Pope Francisco

snubbleste · 24-09-2015 03:55PM #1

The leader of the Holy See goes into the US parliament and basically berates American lawmakers about their policies particularly on immigration, poverty, civil rights, armaments trade, death penalty, cooperation with other nations, climate change..

Plus it appears he is having a huge impact. He directly looks at the military top brass when he mentions wars.
He's a hero!
Francisco is changing the world

fleet_admiral · 24-09-2015 03:58PM

snubbleste wrote: »

The leader of the Holy See goes into the US parliament and basically berates American lawmakers about their policies particularly on immigration, poverty, civil rights, armaments trade, death penalty, cooperation with other nations, climate change..

Plus it appears he is having a huge impact. He directly looks at the military top brass when he mentions wars.
He's a hero!
Francisco is changing the world

He's a scumbag. When is he going to outlaw the dangerous and evil cult that he runs

custard gannet · 24-09-2015 03:59PM

fleet_admiral wrote: »

He's a scumbag. When is he going to outlaw the dangerous and evil cult that he runs

LOL :pac:

Considering that they haven't a fraction of the power that they used to, what makes them dangerous these days?

snubbleste · 24-09-2015 03:59PM

fleet_admiral wrote: »

He's a scumbag. When is he going to outlaw the dangerous and evil cult that he runs

Ah now, go away with that 'religion is a brand' nonsense.
He's clearly having a huge impact on US policy-makers. Who else could do that? and so subtly too?

24-09-2015 04:03PM

It's very unfair to call the guy a scumbag.

He's the head of one of the most powerful institutions in the world, one I'm not a member of. His job description is pretty constrained, and within those constraints he's doing a much better, more humble, gentler job than any of his predecessors. He's a Catholic Pope, he's never going to be at the front of a march for abortion rights, but for all the restrictions of Catholicism, he's very transparently a decent human being doing what he believes his right, and doing a good job of keeping his followers happy.

If you're not one of his followers then his proclamations and policies have no affect on you.

I'm an atheist, but I can appreciate what this guy is trying to do, and more importantly, he's leading the way by example. I've a lot of time for Frank.

Samaris · 24-09-2015 04:03PM

I think it's possible to not agree with a religion and to think that there's serious problems with it and its set-up BUT to also respect a good man who obviously believes deeply in said religion and accepts the set-up, making the changes he can push through and working with the outside world as his position is supposed to do for at the very least what he believes is right.

I don't have to agree with all his positions. I don't have to agree with the Catholic Church, its wealth and the gulf of difference between what it is and what it was meant to be.

But I think Pope Francis is, honestly, a good man, and an example of what the position of successor of St. Peter should aim for.

Edit: Hah, Candie, you just put it far better than I did, I was posting at the same time. Entirely agreed with all you just said.

snubbleste · 24-09-2015 04:05PM

I think his speech today is going to mark a significant shift in US opinion on major social and other issues.

custard gannet · 24-09-2015 04:06PM

snubbleste wrote: »

I think his speech today is going to mark a significant shift in US opinion on major social and other issues.

Hardly, in fairness. The bible bashers in the US are mostly of multiple Protestant divisions, and some of them see Catholicism as nefariously as they do Judaism and Islam.

It's amazing to me that there is not one member of Congress who is openly Atheist. There are a few who declined to answer the question who probably are, but it is baffling that in a 21st century Western society this is such an issue (I've always reckoned Obama himself is likely an Atheist)

Menas · 24-09-2015 04:07PM

Samaris wrote: »

But I think Pope Francis is, honestly, a good man, and an example of what the position of successor of St. Peter should aim for.

This sums him up for me. He seems a decent sort even if I am not an active member of his church. I liked that video of him stopping his motorcade when he saw that handicapped kid.

stimpson · 24-09-2015 04:07PM

Let's see him hand over the Vatican's files on peado priests so they can be prosecuted.

24-09-2015 04:12PM

Everytime he says "God bless America" I can't help but think of Fr Jack saying "that would be an ecumenical matter".

Nodin · 24-09-2015 04:25PM

snubbleste wrote: »

I think his speech today is going to mark a significant shift in US opinion on major social and other issues.

I'd be doubtful about that one.

snubbleste · 24-09-2015 04:29PM

Nodin wrote: »

I'd be doubtful about that one.

We shall see.

Brian from Bray · 24-09-2015 04:34PM

I like this Pope.

24-09-2015 04:36PM

I like this picture:

http://jto.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/w2-pope-a-20131101.jpg

Not because of Frank, but I love the cheekiness of the little chap stealing his chair (and the limelight).

DEFTLEFTHAND · 24-09-2015 04:38PM

It's a pity he's not 20 years younger, he's said that he doesn't feel like he'll live much longer and hasn't ruled out stepping down like Pope Benedict did.

uck51js9zml2yt · 24-09-2015 04:41PM

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

It's a pity he's not 20 years younger, he's said that he doesn't feel like he'll live much longer and hasn't ruled out stepping down like Pope Benedict did.

Will he be another JP1?

Nodin · 24-09-2015 04:41PM

snubbleste wrote: »

We shall see.

Nothing to do with Frank, btw. He's one of the more charismatic Popes, but he's speaking in the modern age to a majority protestant fairly secular superpower. I just doubt he'd make headway in any real way. Even the catholic population tend to be laissez faire these days....

Nodin · 24-09-2015 04:43PM

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

It's a pity he's not 20 years younger, he's said that he doesn't feel like he'll live much longer and hasn't ruled out stepping down like Pope Benedict did.

I doubt anyone wants to end up like Bennys predecessor.

mahoganygas · 24-09-2015 04:44PM

Candie wrote: »

If you're not one of his followers then his proclamations and policies have no affect on you.

I wish this was the case, but unfortunately it's not in this country.

Ireland is far from secular. The RC church still wields a huge amount of power in this country.
Without going into too much debate, one only has to look at the church's stance on school patronage, suicide, abortion, abuse denials etc.

These are his policies and they affect followers and non-followers alike in Ireland.

24-09-2015 04:49PM

mahoganygas wrote: »

I wish this was the case, but unfortunately it's not in this country.

Ireland is far from secular. The RC church still wields a huge amount of power in this country.
Without going into too much debate, one only has to look at the church's stance on school patronage, suicide, abortion, abuse denials etc.

These are his policies and they affect followers and non-followers alike in Ireland.

Luckily the RC's influence in Ireland is waning, and these things are now up for questioning and action. I doubt the influence it still wields will continue to exist in ten years. Particularly in the case of things like abortion and education. I don't know what the stance is on suicide, I didn't realise there was a church position that influenced any secular action on that.

I think the recent referendum shows how little real influence the RC has on peoples actual behaviour.

AudreyHepburn · 24-09-2015 04:55PM

Regardless of your opinions on the Institution he heads I don't think it can be reasonably argued that Francis isn't an inherently good and humble man.

He's the head of the Catholic Church so obviously he's got to appear conservative in his views but reading into the things he's said and done I think it's clear he is a progressive thinker with his beliefs and morals in the right place.

DEFTLEFTHAND · 24-09-2015 05:00PM

Nodin wrote: »

I doubt anyone wants to end up like Bennys predecessor.

True, it was ridiculous carry on that JP2 didn't step down. The guy could hardly talk by the time he died.

The_Valeyard · 24-09-2015 05:05PM

fleet_admiral wrote: »

He's a scumbag. When is he going to outlaw the dangerous and evil cult that he runs

Ffs
Second post in!!!

/thread ruined.

Nodin · 24-09-2015 05:07PM

The_Valeyard wrote: »

Ffs
Second post in!!!

/thread ruined.

Ignore him. He was caught not going to mass on Sunday and the mood hasn't been good.

ohnonotgmail · 24-09-2015 05:09PM

Candie wrote: »

Luckily the RC's influence in Ireland is waning, and these things are now up for questioning and action. I doubt the influence it still wields will continue to exist in ten years. Particularly in the case of things like abortion and education. I don't know what the stance is on suicide, I didn't realise there was a church position that influenced any secular action on that.

I think the recent referendum shows how little real influence the RC has on peoples actual behaviour.

what percentage of the primary schools do they still run? Is it still 90%? I cant see that changing any time soon.

padd b1975 · 24-09-2015 05:13PM

fleet_admiral wrote: »

He's a scumbag. When is he going to outlaw the dangerous and evil cult that he runs

You're so edgy!

strelok · 24-09-2015 05:14PM

it's amazing how little work the catholic church actually had to do to make catholic bashing unpopular

well done frannie boy

snubbleste · 24-09-2015 05:15PM

Nodin wrote: »

Nothing to do with Frank, btw. He's one of the more charismatic Popes, but he's speaking in the modern age to a majority protestant fairly secular superpower. I just doubt he'd make headway in any real way. Even the catholic population tend to be laissez faire these days....

Apart from the Pope aspect. He is an immensely respected figure and he talks far too much common sense.

padd b1975 · 24-09-2015 05:15PM

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

what percentage of the primary schools do they still run? Is it still 90%? I cant see that changing any time soon.

Of course not.

Most parents are happy for the status quo to remain.

ohnonotgmail · 24-09-2015 05:18PM

padd b1975 wrote: »

Of course not.

Most parents are happy for the status quo to remain.

including the ones who are forced to baptise their children or else they are put at the back of the queue for a school place? The status quo benefits nobody except the catholic church who get to indoctrinate young and impressionable minds.

Pope Francisco

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