Very odd thread for me to start..
I'm not a religious fella, but...
The new pope Frankie washed feet - as is apparently a tradition - but he included women, and that's upsetting traditionalists. He also in his Good Friday missive recognized and encouraged friendship with "Muslim brothers and sisters", which also pissed off some traditionalists. Further, this guy shuns papal bling and fancy clothes, preferring the simple white outfits of papacy. Some of these things are against church "law" but being that Frankie there is the top dog, he can do what he wants.
Some South American church-y guy Christian Bouchacourt, says that this, among other things the new Pizzle is doing "cultivates a militant humility, but can prove humiliating for the church". Huh.. you know, you'd figure there would be a lot more humiliating things for the church than recognizing women and other religions as valid.
'nuff said
Mark
P.S. - totally not enough said, and I fully intend this to spark arguments (and cool your heels mods, good arguments, not darb/fedstanza quality)
The new pope Frankie washed feet - as is apparently a tradition - but he included women, and that's upsetting traditionalists. He also in his Good Friday missive recognized and encouraged friendship with "Muslim brothers and sisters", which also pissed off some traditionalists. Further, this guy shuns papal bling and fancy clothes, preferring the simple white outfits of papacy. Some of these things are against church "law" but being that Frankie there is the top dog, he can do what he wants.
Some South American church-y guy Christian Bouchacourt, says that this, among other things the new Pizzle is doing "cultivates a militant humility, but can prove humiliating for the church". Huh.. you know, you'd figure there would be a lot more humiliating things for the church than recognizing women and other religions as valid.
'nuff said
Mark
P.S. - totally not enough said, and I fully intend this to spark arguments (and cool your heels mods, good arguments, not darb/fedstanza quality)
Comments
I got all of (including the motivation to post) this from CTV news.
Mark
He will not change the Churches stance re: homosexuality, marriage of same, women priests. The simple reason is that, though he is the head of the Church, he is bound by dogma. He might start the Church on the road to allowing Priests to marry, but I doubt it.
No, where this Pope will make his mark is in two locations. The first is the Vatican itself, where he will likely make wholesale changes to the bureaucracy that is the Curia. Expect a large number of new faces in key positions over the next 2-3 years. You will likely also see a greater emphasis on "bringing the Church to the people" in terms of better explaining the Churches positions on the things that many wish to see chnaged, but that the Church simply cannot alter without fundamentally changing what the Church is. What I mean is, when discussing homosexuality, the simplistic answer out of the Vatican is that the Church "hates the sin, but loves the sinner". Expect a better approach and outreach from the Pope on this in order to stem the tide of disaffected Catholics in the First World.
the second area of change will be in the way the Church deals with "Foreign Relations". The Vatican is a Sovereign State, and I think the Pope will start taking a more active approach in world affairs, particularly in how the developed world deals with the developing world. Part and parcel of that will be confronting the rise of Islam in the West and Europe. Not in any militant fashion, more likely a return to the Faith as a means of forming a bulwark against Islam's more radical proponents. If a dialogue can exist between the major faith groups in each nation, then the extremists on all sides have less of an opportunity to gain traction. Stalin once asked "how many divisions does the Pope have?" This Pope will have more than any in recent memory.
Lastly, and tying into the former comments, this Pope will be the "poor Pope". As Francis of Assisi forsook his wealth, and the trappings thereof, this Pope will likely direct his Church to the betterment of the Third World. The Church's number are exploding in the Third World (it is why their numbers have not decreased despite losses in NA and Europe). This is where the Pope will be seen as an "agent of change". The Church teaches that we are all our brothers keepers, and I see this Pope demanding more of his people in that regard.
I may be 100% wrong on a lot of this, but I hope not. As a lapsed Catholic, I love my God, but came to despise my Church. I pray that this Pope can bring me back to the fold.
you should never despise your Church.
The Roman Catholic Church has immense wealth in it's possession, in terms of art, the written word, and simple precious metals and jewels. Why not put these riches to work for the betterment of mankind? Not saying they should hold a yard sale, but surely some of their priceless art work could go towards easing Third World debt? Or perhaps send it on tour to the museums of the World?
You know the church is a group of people and not a building right? People are despised every day and you think nothing of it.
There are probably ten of thousands (maybe 100,000s) Catholic nuns and priests helping people throughout the world. You can't overlook the work they are doing.
So when you die, will you want a mass held at a Catholic Church and last rites performed by a Catholic priest? or will you be buried in a Catholic cemetery?
Might as well hedge your bets.
George Carlin on Religion and God - YouTube
so, as it stands though we are debating the new popish plotter (sorry to go off topic). Seems to be starting out on the right foot in consideration past popes. hopefully his actions will continue in the same vein and he can at least move his people forward to actually giving a shit about each other rather than looking for reasons to damn each other to heck/hell/handbaskets. that and trying to actually make those working for him act as righteous as they claim they are holy.