War on Christmas Has New Enemy: The Pope

Pope Francis Calls Christmas a “Charade” As Wars Rage On

In Thursday’s sermon, Pope Francis referred to this year’s Christmas cheer as a “charade” because the “world continues to wage war” and “we do not understand peace.”

“Today, Jesus weeps as well because we have chosen the way of war, the way of hatred, the way of enmities. We are close to Christmas. There will be lights, there will be parties, bright trees, even Nativity scenes — all decked out — while the world continues to wage war,” he said during Mass at the chapel of the Santa Marta residence in the Vatican.

This comes a week after Paris was attacked by terrorists, during a current hostage situation in Mali, and a month after Starbucks deliberately removed the Christmas cheer from their coffee cups. I only bring up the “Red Cup Crisis” to make this point: what do you think will get more press when the dust clears? The constant destruction perpetrated by terrorists and anti-terrorists, or some fake and inane ruse to drum up media interest in Starbucks?

If this story catches fire like Starbucks, it’ll be flung around the world and back again, as the Pope is called a Christmas-hater and Yule Tool, while they completely miss the point of his words. We need to stop waging war. Immediately. Nearly every single act of “terrorism” is retaliation for our “operations” in the Middle East. Now, flip that sentence on its head: Every act of war by the United States is retaliation for our “operations” in the rest of the world.

Religion may be at the root of many of these battles, but today, we should all stand with the Pope and take his words to heart:

“What shall remain? Ruins, thousands of children without education, so many innocent victims and lots of money in the pockets of arms dealers. Jesus once said: ‘You can not serve two masters: Either God or riches.’ War is the right choice for him, who would serve wealth: ‘Let us build weapons, so that the economy will right itself somewhat, and let us go forward in pursuit of our interests. There is an ugly word the Lord spoke: ‘Cursed!’ Because He said: ‘Blessed are the peacemakers!’ The men who work war, who make war, are cursed, they are criminals,” Francis said.

“A war can be justified — so to speak — with many, many reasons, but when all the world as it is today, at war — piecemeal though that war may be — a little here, a little there, and everywhere — there is no justification — and God weeps. Jesus weeps.”

What do you think about the Pope’s words? Sound off below!

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Written by

Alex Logan

As cohost of the political commentary series, Jesse Ventura's Off the Grid, Alex Logan is The Body's body man. Alex and the former governor, action star, wrestler, and everything else in between, tackle the headlines of the week with an uncensored and independent spirit as we hold the two parties' feet to the fire. A deserter of Dayton, Ohio, Alex graduated from the University of Southern California Film School with a degree in Writing for Screen and TV. Alex has assisted in the booking of live acts for the Creative Artists Agency; written jokes, sketches and stunts for MTV and producer Johnny Knoxville; developed treatments and scripts for Anonymous Content and Mark Gordon Productions; and co-founded the Improv Olympic West’s headliner sketch group, The Mutiny, who play sold out shows around LA and at the Chicago and San Francisco Sketch Fests, as well as producing numerous videos for the front pages of YouTube, College Humor, and Funny Or Die. He did a stint as Editor and Technical Producer on Larry King’s Hulu talk show before partnering with Larry and Jesse to co-create Off the Grid. In the first season, Alex co-headed the entire production, writing, producing, and cohosting over 150 episodes. And he's back for Season Two, now serving as producer and host of a series of Man on the Street field pieces called, On the Grid. He also wrote this professional bio with his own two hands.

The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of Ora Media, LLC its affiliates, or its employees.