Pope Concerns and Theology of Book of Amos

On 27 November 2013, Pope Francis made a declaration denouncing a new idolatry for money pointed out that present way of running the economy resembles the ancient idolatry way of worshiping golden calf in the old testament According to Pope, the present world economy lacks truly human purpose, and the worldwide crisis is affecting economy and finance leading to imbalance and lack of concern for human.

Pope also shows a concern for income equality revealing how elderly homeless people die of exposure to cold and the stock markets in most countries loses two points. According to Pope, income inequality is becoming unbearable to the extent that while some people are throwing food away, some people are starving. Pope believes that the free market capitalism has led to the economy of inequality and exclusion, and it is time for policymakers to change the way they approach capitalism. It is time for capitalists to pursue profits ethically, and rejecting exploitation.

Analysis of Pope Francis' concerns is related to the issues about the oppression of masses in the Book of Amos. During "the reign of Uzziah in the southern kingdom and reign of Jeroboam in the northern kingdom" (Brueggemann, 2003 p 256), it was clear that both kingdoms enjoyed immense prosperities. Similar to Pope assertion in the present day economic practice, there was a disastrous practice from the rich against the poor in both kingdoms. Moreover, there was an illegitimate of social practices in the southern and northern kingdoms. As being pointed out by Brueggemann, (2003), the wealthiest people in the society enjoyed considerable value. While some people in the kingdoms were losing their homes, lands, and families, other people can boast of summer and winter houses living in homes resembling the ashlar masonry. Brueggemann, (2003) pointed out there was a breakdown of traditional values because of the extreme gap between the rich and the poor where the wealthiest people in the society are enjoying considerable luxury. Brueggemann, (2003) cited the example of what happened in Israel in the First Testament where social injustice and economic exploitation was the order of the day. In the Books of Amos, the author believed that God would destroy the society because of people's misdeed.

Pope remarks that the issues that happen during the southern kingdom and northern kingdom are currently repeating themselves in the present generation. Pope argues that many people have been excluded from the economic system resulting in inequality, which has resulted in a gross disappointment from people considering themselves free market capitalists. Pope condemns the way business executives conducts their businesses because 53% of financial executives confirm that they face challenges working ethically and they cannot get ahead with businesses without cheating. Similar to what happened during the reigns of Jeroboam, and Uzziah, Pope points out that the United States is a typical country that has been experiencing the income inequality since the 1970s. While the income of the top 1% of the US population increases by 31.4% within 3 years after 2008 and 2009 financial crisis, however, 99% of people struggle with a disappointing economy and the income growth of 99% of the population increase by 0.4% within the same period. Similar to what happened during the kingdoms of Jeroboam, and Uzziah, there has been issues of starvations and poverty leading to the economic malaise. Similarly, Pope maintained one-sixth of people in the world leading countries are living on $1.50 a day. Pope also argues that 47 million Americans are living on food stamp, approximately 50% of children are born with a single mother living in poverty and more than 13 million people in the United States are jobless.

Reference

Brueggemann, W. (2003). An Introduction to the Old Testament: The Canon and Christian Imagination. Westminster John Knox Press.