Limbaugh Says Pope Espousing "Pure Marxism"
WEST PALM BEACH (CBSMiami) – Conservative shock jock Rush Limbaugh may have finally bitten off more than he can chew in his latest attack. Limbaugh went after Pope Francis on Monday saying that part of the papal mission statement released last week is "just pure Marxism."
The papal mission statement, titled Evengelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel), was released last week and denounced "trickle-down economics" which have been at the heart of the GOP economic policies for much of the last 30 plus years.
Pope Francis was talking about the growing income inequality in the world when he mentioned the controversial economic theory.
"In this context, some people continue to defend trickle-down theories which assume that economic growth, encouraged by a free market, will inevitably succeed in bringing about greater justice and inclusiveness in the world," the Pope wrote. "This opinion, which has never been confirmed by the facts, expresses a crude and naïve trust in the goodness of those wielding economic power and in the sacralized workings of the prevailing economic system. Meanwhile, the excluded are still waiting."
This was a bridge too far for Limbaugh who said, "This is just pure Marxism coming out of the mouth of the Pope." Limbaugh also said, "It's sad because this Pope makes it very clear he doesn't know what he's talking about when it comes to capitalism and socialism and so forth."
Limbaugh said that Francis' comments are against what previous popes have said, but Catholic.org and other publications have noted that the Pope's skepticism of trickle-down economics and unfettered capitalism has been shared by Pope Benedict XVI and Pope John Paul II.
