Does Pope Francis kick ass?

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MCalavera
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03 Dec 2013, 11:30 am

91 wrote:

MCalavera wrote:

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_world_/2013/12/02/is_pope_francis_really_that_different_from_his_predecessor.html

From Francis:

Quote:

“The process of secularization tends to reduce the faith and the Church to the sphere of the private and personal. Furthermore, by completely rejecting the transcendent, it has produced a growing deterioration of ethics, a weakening of the sense of personal and collective sin, and a steady increase in relativism. These have led to a general sense of disorientation, especially in the periods of adolescence and young adulthood which are so vulnerable to change.”

Benedict was correct when on the subject of the dictatorship of relativism. If you want to understand why, pick up a book by Mahathir Mohamad or Lee Kuan Yew. Cultural relativism is the greatest challenge to the international human rights project. Having spent some time at the UN, its fair to say that western diplomats lack the arrows in their quiver when it comes to confronting this problem.

Relativism is a challenge, but it has always been part of this reality. That's why wars exist. And that's why there are always these disagreements even among believers. You're following an illusion if you think there are absolute moral/ethical standards. Even you and your fellow believers must resort to relativism when it comes to morals.

GoonSquad
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03 Dec 2013, 11:32 am

MCalavera wrote:

GoonSquad wrote:

MCalavera wrote:

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_world_/2013/12/02/is_pope_francis_really_that_different_from_his_predecessor.html

From Francis:

Quote:

So what's your point?

Deterioration of ethics is EXACTLY what enabled greedy bankers to crash the world economy and allows corrupt politicians to inflict punishing austerity on the poor while catering to and coddling the rich.

Surely, you aren't supporting that?

What do the first few words in the quote say?

That kind of attitude against lack of faith and secularism is what demonstrates to me that he's not changing things for the better.

Unfortunately, all too often, it's a valid criticism.

The real problem isn't lack of faith or secularism, but the nihilism that often comes with it.

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MCalavera
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03 Dec 2013, 11:35 am

Yeah, that's why your saintly Catholic priests are corrupted enough to molest children.

GGPViper
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03 Dec 2013, 11:56 am

sonofghandi
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03 Dec 2013, 2:21 pm

MCalavera wrote:

Yeah, that's why your saintly Catholic priests are corrupted enough to molest children.

The rates of child molestation among priests is almost the same as for any other demographic. All it really does is show that clergy come from the ranks of humanity.

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ArrantPariah
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03 Dec 2013, 5:50 pm

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qR0OuwNnm8E[/youtube]

Misslizard
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03 Dec 2013, 5:54 pm

What is the rate of Episcopalian priests molesting compared to Catholic?
Just curious.

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MCalavera
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03 Dec 2013, 6:08 pm

sonofghandi wrote:

MCalavera wrote:

Yeah, that's why your saintly Catholic priests are corrupted enough to molest children.

The rates of child molestation among priests is almost the same as for any other demographic. All it really does is show that clergy come from the ranks of humanity.

Exactly!

Do you agree that it's potentially dangerous thinking for the Pope to blame the existence of corruption in the world and "lack of ethics" on lack of faith and secularization?

It doesn't look like there'll be much agreement on important standards between Catholics and seculars ny time soon.

sonofghandi
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03 Dec 2013, 6:38 pm

MCalavera wrote:

sonofghandi wrote:

MCalavera wrote:

Yeah, that's why your saintly Catholic priests are corrupted enough to molest children.

The rates of child molestation among priests is almost the same as for any other demographic. All it really does is show that clergy come from the ranks of humanity.

I look at it as a vast improvement. Keep in mind that a little something is a vast improvement over nothing. Any pope who does not make contraception and homosexuality his #1 priority shows at least some progress in an institution that has refused to move forward for so very long. John Paul II was a vast improvement over the one he replaced (even though he still wasn't all that great). This guy is a vast improvement over JPII. I just ignore that Hitler Youth turd who resigned. I see it as at least baby steps toward dogmatic reform. It gives me hope for an institution that I had all but written off in its entirety.

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MCalavera
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03 Dec 2013, 6:43 pm

sonofghandi wrote:

MCalavera wrote:

sonofghandi wrote:

MCalavera wrote:

Yeah, that's why your saintly Catholic priests are corrupted enough to molest children.

The rates of child molestation among priests is almost the same as for any other demographic. All it really does is show that clergy come from the ranks of humanity.

It's a vast improvement if the Pope makes a big deal out of issues related to contraception and homosexuality. And in a positive way.

You keep saying he's better than John Paul II, but that's probably you just idealizing him without sufficient evidence.

Again, the contrast principle must be mentioned. Feel free to look it up on Google if you don't know what it's about and are interested.

AspE
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03 Dec 2013, 6:46 pm

sonofghandi wrote:

MCalavera wrote:

Yeah, that's why your saintly Catholic priests are corrupted enough to molest children.

The rates of child molestation among priests is almost the same as for any other demographic. All it really does is show that clergy come from the ranks of humanity.

Unlike other demographics, they hide their child rapists from the law.

sonofghandi
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03 Dec 2013, 6:58 pm

MCalavera wrote:

sonofghandi wrote:

MCalavera wrote:

sonofghandi wrote:

MCalavera wrote:

Yeah, that's why your saintly Catholic priests are corrupted enough to molest children.

The rates of child molestation among priests is almost the same as for any other demographic. All it really does is show that clergy come from the ranks of humanity.

He has a good track record for helping those less fortunate at home for quite some time before being promoted. That and his focus on the poor while refraining from a call to arms against "enemies of the church" are what make me say he is better. I will concede that he may not be any better, but the current information suggests otherwise.

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Magneto
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04 Dec 2013, 4:23 am

Would you rather he declare homosexuality and contraception to be acceptable, and get bogged down in that fight, rather than focusing on all the other issues which plague the church?

Talk about moral absolutes...

MCalavera
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04 Dec 2013, 4:31 am

The other issues won't bog him down in a fight? Yeah, right.

Also, having a strong sense of morality does not equate to believing in moral absolutes or possessing them.

ArrantPariah
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10 Dec 2013, 3:01 pm

Fox News hates him

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCWplOnQU9U[/youtube]

An excellent reason to love him.

sonofghandi
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10 Dec 2013, 3:07 pm

The reason that I like him is his #1 priority: the suffering and hopelessness of the have-nots. I don't agree with a large majority of his moral or religious beliefs, but I do agree with his primary focus.

Focus on the issues negatively affecting the largest number of people first.

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