is useful for the Irish capital in faraway Ireland, it distracts from people losing their homes. We seek solace in a god whatever your religion as means of escaping reality which faces us on a daily basis. Alas bending the knee only empowers the den of thieves who rob us on a daily basis. It will not be prayers who will rid us of them. I thought Marx said it better than me this is the full quote which is very seldom used by those who quote Marx.
“Religious distress is at the same time the expression of real distress and the protest against real distress. Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, just as it is the spirit of a spiritless situation. It is the opium of the people. The abolition of religion as the illusory happiness of the people is required for their real happiness. The demand to give up the illusion about its condition is the demand to give up a condition which needs illusions.”
Karl Marx, Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right 1843
“Man makes religion; religion doesn’t make man Thus, the criticism of Heaven turns into the criticism of Earth, the criticism of religion into the criticism of law, and the criticism of theology into the criticism of politics.” Marx
As for all those who think prayer and the new pope will bring them and the world peace and good will to all, I would suggest it is made in the image of those who dictate through the rule of capital. God knows, pardon the pun this little island could do with a good dose of religion through Pope adoration. For the Government this would be like the good old days.
It is interesting in this time of turmoil for both Church and Capitalism; the “princes” of the catholic faith pick a Jesuit as their new leader. These guys are known as the “marines of the church” appropriate in this time of endless war on terror. The Jesuits have pedigree going back to the Spanish conquest of the America’s. In the most recent time some Jesuits have argued so called liberation theology which only ties workers to murderous capitalism while keeping their followers firmly on their knees. This is no surprise to most after all the Catholic Church can say one thing but mean another. But other times more is understood by what it does not say; for instance it has never denounced slavery especially in the period when a movement existed to abolish it. Admit-ably led by those who seen it as an impediment to the development of modern capitalism.
In Italy it was Mussolini’s right hand one could go on the list is endless. This is not to take away from the individuals in the church who opposed tyranny .Their organization did not.
So now the world has a new Pope, a new banking system according to capitalism with morals. This new Pope comes at time of massive turbulence in the world he will play is part in directing peoples anger into prayer and back on their knees.
Capitalism will be forever grateful and pay homage to High prince of the corrupt, decaying institution called the Catholic Church.
In the meantime in the real world they give their blessing to the propagators of the rape of
Iraq, Syria, Iran, Paslestine, Mali, not to worry we can always pray.
I leave the last word to Ignatius the founder of the Jesuits in a period when the Catholic Church was fighting the Counter Reformation against Protestant Reformers. As part of their service to the Roman Church, the Jesuits encouraged people to continue their obedience to scripture as interpreted by Catholic doctrine. Ignatius is known to have written: (Wikipedia)
“…: I will believe that the white that I see is black if the hierarchical Church so defines it.”
While this was written many moons ago the church remains the same church.
Amen.
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