pope francis_ never use god as a cover for injustice
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ope Francis_ Never Use God as a Cover for InjusticeTRANSCRIPT
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2/21/2015 Pope Francis: Never use God as a cover for injustice
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Pope Francis: Never useGod as a cover forinjustice20150220 Vatican Radio
(Vatican Radio) Saying we must never useGod as a cover for injustice, Pope Franciswarned on Friday (February 20th) againstthose who follow all the outward signs ofpiety but then exploit or mistreat theiremployees or dependents. The Pope’swords came during his homily at morningMass celebrated in the Santa Marta
residence.
Listen to this report by Susy Hodges (including clips of the Pope's voice):
Pope Francis used his homily to reflect on how Christians, especially during Lent,should not confine themselves to outside signs of piety like fasting and charity andinstead must reach out to those in need.
He said Jesus wants from us a fasting that breaks the evil chains, frees those whoare oppressed, clothes those who are naked and carries out justice. This, heexplained, is a true fasting, a fasting which is not a just an outward appearance orobservance but a fasting which comes from the heart.
Love of God and neighbour are one and the same
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2/21/2015 Pope Francis: Never use God as a cover for injustice
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“And in the tablets of the law, there’s the law towards God and the law towards ourneighbour and both of these go together. I can’t say: ‘But no, I follow the threecommandments first and the others more or less.’ No, if you don’t follow one, youcan’t follow the other and if you follow one you must follow the other. They areunited: Love of God and love of our neighbour is one and the same thing and ifyou want to show genuine and not just formal penance, you must show it beforeGod and also towards your brothers and towards your neighbour.”
Grave sin to use God as a cover for injustice
Pope Francis highlighted the example of somebody who goes to Mass everySunday and receives communion but then asked: does that person pay his or heremployees in cash under the table, maybe a salary below the going rate andwithout making the necessary social security contributions?
“So many men and women of faith, have faith but then divide the tablets of thelaw. ‘Yes, I do this’ – ‘But do you practice charity?’ – Yes of course, I always senda cheque to the Church’ – ‘Ok, that’s good. But at your home, within your ownChurch, are you generous and are you fair with those who are your dependents be they your children, your grandparents, your employees?’ You cannot makeofferings to the Church on the shoulders of the injustice that you practice towardsyour dependents. This is a very serious sin: using God as a cover for injustice.”
At Lent make room in our hearts for those who have erred
The pope went on to explain how during Lent Christians should be reaching out tothose who are less fortunate, be they children, old people without private healthinsurance who may have to wait eight hours to be seen by a doctor and thosewho have erred and who are now in prison.
“No, with those types of people I don’t (associate) ….’ He’s in prison: if you’re notin prison it’s because our Lord has helped you not to sin. Do you have room inyour heart for prisoners in jail? Do you pray for them so that the Lord can helpthem to change their life?’ May the Lord accompany us on our Lenten journey so
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2/21/2015 Pope Francis: Never use God as a cover for injustice
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that our external observance becomes a profound renewal of the Spirit. That’swhat we prayed for. That the Lord may give us this grace.”
(from Vatican Radio)
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