Pope Francis by Nation Geographic

[RICHMONDBENGAL_07]

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2015/08/vatican/draper-text

So I've been a long time reader of National Geographic and have always been really interested in religions around the world and Catholicism in particular has fascinated me. Though I'm not a believer, this new pope is interesting to me. He really does seem to have the poor and less fortunate in his heart and prayers. And seems to be less homophobic than previous Popes. 

The only negative I see so far, is that he appointed a bishop that had some alleged sexual misconduct to cardinal.

Catholics what do you think?

[StLucieBengal]

I don't care for this pope. It has nothing to do with his views. I don't like how he interjects into everything. Imo he should be working on helping the needy and spreading Catholicism.

As for the sexual misconduct stuff. I think those people should be swept out quietly if they did the crime. I'm sure there were lots of unfounded allegations as well. But I also think that there was a blind eye turned to these matters in the past.

[GMDino]

(08-16-2015, 03:38 PM)RICHMONDBENGAL_07 Wrote: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2015/08/vatican/draper-text

So I've been a long time reader of National Geographic and have always been really interested in religions around the world and Catholicism in particular has fascinated me. Though I'm not a believer, this new pope is interesting to me. He really does seem to have the poor and less fortunate in his heart and prayers. And seems to be less homophobic than previous Popes. 

The only negative I see so far, is that he appointed a bishop that had some alleged sexual misconduct to cardinal.

Catholics what do you think?

I am very fond of him and his way of telling Catholics that they need to  focus on helping each other.  He seems humble and honest.

[GodHatesBengals]

I am glad that this delusional nutjob is at least using his position to lead other delusional nutjobs to being decent human beings.

[Benton]

(08-16-2015, 07:54 PM)StLucieBengal Wrote: I don't care for this pope.   It has nothing to do with his views.   I don't like how he interjects into everything.    Imo he should be working on helping the needy and spreading Catholicism.    

As for the sexual misconduct stuff.   I think those people should be swept out quietly if they did the crime.   I'm sure there were lots of unfounded allegations as well.   But I also think that there was a blind eye turned to these matters in the past.

He has focused on the troubles of the poor, which — despite the American evangelical movement — is supposed to be one of the chief focuses of the church. If it got back to that, it would get back to spreading Catholicism. 

I'm not Catholic, but I think he's doing a lot for Christianity. Much better than spending his time worrying about the death of Latin, worrying about traditions or the use of contraceptives while helping to promote sex abuse within his flock.

[RICHMONDBENGAL_07]

(08-16-2015, 07:54 PM)StLucieBengal Wrote: I don't care for this pope.   It has nothing to do with his views.   I don't like how he interjects into everything.    Imo he should be working on helping the needy and spreading Catholicism.    

As for the sexual misconduct stuff.   I think those people should be swept out quietly if they did the crime.   I'm sure there were lots of unfounded allegations as well.   But I also think that there was a blind eye turned to these matters in the past.

I'm not sure what you mean by "interjects into everything"?

[*Nately120*]

(08-16-2015, 07:54 PM)StLucieBengal Wrote: I don't care for this pope.

That would explain why he's so popular.

[GodHatesBengals]

(08-16-2015, 11:31 PM)Nately120 Wrote: That would explain why he's so popular.

[StLucieBengal]

(08-16-2015, 11:26 PM)RICHMONDBENGAL_07 Wrote: I'm not sure what you mean by "interjects into everything"?

Climate change for starters. has nothing to do with his job.

I haven't had my coffee yet, but he had loads of other stuff he injects into that doesn't need his attention.

How about he focus on the human rights violations worldwide

[StLucieBengal]

(08-16-2015, 11:31 PM)Nately120 Wrote: That would explain why he's so popular.

Hey no one is immune.   I will call them out.  

[Benton]

(08-17-2015, 08:20 AM)StLucieBengal Wrote: Climate change for starters.  has nothing to do with his job.  

I haven't had my coffee yet, but he had loads of other stuff he injects into that doesn't need his attention.  

How about he focus on the human rights violations worldwide

http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/15/world/pope-climate-change/

Quote:2. Since when do popes preach about the environment?
Since at least 1971, when Greenpeace was first setting sail and Al Gore was a cub reporter working the night shift at a newspaper in Tennessee.
In an apostolic letter that some Catholics call prophetic, Pope Paul VI wrote in May of that year:
"Man is suddenly becoming aware that by an ill-considered exploitation of nature he risks destroying it and becoming in his turn the victim of this degradation."
Since then, popes have rung the environmental alarm with increasing urgency.
In 1990, Saint John Paul II dedicated his World Day of Peace message to looming climate catastrophes, warning that the depletion of the ozone layer and growth of greenhouse gases had reached "crisis proportions."
"Industrial waste, the burning of fossil fuels, unrestricted deforestation, the use of certain types of herbicides, coolants and propellants: all of these are known to harm the atmosphere and the environment," John Paul declared.
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who succeeded John Paul, lamented the rise of "environmental refugees" forced to flee their homes by rising sea levels, parched fields and barren hunting grounds.
"The Church has a responsibility towards creation," Benedict wrote in a 2009 encyclical that also covered other forms of Christian charity, "and she must assert this responsibilit

And, really, going back to the foundation of the church, as man is supposed to be a good steward of it. But since at least the industrial revolution, the church has taken an interest in what we've done to what we were given. And how we're failing in that charge.

[BonnieBengal]

(08-16-2015, 11:31 PM)Nately120 Wrote: That would explain why he's so popular.

He's popular with the Democrats because he's a Socialist.  I don't see him involved in religion as much as politics.

[CKwi88]

As with any elected official, of course it is nigh impossible to find one that you line up on all of the issues. That said, Francis has done a wonderful job of bringing the papacy back "down to earth." He's continued his record of caring for the poor and willingness to open dialogue on many different issues, and seems to be far more charismatic and approachable than his predecessor.

I especially like his continued work towards the acceptance of many 21st century issues like the acceptance of of homosexuality, but that's not to say that I wouldn't like to see more development on things like the acceptance of women in the church and especially the punishments for those in the church found to be sexually abusing others.

[*PhilHos*]

Do Catholics still view the pope as infallible?

[GMDino]

(08-17-2015, 11:44 AM)BonnieBengal Wrote: He's popular with the Democrats because he's a Socialist.  I don't see him involved in religion as much as politics.

Actually he's bring religion back into it the correct way:  As a tool to get people to care for each other and care less about the material world.

[GMDino]

(08-17-2015, 11:57 AM)PhilHos Wrote: Do Catholics still view the pope as infallible?

That is only in very specific situations that we are suppose to do that.

[*PhilHos*]

(08-17-2015, 12:14 PM)GMDino Wrote: That is only in very specific situations that we are suppose to do that.

What do you mean?

[GMDino]

(08-17-2015, 12:17 PM)PhilHos Wrote: What do you mean?

The pope is not always "infallible".

http://www.catholic.com/tracts/papal-infallibility

Quote:The Catholic Church’s teaching on papal infallibility is one which is generally misunderstood by those outside the Church. In particular, Fundamentalists and other "Bible Christians" often confuse the charism of papal "infallibility" with "impeccability." They imagine Catholics believe the pope cannot sin. Others, who avoid this elementary blunder, think the pope relies on some sort of amulet or magical incantation when an infallible definition is due. 


Given these common misapprehensions regarding the basic tenets of papal infallibility, it is necessary to explain exactly what infallibility is not. Infallibility is not the absence of sin. Nor is it a charism that belongs only to the pope. Indeed, infallibility also belongs to the body of bishops as a whole, when, in doctrinal unity with the pope, they solemnly teach a doctrine as true. We have this from Jesus himself, who promised the apostles and their successors the bishops, the magisterium of the Church: "He who hears you hears me" (Luke 10:16), and "Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven" (Matt. 18:18). 
 
Vatican II’s Explanation

Vatican II explained the doctrine of infallibility as follows: "Although the individual bishops do not enjoy the prerogative of infallibility, they can nevertheless proclaim Christ’s doctrine infallibly. This is so, even when they are dispersed around the world, provided that while maintaining the bond of unity among themselves and with Peter’s successor, and while teaching authentically on a matter of faith or morals, they concur in a single viewpoint as the one which must be held conclusively. This authority is even more clearly verified when, gathered together in an ecumenical council, they are teachers and judges of faith and morals for the universal Church. Their definitions must then be adhered to with the submission of faith" (Lumen Gentium 25). 


...


An infallible pronouncement—whether made by the pope alone or by an ecumenical council—usually is made only when some doctrine has been called into question. Most doctrines have never been doubted by the large majority of Catholics. 


Pick up a catechism and look at the great number of doctrines, most of which have never been formally defined. But many points have been defined, and not just by the pope alone. There are, in fact, many major topics on which it would be impossible for a pope to make an infallible definition without duplicating one or more infallible pronouncements from ecumenical councils or the ordinary magisterium (teaching authority) of the Church. 




At least the outline, if not the references, of the preceding paragraphs should be familiar to literate Catholics, to whom this subject should appear straightforward. It is a different story with "Bible Christians." For them papal infallibility often seems a muddle because their idea of what it encompasses is often incorrect. 




Some ask how popes can be infallible if some of them lived scandalously. This objection of course, illustrates the common confusion between infallibility and impeccability. There is no guarantee that popes won’t sin or give bad example. (The truly remarkable thing is the great degree of sanctity found in the papacy throughout history; the "bad popes" stand out precisely because they are so rare.) 




Other people wonder how infallibility could exist if some popes disagreed with others. This, too, shows an inaccurate understanding of infallibility, which applies only to solemn, official teachings on faith and morals, not to disciplinary decisions or even to unofficial comments on faith and morals. A pope’s private theological opinions are not infallible, only what he solemnly defines is considered to be infallible teaching. 




Even Fundamentalists and Evangelicals who do not have these common misunderstandings often think infallibility means that popes are given some special grace that allows them to teach positively whatever truths need to be known, but that is not quite correct, either. Infallibility is not a substitute for theological study on the part of the pope. 



What infallibility does do is prevent a pope from solemnly and formally teaching as "truth" something that is, in fact, error. It does not help him know what is true, nor does it "inspire" him to teach what is true. He has to learn the truth the way we all do—through study—though, to be sure, he has certain advantages because of his position. 

[RICHMONDBENGAL_07]

(08-17-2015, 11:44 AM)BonnieBengal Wrote: He's popular with the Democrats because he's a Socialist.  I don't see him involved in religion as much as politics.

Agree or disagree with his political views that's fine.  But I don't think you become more involved in religion than becoming the Pope.  In fact he has dedicated his entire life to his religion.

But I do agree he is popular with his more liberal views.

[xxlt]

(08-16-2015, 03:38 PM)RICHMONDBENGAL_07 Wrote: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2015/08/vatican/draper-text

So I've been a long time reader of National Geographic and have always been really interested in religions around the world and Catholicism in particular has fascinated me. Though I'm not a believer, this new pope is interesting to me. He really does seem to have the poor and less fortunate in his heart and prayers. And seems to be less homophobic than previous Popes. 

The only negative I see so far, is that he appointed a bishop that had some alleged sexual misconduct to cardinal.

Catholics what do you think?

https://nationalsurvivoradvocatescoalition.wordpress.com/2015/08/05/whistle-tom-doyles-steadfast-witness-by-robert-kaiser/

Well, I am not Catholic but was raised in that church and still have friends, including priests, in that church. Long story short the sexual misconduct issue mentioned in the OP is a much larger issue than most realize. You can learn more about it at the link above or at this link:

http://http://www.snapnetwork.org/

And this pope is business as usual on that issue. It is a big deal because 1/4 girls and 1/6 boys between infancy and 18 are force/coerced by adults into sexual acts in which they have no desire to participate. That's 20% of our children being raped or assaulted and little done to the perpetrators.

Are all perpetrators priests or ministers? No, but the numbers who are priests or ministers are staggering. Read more about them here:

http://http://www.bishop-accountability.org/

And the institutional Catholic Church's active facilitation and enabling of pedophiles crimes is even more staggering. If you click on the first link above (or go to Amazon) you can get the book Whistle. It is the best overview of the sexual abuse problem in the church I have seen. Furthermore it highlights over 30 years of work by Tom Doyle, a man whose name more Catholics and non should know. Tom really is an heroic figure. Whistle is a good read and tells an important story thoroughly and accurately. I strongly recommend the book to all who are interested in the welfare of children and/or religion.