This new pope is pretty cool

[AZRedhawk44]

http://www.france24.com/en/20130919-pope-wants-airport-bishops-grounded

He seems to really be shaking up the church and cleaning it up.  And genuine in his desire to do so.

I started this thread in the Politics forum, mostly due to the seemingly apolitical nature of this pope and how surprising it is.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

hes very cool

now watch how the vatican political machine goes after him

[SADShooter]

hes very cool

now watch how the vatican political machine goes after him

Verbum.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

its saddened me to say it  its a time where being wrong would make me very happy

[vaskidmark]

If they are not in the office, how can they become aware of the various abuses being committed by those under them?

Not being a Catholic, the few times I have observed the parish response to a visit from the Bishop made me understand why we no longer have nobility in the country.  There was more pomp and circumstance in one visit than at a dozen high school graduations.  It might actually be cheaper to keep them on the seminar circuit.

stay safe.

[freakazoid]

Is this the Pope who wears regular shoes instead of some expensive fancy ones?

[Ron]

One of my few hero's is Roger Williams.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Williams_%28theologian%29

[AJ Dual]

hes very cool

now watch how the vatican political machine goes after him

Unless he's got buggered altar boys in his past, I'm not completely sure they can. I guess they could undermine any of his more technical initiatives in terms of actual implementation. Not counting the outright corruption, financial and powerbrokering, a lot of the opposition in the Vatican is of the more liberal/worldly persuasion. And I can't see how they're going to find fault with his recent messages indicating that while the catechism isn't going to change on the issues, pursuing the "culture war" on homosexuality and birth control isn't going to be a priority going forward is going to make them line up against him.

I think if he doesn't demand some huge audit of the Vatican's books beyond maybe letting it be known he wants an end to a few of the most egregious abuses, they'll leave him be.

Real life isn't some Dan Brown novel, I don't think they're going to poison him, or set up a new anti-pope in Avignon. 

If there's actual movement on married clergy, I think the main downside is this is the pope who could have saved the Catholic Church in America... if he'd been selected 20-30 years ago.

An itinerant priest who has to handle 3-4 parishes, or when they can't sustain even that, an import from S. America or Africa who can barely say mass in English, that's not going to cut it.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

You can be a married priest now. Just have to defect from the episcopal church

damn phone

[AJ Dual]

You can be a married priest now. Just have to defect from the episcopal church

damn phone

Aware of that loophole, but it's just a trickle.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

oh but i think it opens a doot

[Sergeant Bob]

oh but i think it opens a doot

I personally think only trained, qualified and licensed individuals should be allowed to open a doot.

[Hutch]

Pope Francis is the Catholic version of a liberal Republican.  Hmmmn... CINO?  I don't see how his liberation theology, amoral, don't-stand-for-anything sort of viewpoint will stand the church in good stead.  This is an unfolding disaster for Catholicism.  If some Catholics want a fuzzy-bunny, puppy kisses, socially conscious church, there's any number of others they can attend.

I believe there's gonna be a split/schism in the church. 

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

double tap

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

triple tap

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

geez

[zxcvbob]

My pastor mentioned the Pope yesterday; says he's not too sure of the guy.  I asked if he was talking about the Pope wanting to take a softer stance on homosexuality and abortion and birth control, and focus more on the Gospel.  You can't bring people in if you are constantly driving them away.  He said no, it was the part (which I hadn't heard and have not yet verified) where he said people should follow their consciences, and if they do that it's good enough -- with no mention of Jesus at all.

[brimic]

He said no, it was the part (which I hadn't heard and have not yet verified) where he said people should follow their consciences, and if they do that it's good enough -- with no mention of Jesus at all.
 
 
 

So now we now have a secular humanist as a Pope? 

[Perd Hapley]

Pope Francis is the Catholic version of a liberal Republican.  Hmmmn... CINO?  I don't see how his liberation theology, amoral, don't-stand-for-anything sort of viewpoint will stand the church in good stead.  This is an unfolding disaster for Catholicism.  If some Catholics want a fuzzy-bunny, puppy kisses, socially conscious church, there's any number of others they can attend.

I believe there's gonna be a split/schism in the church.  

As I understand it, Francis is not saying that abortion is OK, or that homosexuality is not a sin. Rather, he wants the church to handle such sins in a softer way. Now, that may not work, either, but he isn't nearly so "tolerant" as the portrait the media is painting of him.

Aware of that loophole, but it's just a trickle.

I thought Catholic priests could also be married, if they were already married before they went "religious."

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

My pastor mentioned the Pope yesterday; says he's not too sure of the guy.  I asked if he was talking about the Pope wanting to take a softer stance on homosexuality and abortion and birth control, and focus more on the Gospel.  You can't bring people in if you are constantly driving them away.  He said no, it was the part (which I hadn't heard and have not yet verified) where he said people should follow their consciences, and if they do that it's good enough -- with no mention of Jesus at all.

no mention?
http://www.religionnews.com/2013/09/11/pope-francis-tells-atheists-to-obey-their-conscience/

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

As I understand it, Francis is not saying that abortion is OK, or that homosexuality is not a sin. Rather, he wants the church to handle such sins in a softer way. Now, that may not work, either, but he isn't nearly so "tolerant" as the portrait the media is painting of him.


I thought Catholic priests could also be married, if they were already married before they went "religious."

http://www.catholic.com/blog/jimmy-akin/pope-francis-on-abortion-and-homosexual-marriage

http://www.lifenews.com/2013/03/13/new-pope-francis-called-abortion-the-death-penalty-for-the-unborn/


i think this pope scares folks
http://wdtprs.com/blog/2013/09/yesterday-msm-reports-francis-said-church-is-obsessed-about-abortion-today-pope-francis-talks-about-abortion/

[zxcvbob]

no mention?
http://www.religionnews.com/2013/09/11/pope-francis-tells-atheists-to-obey-their-conscience/

Thanks for the link.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

Thanks for the link.

i had a g/f who once posed a great question.

if someone lead a good life, in the classic judeo/christian sense of morals/commandments, and had never been exposed to the idea of god and belief, would the god of my understanding deny him ?

i would like to think not. and i surely hope that that person would be favored over the many pious hypocrites that parade around. i do belive in that god of compassion and understanding and try not to involve myself with preachers that don't. and one does not have to be wbc class to not make the grade

[Perd Hapley]

i had a g/f who once posed a great question.

if someone lead a good life, in the classic judeo/christian sense of morals/commandments, and had never been exposed to the idea of god and belief, would the god of my understanding deny him ?

i would like to think not. and i surely hope that that person would be favored over the many pious hypocrites that parade around. i do belive in that god of compassion and understanding and try not to involve myself with preachers that don't. and one does not have to be wbc class to not make the grade

Jesus answered that one pretty clearly. Lead a good life by obeying the commandments, and you will be saved.

Of course, only Christ himself has ever managed to pull it off...

[Hutch]

without attempting to deal with the "salvation by faith alone" Protestant orthodoxy, let me say that the Pope should, at the least, suggest that maybe one might at least nod toward the Nicene Creed, the Bible, the lives of the saints, or SOMETHING that resembles doctrinal, doctrinaire Catholicism.  "Obsessed with abortion".  Really?  A practice that has ended more lives in the last handful of years than all wars fought in the 20th century?  THAT abortion???  Toughen up, Francis.  You don't stand for that, you don't stand for anything.