Rush Limbaugh is an idiot. Pope Francis is just preaching the Gospel and the Catechism.

Rush Limbaugh once again demonstrates his stupidity (http://atlantadailyworld.com/2013/12/02/rush-limbaugh-blasts-pope-francis-as-a-marxist/ ).  The Pope isn't preaching Marxism, as Limbaugh charges.  Pope Francis is just saying what the Gospels, the Catechism and Catholic Social Teaching have been saying for centuries.  Read Mary's Magnificat, especially Luke 1:51-53, the  Beatitudes (Matt 5:3-12) or the Parable of the Judgement of the Nations (Matt 25:31-46).

Is this the Capitalism Rush loves so much?  http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/11/26/pope-francis-has-a-few-thoughts-about-the-global-economy-we-added-these-13-charts/ 

Here's the Catholic teaching.

THE PERSON AND SOCIETY

"The human person... is and ought to be the principal, the subject and the end of all social institutions" (GS 25 #1 quoted in The Catechism of the Catholic Church #1882).

By the Common Good is to be understood "the sum total of social conditions which allow people, either as groups or as individuals, to reach their fulfillment more fully and more easily" (GS 26 #1; cf. 74 #1).  The common good concerns the life of all.  ...  It consists of three essential elements.  First, the common good presupposes respect for the person as such.  ...  Second the common good requires the social well being and development of the group itself.   ...  Finally, the common good requires peace, that is, the stability and security of a just order (Catechism of the Catholic Church #1906-1909).

SOCIAL JUSTICE

The duty of making oneself a neighbor to others and actively serving them becomes even more urgent when it involves the disadvantaged, in whatever area this may be.  "As you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me" (Mt 25:40 quoted in Catechism of the Catholic Church #1932).

There also exist sinful inequalities that affect millions of men and women.  These are in open contradiction of the Gospel (Catechism of the Catholic Church #1938).

The principle of solidarity, also articulated in terms of “friendship” or “social charity” is a direct demand of human and Christian brotherhood. (Catechism of the Catholic Church #1939).

Solidarity is manifested in the first place by distribution of goods and remuneration for work.  It also presupposes the effort for a more just social order where tensions are better able to be reduced and conflicts more readily settled by negotiation (Catechism of the Catholic Church #1940).

Socioeconomic problems can be resolved only with the help of all the forms of solidarity: solidarity of the poor among themselves, between rich and poor, of workers among themselves, between employers and employees in business, solidarity among nations and peoples.  International solidarity is a requirement of the moral order; world peace in part depends upon this (Catechism of the Catholic Church #1941).

The equal dignity of human persons requires the effort to reduce excessive social and economic inequalities (Catechism of the Catholic Church #1947).

Catholic Social Teaching ( http://www.cctwincities.org/CatholicSocialTeaching ):  Welcome to our pages on Catholic social teaching. Here you will find most of the official social teaching documents of the Catholic Church and also a variety of resources to help you explore this rich body of moral teaching.  If you are an educator, you will also find tools to assist you in teaching others to know and appreciate the wisdom and the challenge that is embodied in this teaching.  Catholic social teaching has been called "our best kept secret," "our buried treasure," and "an essential part of Catholic faith."  We invite you to discover for yourself this "best kept secret" of the Catholic Church. You can use the navigation bar on the left to find the actual texts of the social teaching documents and also a variety of resources to assist you in finding specific teaching on individual topics and issues. Don't miss the annotated reading list which will help you find additional reading, ranging from introductory works to more scholarly essays and books

 “The Father sent the Son into the world to defend the poor.” - St. Augustine