Pope denounces corruption as ‘varnished putrefaction’

November 11, 2013 - Recalling the words of Jesus to those who cause scandals, Pope Francis on Monday warned those who donate to the Church by robbing from the state and the poor. At his morning Mass at the Casa Santa Marta residence in the Vatican, the Pope reflected on Luke’s Gospel where Jesus warns those who scandalize the ‘little ones’. The Pope distinguished between sin and corruption, for which, Jesus warned, it is better for the person to be drowned with a millstone around his neck. One who sins and repents asks pardon, feels weak and a child of God, is humble and seeks salvation from Jesus. On the other hand, the Pope said, one who scandalizes does not repent, continues to sin, and pretends to be a Christian with a double life which does a lot of harm. He pretends to be a benefactor of the Church, donating with one hand, but with the other hand steals from the state and the poor. Robbing is unjust and double life, and where there is deceit, the Spirit of God cannot be there, the Pope said. Those who are corrupt, do not understand humility, and Jesus calls them whitened sepulchers. They look beautiful outside, but inside they are full of dead bones and putrefaction, the Pope said. A Christian who boasts of being a Christian, but does not lead a Christian life, is corrupt, and corrupt life is ‘varnished putrefaction,” the Pope said. He thus urged all to pray for the grace to recognize ourselves as sinners. "We are sinners - sinners yes, but corrupt - no"