Maintaining the Money Cult.

It seems odd that I should be agreeing with the Pope for once. Or is it that the Pope is agreeing with me? Well, I suppose it depends on which of us said it first.

He was speaking to diplomats today, and used the opportunity to ask world leaders to tone down ‘the money cult.’ He said that free market economics are ‘creating a tyranny in which people are valued only by their ability to consume.’

There are those who’ll say it’s just a case of sour grapes; he’s miffed because people don’t worship in the spiritual sector any more, they worship in the retail sector now. The shopping malls are the new cathedrals, and they’re even more numerous than the old ones were. And like cathedrals, it isn’t so much what goes on in them that’s important, but what they stand for.

But no, it isn’t sour grapes; it’s just common sense. Neither of us was the first to say it; it’s been central to a growing sense of unease among those who can see a bit further than their noses for several decades.

I remember a postcard that used to be on sale at the theatre where I worked. It was a cartoon showing a boat about to go over a cataract. In the bow were two young people screaming ‘Turn around, you idiots, before it’s too late!’ Sitting smugly in the stern were Mrs Thatcher and some of her cabinet, mocking them. It was probably drawn around the time Mrs T made the remark that is my favourite of her momentous statements:

‘There is no such thing as quality literature. There are books that sell and books that don’t.’

I don’t think there’s the slightest chance that world leaders will tone down the money cult. To do so would require such a radical change of lifestyle that people won’t accept it voluntarily. The current is too strong now; I’m sure we’re going to go over the cataract one day. And I think there’s a future generation of people – and maybe they’re already born – who are going to hate us for allowing it to happen.