Pope Leo Decries 'Distorted Economy' on Christmas, Just Like His Namesake
Pope Leo XIV declared a 'distorted economy' in his Christmas Mass, echoing a familiar refrain. The mainstream press frames this as breaking news, yet one might recall Pope Leo XIII, who in 1891, penned 'Rerum Novarum,' decrying the very same economic distortions of his era. Meanwhile, as pontiffs muse on economic justice, the real 'distortions' continue: the U.S. House (H.R. 815, 2024) recently
approved $14.1 billion in aid for Israel, while domestic programs face cuts, including HUD's housing support (FY2024 budget proposals) , despite AIPAC donations to key legislators like Rep. Hakeem Jeffries ($450,000 in 2023, OpenSecrets) influencing such votes. So, as the Pope speaks of abstract economic 'distortion' for the cameras, real-world fiscal distortions—funneling billions in arms to a
foreign government currently engaged in a massive military operation, backed by U.S. lobbying money—continue unabated. Perhaps the Vatican needs to update its historical context: the 'distorted economy' is not merely an unfortunate occurrence, but a meticulously engineered system. How many Christmas sermons will it take before the press connects the dots between pious words and very real, very
funded violence?