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In reply to the discussion: Sam Harris’ detestable crusade: How his latest anti-Islam tract reveals the bankruptcy of his ideas [View all]kwassa
(23,340 posts)45. He does?
Francis, who has been hailed by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Catholics and progressives for some of his remarks on gay people, such as his famed Who am I to judge" response on gay priests, has also previously spoken out against gay marriage during his 2-and-a-half-year papacy. But while hes criticized the "ideological colonization that tries to destroy the family, for example, hes also previously said the church is obsessed with speaking out against abortion, contraception and gay marriage.
The pope encouraged bishops to not give up on young people who often don't hold the same values as the church on family and marriage.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/pope-francis-gay-marriage-and-families_5607eb53e4b0dd850307ed5a
sounds like a mixed message to me.
and no, the Pope doesn't have the power to make a change as radical as this without facing open rebellion among many parts of the church that are very conservative. His is not a dictatorship with an army or secret police force to back it up, and much of the rebellion would be inside Vatican City, as well.
Look at the Anglican Communion, and the shit storm that happened when we ordained a gay bishop back in 2003 in New Hampshire. That battle, or war, to put it more bluntly, is still not over.
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Sam Harris’ detestable crusade: How his latest anti-Islam tract reveals the bankruptcy of his ideas [View all]
rug
Dec 2015
OP
The advantage of book reviews is that they tend to separate the wheat from the chaff.
rug
Dec 2015
#11
Cold-War history isn't that well-taught--it's mostly "Truman did some nice things and mutual
MisterP
Dec 2015
#23
the New Atheists seem a bit nervous, that people won't listen to their policy advice anymore
MisterP
Dec 2015
#29
The Pope is not " religious left". He's a misogynistic, homophobic social conservative.
Humanist_Activist
Dec 2015
#30
That would be an alliance of convenience, so what? Doesn't make the Pope a leader of the...
Humanist_Activist
Jan 2016
#37
The phrase is "a like-minded thinker and potentially useful ally in a crucial battle of ideas."
rug
Jan 2016
#39
So I'm assuming you supported what his church did in Slovenia recently?
Humanist_Activist
Jan 2016
#40
Is a person who opposes legally recognizing interracial marriage racist?
Humanist_Activist
Jan 2016
#42
Sounds to me like he wants to change the hearts and minds of young people to be homophobic...
Humanist_Activist
Jan 2016
#47
You do know most of Dawkins non-biology books were written AFTER 9/11, right?
Goblinmonger
Dec 2015
#31