Honest questions about the Pope

[nonconformist]

The Pope's death has brought forth lots of discussion, but I'm left with some sincere questions.

I've said it before and I'll say it again - I disagreed with the Pope on many issues. I also agreed with him on many and thought he was a voice for peace.

But, in the end, I'm not Catholic.

As a woman, I will never want to be a part of the church hierarchy. Some do, and I support their struggle. However, when church doctrine dictates that women cannot be priests, isn't it indicative of the faith they've chosen to follow? I wish them well, but I can't really say much. Because I'm not Catholic, I don't really care.

I had plenty of pre-marital sex. Now I'm married and I use birth control. While I've fortunately never had an abortion, I'm thankful that currently I have the right to do so if I chose. The Catholic church doesn't agree, but I don't really care. I'm not Catholic. All I'm concerned with is that abortion remains legal.

My point is that on issues like women in the priesthood, contraception, abortion and gay rights the church is *never* going to take an official hardline stance to the contrary. I don't expect it to. Sure, it would be nice if they did. But since I'm not Catholic, I don't really care. I'm only concerned with the laws in the U.S. The Catholic church has little influence over US policies. The Protestant fundie church has too much influence. I'm more concerned with that, because some of the more insane encourage violence.

So, I guess my question is... if you're not Catholic, why do you care that they think you're a sinner? Because I don't. I appreciate a lot of what the Pope had to say on issues like the war, poverty, social justice, corporatism and religious reconciliation. I disagree with the basic church dogma though, but I don't really care because I'm not Catholic. In addition to my sinning ways I outlined above, the church also believes I'll burn in eternal hellfire because I don't believe in God and I'm not baptized. Oh well. Ask me if I care. But the real question is - why do YOU care? As long as their opinions don't dictate US policy, does it really matter? This "faith based" crap is coming from the Protestant far right, not the Catholics - because if they took Catholic ramblings to heart we would have never went to war and would stop shatting upon the poor. And getting all up in arms over church dogma and policies when you're not a member of the church plays right into the hands of the religious right - because they feel that their personal moral issues should be law. When you validate that - instead of writing it off as "church values" that don't apply to you - it gives them footing.