Pope Francis

Do I dare send this letter to our Catholic Holy Father, Pope Francis?

Dear Holy Father,

Recently you have condemned arms dealers , even calling them ‘hypocrites’ if they call themselves ‘Christians’. You also had harsh words for capitalists calling ‘unbridled capitalism’ a sin of greed. I agree with you.

However, do you realize that on your visit to the United States your first two visits are with the major arms dealers in the world and leaders of one of the most capitalist country in the world? Yes, 54 percent of all federal discretionary spending, a total of $598.5 billion is for military spending. Of the top ten countries in military spending the United State’s military budget is the largest in the world, and about equal to the other nine countries combined. The USA’s share of the volume of international arms exports was 31 percent in 2010–14, largest of all nations. The executive branch led by the President approves all arms sales to other countries. Also the USA is one of the world’s greatest Capitalistic countries is the world. First, the President you will meet with calls himself a Christian but has led the escalation of “killer drone” warfare, has built three new nuclear bomb factories, promotes “endless wars” and has deported more persons than all past presidents of USA combined.

Second, you will visit with the Republican dominated congress that is pushing for more military spending. The leader of the House is a Catholic Christian. The congress has authorized about six million dollars per day for military spending to Israel for its war on the Palestinians. The Congress and President have called for more and more “fair trade” deals which, for many, are a code word for “unbridled capitalism.”

I had invited you to visit Milwaukee, the most racially segregated city in the USA, the second poorest city in the USA and located in Wisconsin, which has the highest incarceration rate of African American males in the USA. The USA has the largest percentage of its citizens in prison compared to all other countries in the world.

I need to admit that I had ulterior motives for inviting you here. Milwaukee is the home of the only Jesuit Catholic University in the USA to host three Department of Defense military training programs that teach war and reflexive killing, killing without conscience. Milwaukee is also home to a St. Vincent De Paul Society whose central office and council are spending around 4 million dollars of “money belonging to poor” to purchase, renovate and operate a thrift store serving suburbanites while the poor people of North Central Milwaukee desperately need such a store.

You did not respond to any of my letters to you or my emails to your associates. I understand. I am just a Jesuit educated reject. But I do not think I am a hypocrite and hope you have the courage to call those militarist, unbridled capitalist leaders of the USA, so-called Christians, hypocrites.

I pray for you and other great religious leaders in the World.

Your servant,

Bob Graf
Catholic, Jesuit educated for 13 years, Catholic Worker

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