Pope Francis' Latest Smackdown on Capitalists: Stock Markets vs the dying homeless
- Thread starter HighwayMan
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Whether or not it's cheaper to own than charter depends on how much travel is involved. But both can be cheaper than flying commercially. People hear 'private' and assume excessive $$ being spent as a luxury. That only shows an ignorance about the economics involved. The only 'luxury' involved on our corporate aircraft was not having to go through the hassles of a large airport and security. The plane itself -- not that much.
Which is what the article posted about the private charter plane Pope Benedict used seems to confirm. It says:
"Unlike Air Force One, the official aircraft of the President of the United States, the Popes plane is not kitted out with any special facilities such as an office or a bar.
Instead, the Pontiff gets a row to himself at the front of the aircraft, with the most senior officials from the Vatican Secretariat of seated in the rows directly behind."
Nothing more luxurious than a commercial jet it would seem. Only avoiding the hassle, for both those traveling and the airport security that would have to process them.
And the decision to not fly commercial going home it cites as:
"However, the Vatican said the decision was based on the more practical need to avoid the threat of strike action by BA cabin crew and because it was more cost-effective to retain the Alitalia aircraft for the short trip."
Which is quite probable based on my experience. But by all means let's spend more money to fly commercially to avoid giving people something to pass judgment on.
So, the complaint again exactly is what? Other than poor assumptions not based on fact and a need to throw a stone or two? Would seem to about sum it up.
One wonders if the apostles ever managed to round up a horse or two to travel instead of on foot there was the same type of complaints against them. Or when Paul boarded a ship instead of traveling by land as he had planned. People being what we are, probably so.
Article cited:
Pope visit: what is on board the Papal plane? - Telegraph
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If I remember correctly, the Vatican is actually the world's largest charitable organization. And who knows, considering how much the Pope travels and the security risks, a private jet is probably the most feasible.. considering..
There's certainly no place in comparing it to a multi-national corporation in terms of intent or purpose. This pope has impressed me thus far..
There's certainly no place in comparing it to a multi-national corporation in terms of intent or purpose. This pope has impressed me thus far..
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Lovely Lane
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He certainly isn't sleeping in a manger is he, his meals aren't coming from the soup kitchen are they, and how many have a personal tailor, and someone to dress them. Sounds like "Living the life of Riley", a kept man.
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From the top 5 myths about the Vatican -- #4 -- Wealth
In the publics imagination, the Vatican is awash in priceless art, hidden Nazi gold, plundered treasures from around the world, and vast assets tucked away from prying eyes in the Vatican Bank. Reality is far more prosaic. To put it bluntly, the Vatican is not rich. It has an annual operating budget of $260 million, which would not place it on any Top 500 list of major social institutions. To draw a comparison in the non-profit sector, Harvard University has an annual operating budget of a little over $1.3 billion, which means it could run the equivalent of five Vaticans every year and still have pocket change left over. The Holy Sees budget would qualify it as a mid-sized American Catholic college. Its bigger than Loyola-Marymount in Los Angeles (annual budget of $150 million) or Saint Louis University ($174 million), but substantially less than the University of Notre Dame ($500 million).
The total patrimony of the Holy See, meaning its property holdings (including some 30 buildings and 1,700 apartments in Rome), its investments, its stock portfolios and capital funds, and whatever it has storied up in a piggy bank for a rainy day, comes to roughly $770 million. This is substantial, but once again one has to apply a sense of scale. What the Holy See calls patrimony is roughly what American universities mean by an endowment in other words, funds and other assets designed to support the institution if operating funds fall short. The University of Notre Dame has an endowment of $3.5 billion, meaning a total 4.5 times as great as the Vaticans.
But what of the some 18,000 artistic treasures in the Holy See, such as the Pietà, that dont show up on these ledgers? From the Holy Sees point of view, these artworks are part of the artistic heritage of the world, and may never be sold or borrowed against. Michelangeos famous Pieta statue, the Sistine Chapel, or Raphaels famous frescoes in the Apostolic Palace are thus listed at a value of 1 Euro each. In fact, those treasures amount to a net drain on the Holy Sees budget, because millions of Euros have to be allocated every year for maintenance and restoration.
The moral of the story is that the image of the Vatican as a playground for masters of the universe just isnt reality. This is, for the most part, not an island of exaggerated privilege, but a normal bureaucratic environment in which the churchs civil servants are ordinary men and women trying to do their jobs as best they can.
tnerb.org: 5 Myths
In the publics imagination, the Vatican is awash in priceless art, hidden Nazi gold, plundered treasures from around the world, and vast assets tucked away from prying eyes in the Vatican Bank. Reality is far more prosaic. To put it bluntly, the Vatican is not rich. It has an annual operating budget of $260 million, which would not place it on any Top 500 list of major social institutions. To draw a comparison in the non-profit sector, Harvard University has an annual operating budget of a little over $1.3 billion, which means it could run the equivalent of five Vaticans every year and still have pocket change left over. The Holy Sees budget would qualify it as a mid-sized American Catholic college. Its bigger than Loyola-Marymount in Los Angeles (annual budget of $150 million) or Saint Louis University ($174 million), but substantially less than the University of Notre Dame ($500 million).
The total patrimony of the Holy See, meaning its property holdings (including some 30 buildings and 1,700 apartments in Rome), its investments, its stock portfolios and capital funds, and whatever it has storied up in a piggy bank for a rainy day, comes to roughly $770 million. This is substantial, but once again one has to apply a sense of scale. What the Holy See calls patrimony is roughly what American universities mean by an endowment in other words, funds and other assets designed to support the institution if operating funds fall short. The University of Notre Dame has an endowment of $3.5 billion, meaning a total 4.5 times as great as the Vaticans.
But what of the some 18,000 artistic treasures in the Holy See, such as the Pietà, that dont show up on these ledgers? From the Holy Sees point of view, these artworks are part of the artistic heritage of the world, and may never be sold or borrowed against. Michelangeos famous Pieta statue, the Sistine Chapel, or Raphaels famous frescoes in the Apostolic Palace are thus listed at a value of 1 Euro each. In fact, those treasures amount to a net drain on the Holy Sees budget, because millions of Euros have to be allocated every year for maintenance and restoration.
The moral of the story is that the image of the Vatican as a playground for masters of the universe just isnt reality. This is, for the most part, not an island of exaggerated privilege, but a normal bureaucratic environment in which the churchs civil servants are ordinary men and women trying to do their jobs as best they can.
tnerb.org: 5 Myths
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Lovely Lane
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what year are you using? The Catholic Charities are ranked number three, the little old Salvation Army is ranked number Two.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/williampbarrett/2012/11/08/the-largest-u-s-charities-for-2012/
$2.993 billion tax dollars were given to the US Catholic Charities in 2012. I expect something for my money.
That's around 65% of the US Catholic Charities revenue, (TAXDOLLARS). That is being on the Government dole from a government funded by a Capitalist society.
Talk about SMACKDOWN, hey Fran how 'bout cutting back on the government dole here in the US.
Poor little number two ranked Salvation Army only rakes in 12% of revenue from Uncle Sammy, boo hoo.
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- Jun 23, 2011
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Jesus didn't sleep in a manger willingly, either. I don't think he's eating at Ruth's Chris Steak house, and to my knowledge, eats pretty plainly. He doesn't have a personal tailor, he has a tailor who makes garments for all the Vatican. Those who help him are priests.He certainly isn't sleeping in a manger is he, his meals aren't coming from the soup kitchen are they, and how many have a personal tailor, and someone to dress them. Sounds like "Living the life of Riley", a kept man.
Look, 'friend', he doesn't live lavishly. He doesn't own the clothes on his back. He has removed a lot of the pomp and circumstance. But he is a head of state. And he is the servant of the servants of God. How about you try fasting from meat for a while, and maybe sleep on a straw mat with a burlap covering, with a stone for a pillow. Why not do these things, then send the pope a letter, and tell him that, since you can do it, you think he should, too. And while you're at it, why not remove one of your lungs, and see if you can walk in his shoes?
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Interesting that some profess to know so well a man they've never met, his intentions, his heart. Analyzing his teaching is one thing. Making it personal, quite another. Reckless game some are playing here with their words....
Matthew 12: 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment men will render account for every careless word they utter; 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
Matthew 12: 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment men will render account for every careless word they utter; 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
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- May 19, 2015
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Originally Posted by Lovely Lane
what year are you using? The Catholic Charities are ranked number three, the little old Salvation Army is ranked number Two.
Then why don't you just refute the post, instead of asking others to look up the resources concerning your Denomination?
.
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Well, one statistic I find interesting is that 25% of the world's services delivered to AIDS patients are provided by the Catholic church.
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Gnarwhal
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I'm sorry, are you in need of charity?
The list I posted was from 2005.
Here's another link that shows Charity Navigators rating of them (four stars).
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Lovely Lane
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Nope, I don't give worldwide. But can only imagine that the Italian folk are paying a lot of it.
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I would also humbly suggest that less than 25% of AIDS patients are cared for by anti-catholic ranting ChristianForums.com posters.
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Honestly I have no idea why you are sorry, for my circumstance isn't your concern. Why would you ask that?
2012, US Catholic Charities received 65% of their funding from Uncle Sam, that means, like it or not, I got a stake in them. So I want to know more about this smackdown on capitalist and homeless here in the US.
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