Pope Denounces Globalization As ‘Ideological Colonization’ – But Evangelicalism Is Too

Pope Francis is making big headlines today, but his more stunning comments aren’t getting the attention they deserve.

Pope Francis made big news today when he told reporters on an airplane that Catholics should stop breeding “like rabbits” just because the Church has banned contraception. But that bit of stunning rhetoric in reality is dwarfed by another of his opinions the pontiff shared Monday.

The Pope denounced attempts by rich nations to mold poorer ones, when those attempts mandate “ideological” requirements. For example, the Pope explained, “certain loans on certain conditions.”

The Pope described “an example of what I saw 20 years ago, in ’95.”

“A Minister of Public Education had asked for a big loan to build schools for the poor, public schools,” Pope Francis told reporters. “They gave the loan on condition that in the schools there would be a school book for children of a certain level, no? It was a well prepared book, where the theory of gender was taught. This woman needed the money but that was the condition. She was smart. She said yes, and also made them give another book, of a different orientation. And so she succeeded. This is ideological colonization. They enter with an idea that has nothing to do with the people; but with groups of people yes, but not with the people.”

“It colonizes the people with an idea that wants to change a mentality or a structure,” Francis added.

Perhaps even more stunning is the degree to which he denounced these outreaches, comparing them to “Hitler youth.”

“During the Synod, the African bishops lamented this: certain loans on certain conditions. I only say that which I have seen… Why do they say ideological colonization? Because they take a real need of the people to have an opportunity to enter and make themselves strong with the children. But this is not new, the dictators of the last century did the same. They came with their own doctrine. Think of the BalilLa (The Fascist Youth under Mussolini), think of the Hitler youth.”

What does this mean?

The AP described the Pope’s idea of “ideological colonization” as “allowing health care workers to distribute condoms, or withdrawing assistance if legislation discriminating against gays is passed,” for example.

But does it not also mean that American Evangelical groups that have set up shop in Africa, including Uganda for example, and are working to impose their beliefs on that culture in exchange – acknowledged or implied – for humanitarian assistance are, to quote the Pope, “colonizing empires”?

Which U.S. Evangelical groups would fall under the Pope’s denounced “colonizing empires” label?

What about the American Family Association? Its Thomas Street Coffee, as NCRM reported in 2103, according to one of their coffee importers, infiltrates developing nations where missionaries are not allowed.

“The gospel is often very feared in those countries,” McKee explained. “It’s illegal in many of those areas to proselytize. Missionaries would normally get kicked out by the government.”
 And so what may have once seemed to McKee like a detour from his missionary calling has proved to be the most direct route to reach lost nations. All in the name of coffee, Mark travels to these countries, establishes contact with growers and works to improve the quality of their coffee, something that also means a better quality of life for them. In the process, people hear the name of Christ, and native Christians are born to carry on with evangelism after McKee has gone.

“I come in and say, ‘I’m an expert on coffee and I want to work with you to make your coffee better and give you more money for it. And we’re going to provide schools and help provide for your kids,’” McKee said. “And they’re like, ‘Wow, we really like what these Christians are doing.’ So, it actually opens doors for sharing the gospel.

“They look at a Christian who is sent and supported by a missionary organization like, ‘That’s a professional Christian; he gets paid to share his Jesus with me.’ But when someone’s there to help them set up a business and make money, they see a different view of it. And it allows missionaries to stay in countries where you can’t have a missionary visa.”

And what about all the Evangelical groups that preach anti-gay hate, imposing their beliefs on nations like Uganda?

For the Pope to denounce “ideological colonization,” he must denounce it all, not just some. 

 

Image via Flickr