The Catholic Church is not a fan of the prosperity gospel movement. The authors of an article in Civilta Cattolica, a Vatican-approved publication, criticize the movement and even name names: Oral Roberts, Pat Robertson, and Joel Osteen.
Some of you may recall that last year the same journal criticized American fundamentalism and the “apocalyptic geopolitics” of Trump adviser Steve Bannon.
The Associated Press has the story covered:
A Vatican-approved journal has dismissed “prosperity gospel” as a pseudo theology dangerously tied up with the American Dream and President Donald Trump’s politics, launching its second major critique of American evangelicals in as many years.
Two of Pope Francis’ top communications advisers — an Italian Jesuit and an Argentine Protestant pastor — penned “The Prosperity Gospel: Dangerous and Different” for the current issue of the Jesuit journal La Civilta Cattolica, published Wednesday.
In the article, the authors note that the “prosperity gospel” and its belief that God wants his followers to be wealthy and healthy has spread throughout the world, particularly in Latin America and Asia, thanks to its charismatic proponents’ effective use of TV and media.
But they point to its origins in the U.S. and its underpinning of the American Dream, and say its vision of faith is in direct contrast to true Christian teaching and Pope Francis’ emphasis on the poor, social justice and salvation.
Read the rest here.
