Americans traditionally revere religious leaders and instinctively fawn over celebrities, so you get both when a Pope visits a shrinking American Catholic Church.  What Pope Francis does not evoke in celebrity he foments in controversy.

Reminding us he is concerned about family values, Pope Francis had nothing to say about gay marriage.  In a shout out to the Pro-Life movement, he said “value life at every stage of development” - a perfect opportunity to lampoon Congress for funding Planned Parenthood’s slaughter and harvest of unborn babies.

The Pope rather took that opportunity to implore Americans to end the death penalty.  Liberals roared approval.  Pope Francis steps up for about 1500 convicted criminals and remains silent about over 56 million innocent babies.  An incredible lack of courage for a man who should have Christ on his side.

Leftists particularly President Obama eagerly anticipated the Pope’s affirmation of liberal policies to guarantee economic outcomes that the Pope calls “economic justice,” support for crusades against capitalism and climate change, and unregulated immigration even if it overruns your homeland.

The most striking aspect of the Pope’s speeches is the scarcity of God.  In his speech to Congress, he only mentions God seven times.  He acknowledges God, but does not really talk about the central role God plays in the affairs of men – even Benjamin Franklin extolled that axiom.  It’s simply bizarre that the global leader of 1.2 billion Catholics seems to rarely invite anyone to Christ.

Pope Francis shrugs off accusations of his left leaning positions, but careful examination of his speech to Congress exposes his full throated support for socialism.  Our Constitution’s primary purpose is to protect freedom for all citizens; there is nothing about providing anything to anybody.

The Pope however states the “chief aim of all politics” is the “common good” and “political society endures when it seeks to satisfy common needs.”  He exclaims it with “Legislative activity is always based on care for the people.”  He again emphasizes the government’s role in “economic justice” is “creation and distribution of wealth.”

Pope Francis clearly sees government as much more than the arbiter of laws; to him government must assure “economic justice” in prosperity, more commonly known as wealth redistribution.  Papal apologists claim he is misunderstood and doesn’t disdain all capitalism.

Debate the Pope’s words, but take his actions into account.  He comes to the most generous nation on the planet; Americans give more to charity and take in more immigrants than any other country.  He scolds us for supposed injustices of capitalism and admonishes America to accept the hordes of immigrants.  Do not fear the numbers like locusts, but embrace each as an individual.

Americans absolutely embrace the individual; we as individuals feed, house, and cloth individuals around the world and even fight for their individual basic human rights.  Pope Francis chided us that these immigrants only want the same prosperity for their children our children enjoy.

Why is he only asking America to accept invasion?  Did the Pope demand all the nations of Central and South America repair their economic systems to provide prosperity so these impoverished masses are not forced to migrate north?  If God is blessing the unjust Americans, why does the Pope not beseech the nations of origin to reform and seek the blessings of God?

The Pope does not believe America is blessed; he believes our wealth is ill gotten, so he must convince America to redistribute its wealth.  The dichotomy is stark; Americans seek to lift up all with economic opportunity and the Vicar of Christ seeks to equalize the world.

Pope Francis exhorts all to just love everyone without regard.  Love comes first, but if righteousness does not follow, then all are brought low.

“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14

Pete Riehm is the host of Common Sense Radio heard 8pm every Thursday on FMTalk106.5 or streaming at fmtalk1065.com.  Email him at peteriehm@bellsouth.net.