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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsCatholic Pope - another gay-hating idiot.
Sorry if I offend anyone, but when you pick an extreme homophobe as your leader, you deserve it.
So DU Catholics - either LEAVE this homophobic church, or be tarred with the shame of it.
He has affirmed church teaching on homosexuality, though he teaches the importance of respecting individuals who are gay. He strongly opposed legislation introduced in 2010 by the Argentine Government to allow same-sex marriage. In a letter to the monasteries of Buenos Aires, he wrote: "Let's not be naive, we're not talking about a simple political battle; it is a destructive pretension against the plan of God. We are not talking about a mere bill, but rather a machination of the Father of Lies that seeks to confuse and deceive the children of God." He has also insisted that adoption by gays and lesbians is a form of discrimination against children. This position received a rebuke from Argentine president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, who said the church's tone was reminiscent of "medieval times and the Inquisition
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jorge_Bergoglio
Arugula Latte
(50,566 posts)I don't care if your own particular parish or priest or whatever is all groovy and liberal and all that ... you're still supporting this criminal organization in Rome.
DURHAM D
(32,611 posts)Perhaps it will be better if he does not.
WinkyDink
(51,311 posts)hlthe2b
(102,359 posts)As a Jesuit, I'd like to think him capable of rethinking now that he is Pope--on gay issues and women's issues. He seems prepared to speak out on behalf of the poor--that is a positive.
Arugula Latte
(50,566 posts)ask for what little money they have.
Canuckistanian
(42,290 posts)So he'll be a friend to the rich and powerful. No surprise, really. I imagine most Cardinals had to distance themselves from that ideology in order to be appointed.
AngryOldDem
(14,061 posts)From earlier brief biographies that I had read, I was wondering about his position on liberation theology.
I was hopeful that this could be a small turning point in the history of the Church. I should have known better.
This is exactly why the Church is a dying institution. It is so far out of step with the faithful and the rest of the world that it has very little credibility left.
Its definition of "reform" is not the world's definition of "reform."
SSDD.
Apophis
(1,407 posts)I'm not.
ChisolmTrailDem
(9,463 posts)new pope is getting read the riot act.
DU=MPD.
dbackjon
(6,578 posts)Why should he get any?
Catholic Church, along with the other big cult, the Mormons, have been the prime suppresors of equality for the past several decades.
Church donations go directly to fight equality
Whisp
(24,096 posts)so I am not about to turn the other cheek and be all kissy kissy for a hateful whacko rightwinger no matter what colour his shoes are.
muriel_volestrangler
(101,361 posts)It's not a disorder when it actually is multiple people, you know.
fishwax
(29,149 posts)"DU=MPD."
I don't get it
WinkyDink
(51,311 posts)Peter cotton
(380 posts)hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)Now this is not uniform here but many people here only harp on the faults of Christians and never bring up other faiths that have faults as well. Do not mistake me that I am saying do not bring up their faults, but I wish there would be some balance here.
muriel_volestrangler
(101,361 posts)Of course, people aren't saying "leave Christianity", which would be the equivalent of "leave Islam". There are Christian churches that support LGBT rights. Or you can remain a Christian but not affliate with a church at all.
For many Muslims, the organisation goes no higher than the mosque they attend. I'd urge any DUer, or anyone, to leave a mosque that opposes LGBT rights. That will be, as far as I can tell, most of them, since it does seem a widespread attitude in the religion.
CentristLiberal
(36 posts)It's an absurd, bronze-age, set of rules and philosophies. Mohammed didn't fly to heaven on a horse. Neither was there a "Jesus" born of a virgin.
These are fairy tales. Unfortunately, these fairy tales persist because of base human ignorance and tribal identity.
CAG
(1,820 posts)believe in a higher power. Gandhi, MLKJR, the Kennedy's, the Obama's, the Carter's, they've got NOTHIN on you and your much more awesome intellectual power.
immoderate
(20,885 posts)And I wonder what the actual beliefs were of those you cite. You will allow that they could not have come to power if they had not espoused their devotion.
--imm
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)CPX7700
(18 posts)you shouldn't attack most Catholics for the decision. It is not a democratic vote from all Catholics. All three major Abrahamic religions are homophobic to some degree. I agree with one of the posters that Islam seems to be ignored by many gay rights advocates. Many Muslim countries execute homosexuals. While I agree that Pope Francis is a homophobic bigot, he is not nearly as bad as many religious leaders.
dbackjon
(6,578 posts)So in a way, they do vote to continue the same ol same ol
CentristLiberal
(36 posts)Why be a member and support such an organization?
I'm not sure if this question is addressed to me or to Catholics in general, but I am not a Catholic, I am a secular humanist. I was trying to say that not all Catholics would support the cardinals' decision.
JoePhilly
(27,787 posts)I'm not a Catholic, never was, but I did graduate from a Jesuit University.
Its interesting, and often misunderstood, just how much free-will individual Catholics have.
The Jesuits I studied with back then promoted it.
One of the things I truly enjoyed was when some life long Catholic kid simply regurgitated a piece of Sunday school nonsense in answer to a theological question from the Jesuit priests. The priest would destroy their answer because there was no thought behind it. No reasoning.
I found the Jesuits expected you to be able to defend your positions with honest and well reasoned arguments. And it did not matter if the position you took ran against church teaching and the standing dogma.
It will be interesting to see how this new, Jesuit pope presents himself, as pope.
And I doubt any Catholics will be leaving the church based on your admonition.
Floyd_Gondolli
(1,277 posts)For one, I just can't completely buy what's in the bible. It all sounds so ludicrous, but when you compound that with a vicious hatred of a segment of the population because of the way they were born, it's all just too much.
napkinz
(17,199 posts)SunSeeker
(51,698 posts)AngryOldDem
(14,061 posts)What did you expect? Really? That he would totally repudiate the Church's teaching and then be elevated to Pope?
News flash: The Church is NOT going to change its position on homosexuality anytime soon. If ever.
ETA: And I am not a Church defender nor an apologist. Far from it. I see it for what it is and I literally -- as Christ said, I think -- shake the dust from my sandals and move on.
Comrade Grumpy
(13,184 posts)Response to Comrade Grumpy (Reply #17)
Post removed
quinnox
(20,600 posts)dbackjon
(6,578 posts)What is offensive is anyone that claims to be progressive would like this selection.
jsr
(7,712 posts)dbackjon
(6,578 posts)Hekate
(90,793 posts)GodlessBiker
(6,314 posts)On the contrary, they are, almost without reservation, directed to the Catholic hierarchy, a group of men who have shown great contempt for children, women, and gay people.
In my opinion, the hierarchy is operating as a criminal racketeering enterprise, designed to perpetuate and cover up, using the mails and wires, numerous counts of pedophilia, which, but for religious and political reasons, would have been busted by the feds a long time ago.
kwassa
(23,340 posts)Ordering them to leave the church or be tarred with the same feather.
jsr
(7,712 posts)kwassa
(23,340 posts)Elaborate.
NYC Liberal
(20,136 posts)If you belong to an organization that espouses right-wing, bigoted views and choose to remain a member, you open yourself to criticism whether that organization is the GOP, the Tea Party, or the Catholic Church.
I was a member of the Church when I was young, because that is how I was raised. When was in my teens and started forming my own opinions about the world and how others should be treated, I left.
muriel_volestrangler
(101,361 posts)Luckily, a jury can see it's not hatred towards Catholics:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022500810
REASON FOR ALERT:
This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate. (See <a href="http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=aboutus#communitystandards" target="_blank">Community Standards</a>.)
ALERTER'S COMMENTS:
Bigoted hate speech that insults one othe world\'s great religions.
You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Wed Mar 13, 2013, 09:00 PM, and the Jury voted 1-5 to LEAVE IT.
Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: The post gives clear reasons why it attacks the man. The church is, taken as a whole, homophobic - the feelings of American Catholics are a minority. This is acceptable comment. That the Catholic church is 'great' is just another opinion. It's not bigotry, because it's based on evidence of the man's position.
Juror #2 voted to HIDE IT and said: No explanation given
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: This is not bigoted hate speech as the alerter says. Poster is stating his opinion. You can always hide the post.
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: No explanation given
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: Silly alert.
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: Lighten up, Francis!
Thank you very much for participating in our Jury system, and we hope you will be able to participate again in the future.
CentristLiberal
(36 posts)The hatred is directed toward the bigoted policies of the church. Beyond that, I have no respect for adults who believe in Bronze Age myths.
krispos42
(49,445 posts)It's a fact. It's part of the doctrine, like the Holy Trinity.
It's not going to change.
What has changed is the part where the government is a branch of the Catholic church, and religiously-disapproved actions and items get destroyed and banished by the government/Church.
Asking the Vatican what laws should be passed has greatly diminished, replaced by a lot more secular laws and a greater tolerance among the people.
dbackjon
(6,578 posts)To the struggle for equality for all of Humanity.
Catholic Church is front and center world wide in leading the persection of gays, and threatening anyone that supports gay marriage.
They spend MILLIONS of dollars suppressing equality.
krispos42
(49,445 posts)The Western European nations, the US, and Canada have progressively gotten better with separating Vatican and state. And the US states that are homophobic come from a Protestant direction, not a Catholic one. China and India, the two most populous nations, are not even Christian, much less Catholic.
Yes, they encourage systemic discrimination. It is inherent in their religion. But it is being steadily rendered impotent by the march of progress.
It will be better.
hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)I say it is worth a try. I left the RC church but others stay because it is still a force of good in their lives. It really depends on the person and what they are willing to put up with.
forestpath
(3,102 posts)napkinz
(17,199 posts)nt
amuse bouche
(3,657 posts)People need to rise up and speak out against this bigotry
Warning....many pretend otherwise and will make you out to be the bad guy
Arugula Latte
(50,566 posts)It's time to stop kowtowing to mythical nonsense and its dire consequences of repression.
Politicub
(12,165 posts)I hope progressive Catholics stay involved and agitate for change.
Like it or not, the Catholic Church is an influential institution.
Arugula Latte
(50,566 posts)mwrguy
(3,245 posts)Why should we tolerate a religion with one?
Zorra
(27,670 posts)in the hope that someday his heart will be healed and he will learn how to Love his fellow human beings.