'Please, take your cheque back and burn it': Pope Francis refuses 'dirty money'

During his general audience Pope Francis spoke against accepting money from benefactors who exploit their employees.

Pope Francis spoke of "benefactors" who exploit their employees then try to donate their "dirty money" to the Church - and he said such donations are to stop now.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - "The people of God - that is, the Church - don't need dirty money," the pontiff said during his general audience in St. Peter's Square. "They need hearts that are open to God's mercy."

His holiness explained God doesn't allow people to hide their sins beneath kind gestures and shows of kindness.

To the companies who attempt to donate "dirty money," Pope Francis said, "Please, take your cheque back and burn it."

The crowd erupted in applause as Pope Francis continued, saying God is not pleased with "the blood of bulls and lambs" slaughtered in his name, and is especially angered by offerings from human suffering.

"I think some of Church benefactors who come with an offering [of] fruit of the blood of many people, who are exploited, mistreated, enslaved by poorly paid work" should leave, Pope Francis stated.

The pontiff spoke of God's desire for sinners "with purified hands" to help the oppressed and defend the weak, specifically "many, many refugees who are landing in Europe and don't know where to go."

The condemnation of financial gain from exploited workers soon turned to talks of the Year of Mercy as Pope Francis focused on God's unconditional love and how He grooms, corrects, and teaches us to be better people.

Citing the prophet Isaiah, the pontiff described God as an "affectionate, but also an alert and strict father."

God will always show us our sins and return us "to the path of justice," he continued. "Even though he is hurt [by our sin], God lets love do the talking and he appeals to the conscience of these degenerate children so they mend their ways and let themselves be loved again."

The general audience concluded with Pope Francis urging everyone to understand God's forgiving heart, that the road to salvation is not through ritual sacrifice, that we must repent of our sins and that God will never turn from even "the evilest person" in the world.

"He will always say, 'Child, come.' And this is our father's love and this is God's mercy," Pope Francis said. "Having a father like this gives us hope and faith. ...This is the miracle of God's love."

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