I'm not Catholic but I loved Pope Francis and agree that his voice is sorely needed in this too-materialistic world. The church will be hard-pressed to do better.
When I lived and taught in Turkey, we lived across the street from the university in what by American standards would be a well-maintained housing project. We were happy there, knew our neighbors and felt a sense of community, as if we were exotic foreigners worth knowing. When we lived in the UAE, we "upgraded" to a villa but didn't know our neighbors or the locals, who lived in mansions behind walls. Too much wealth insulates people from community, IMHO.
I am nauseated by how often Trump tells his audiences, "we are going to be so RICH". He has no sense whatsoever that most people are not striving to be rich, they instead are striving to be secure. Many recognize the trappings of wealth. Trump equates the American Dream with extraordinary wealth.
I love your response. Have often thought the very same way. Never have I been motivated to be wealthy. Only to pay my bills. I would be ashamed to be rich.
It was lovely to hear of your unlikely friendship with Bernie, I was moved by this simple yet deeply significant human connection, I’m glad you all had each other before he passed.
I found myself having the same reaction Bernie did as I read your nonchalant mention of buying property thrice in the span of a decade. I think it speaks volumes that someone I assume to be comfortably middle class (but still working class) from a previous generation sounds so wealthy to me now.
It is well past the time to make empathy for the poor a prerequisite for a lot of powerful positions, but especially the catholic church. I too am hesitant of patriarchal organized religion, and yet I find myself unexpectedly inspired, as my hometown has a Bernie, and a fervorous one. Father Julio Lancellotti is making some big waves in Sao Paulo in favor of those exploited by the ultra wealthy and abandoned by neoliberal government policies. I was surprised to hear him speak for the first time during the pandemic and realize that a priest was being shunned by his own community for repeating the teachings of Jesus himself. Like I said, I'm not religious, but I was raised catholic, and sadly I feel any priest viciously rejecting the words said by the pacifist prophet of their own holy scriptures is perhaps too far gone to develop any kind of empathy for anyone besides themselves.
I eagerly hope to be proven wrong, but with Pope Francis gone, and so many candidates at the Conclave being so conservative, I will not be holding my breath waiting for it.
I keep waiting for the Elon Musk Center for Pediatric Cancer Research. Or, the Jeff Bezos Foundation to End Hunger. Or, the Mark Zuckerberg Foundation to Eradicate Poverty. Or, the Donald J. Trump Center For Women Recovering from Sexual Assault and Rape.
The chasm between rich and poor is cruel. The minimum wage is $7.25/hr.
As of April 2025, Elon Musk, the world's richest man, boasts a net worth of approx $433.9 Billion. The second-richest man, Jeff Bezos, has a net worth of approx $233.5 Billion.
This places Musk roughly $200 Billion ahead of Bezos. Imagine if these tech bros were philanthropic, what they could do for children, public health, or climate solutions. How many homes, or cars, or Rolex's does one need to feel almighty? What they'll never have is ENOUGH.
Wonderful column, Maura. I’m a fallen-away Catholic, but went to Catholic school for 9 years. Our parish priest in Ohio was a close family friend and often dined with us, along with playing golf with both mom and dad. It was a wonderful way to see the priests as real humans, rather than the men of god their positions put them in. Not sure if they’re treated now the way they were back in the ‘50s and ‘60s.
Thank you Maura. I completely agree. Trump's hold over the impoverished is unbelievable. Even today they don't understand.
I see those living paycheck to paycheck. They are caregivers in our home. Often they can't get to work because they don't have money for gas or the car is malfunctioning. Many of these didn’t vote for a variety of reasons or they voted for Trump.
Others in our lives, close family, don't read other opinions. They just vote as their neighbors or what they saw on Fox news.
Thank you, Maura. I am with you on every aspect of your argument. I have always thought that in a just society there would be no billionaires. We all need to be more like Pope Francis.
I'm not Catholic but I loved Pope Francis and agree that his voice is sorely needed in this too-materialistic world. The church will be hard-pressed to do better.
When I lived and taught in Turkey, we lived across the street from the university in what by American standards would be a well-maintained housing project. We were happy there, knew our neighbors and felt a sense of community, as if we were exotic foreigners worth knowing. When we lived in the UAE, we "upgraded" to a villa but didn't know our neighbors or the locals, who lived in mansions behind walls. Too much wealth insulates people from community, IMHO.
I am nauseated by how often Trump tells his audiences, "we are going to be so RICH". He has no sense whatsoever that most people are not striving to be rich, they instead are striving to be secure. Many recognize the trappings of wealth. Trump equates the American Dream with extraordinary wealth.
The meaning is lost on the ambiguity of the "we". It's not meant to be inclusive.
I love your response. Have often thought the very same way. Never have I been motivated to be wealthy. Only to pay my bills. I would be ashamed to be rich.
Utah Phillips used to sing this union song:
The Two Bums
The bum on the rods is hunted down as an enemy of mankind
The other is driven around to his club, is feted, wined and dined
And they who curse the bum on the rods as the essence of all that's bad
Will greet the other with a willing smile and extend a hand so glad
The bum on the rods is a social flea who gets an occassional bite
The bum on the plush is a social leech, bloodsucking day and night
The bum on the rods is a load so light that his weight we scarcely feel
But it takes the labour of dozens of folks to furnish the other a meal
As long as we sanction the bum on the plush the other will always be there
But rid ourselves of the bum on the plush and the other will dissappear
Then make an intelligent organised kick get rid of the weights that crush
Dont worry about the bum on the rods get rid of the bum on the plush
It was lovely to hear of your unlikely friendship with Bernie, I was moved by this simple yet deeply significant human connection, I’m glad you all had each other before he passed.
I found myself having the same reaction Bernie did as I read your nonchalant mention of buying property thrice in the span of a decade. I think it speaks volumes that someone I assume to be comfortably middle class (but still working class) from a previous generation sounds so wealthy to me now.
It is well past the time to make empathy for the poor a prerequisite for a lot of powerful positions, but especially the catholic church. I too am hesitant of patriarchal organized religion, and yet I find myself unexpectedly inspired, as my hometown has a Bernie, and a fervorous one. Father Julio Lancellotti is making some big waves in Sao Paulo in favor of those exploited by the ultra wealthy and abandoned by neoliberal government policies. I was surprised to hear him speak for the first time during the pandemic and realize that a priest was being shunned by his own community for repeating the teachings of Jesus himself. Like I said, I'm not religious, but I was raised catholic, and sadly I feel any priest viciously rejecting the words said by the pacifist prophet of their own holy scriptures is perhaps too far gone to develop any kind of empathy for anyone besides themselves.
I eagerly hope to be proven wrong, but with Pope Francis gone, and so many candidates at the Conclave being so conservative, I will not be holding my breath waiting for it.
I keep waiting for the Elon Musk Center for Pediatric Cancer Research. Or, the Jeff Bezos Foundation to End Hunger. Or, the Mark Zuckerberg Foundation to Eradicate Poverty. Or, the Donald J. Trump Center For Women Recovering from Sexual Assault and Rape.
Glad I'm not holding my breath.
The chasm between rich and poor is cruel. The minimum wage is $7.25/hr.
As of April 2025, Elon Musk, the world's richest man, boasts a net worth of approx $433.9 Billion. The second-richest man, Jeff Bezos, has a net worth of approx $233.5 Billion.
This places Musk roughly $200 Billion ahead of Bezos. Imagine if these tech bros were philanthropic, what they could do for children, public health, or climate solutions. How many homes, or cars, or Rolex's does one need to feel almighty? What they'll never have is ENOUGH.
Wonderful column, Maura. I’m a fallen-away Catholic, but went to Catholic school for 9 years. Our parish priest in Ohio was a close family friend and often dined with us, along with playing golf with both mom and dad. It was a wonderful way to see the priests as real humans, rather than the men of god their positions put them in. Not sure if they’re treated now the way they were back in the ‘50s and ‘60s.
Such a good article. "Empathy of a crocodile" - ha! yes!
So gross to consider the spending of the rich.
Brilliant yet simple. An essay fitting you.
Bring on Pope Francis II!
Wonderful article, Maura!
Amen, Maira, amen!
We need more f Pope Francis and none of the people in our federal government who are actively trying to overturn our democracy and our Constitution.
Thank you Maura. I completely agree. Trump's hold over the impoverished is unbelievable. Even today they don't understand.
I see those living paycheck to paycheck. They are caregivers in our home. Often they can't get to work because they don't have money for gas or the car is malfunctioning. Many of these didn’t vote for a variety of reasons or they voted for Trump.
Others in our lives, close family, don't read other opinions. They just vote as their neighbors or what they saw on Fox news.
Ignorance abounds.
Thank you, Maura. I am with you on every aspect of your argument. I have always thought that in a just society there would be no billionaires. We all need to be more like Pope Francis.