Does Pope Francis kick ass?

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I presume it's a play on the stereotype of Catholic priests being paedophiles and Jews being money grubbers, in which case the Rabbi would be wishing to "f***" the kid out of everything he owns. It's not particularly funny...

...and that is why I am shocked that anyone would dare to tell it. I don't care much for repeating offensive stereotypes, but telling an unfunny joke? Crucify her! May the blood be upon m-

:p

Or abortion.

Or kiddie fiddling.

Or a full, categorical apology for the persecution of science's greatest minds, like Galileo Galilei.

He wants the RCC to look enticing upon the world, as to get new believers in the church. If one really wanted to be Christ-like, one shouldn't fabricate a lie just for more people to join. (Though many will continue to do so.)

I thought it was funny.But I have a weird sense of humor anyway.I know lots of jokes about Arkansas,and I'm an Arkansan,they don't offend me.We tell jokes about ourselves all the time.My foster dad was of Polish descent and knew more Polish jokes than I have ever heard in my life.If anyone found it offensive,sorry.

Exactly. Same applies to Seventh-day Adventists preachers who intentionally hide their beliefs from the unsuspecting non-Adventist Christians at the beginning so it could be easier for them to convert. Deception occurs in all sorts of faiths.

It looks that way, just that being a Jesuit I hope it's not strictly a hook or sales pitch. If it's the later it's pure politics.

Like I said, I'm not going to return to the fold any time soon. Prior to Francis, though, the Catholic church had had nothing to be proud of for a very long time; the priests were abusing kids, and the hierarchy was supporting the pedophiles; the cardinals were ex-nazis, or were rolling around in opulent mansions; the nuns were being visited by inquisitors for being too focused on poor people and human rights, and not focused enough on abortion and gays. Francis, at least, is attempting to return the focus of the church to humanity rather than wealth and insularity.

I try not to let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Would I be happier if they'd let priests marry people of either gender, if they'd let priests get married themselves, if they'd get off the 'no birth control, no abortions' wagon, and if they'd let women be ordained? Of course. But Francis is a **big** improvement over Pope Palpatine.

Improvement in words, that's all. Or maybe we're not talking about the same person.

If the words the Pope speaks presage action, then the Catholic Church might be attempting survival.
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/11/2 ... ?hpt=hp_c3

I can see MCalavera's point of being skeptic with Pope Francis, and waiting until he starts doing good with deeds rather than words. But he *has* begun that process, as it has been said he has been ignoring those who would focus on abortion/gay marriage etc, or when it was mentioned that one priest was gay and he answered "who am I to judge" and he has been fighting corruption within the Vatican Bank, and has done tangible, objective progress on it. And as LKL said, don't let perfect be the enemy of good.

Also, for those who are in the far end of hating him and said he should do x or y or just shut down the Church I ask of you: What is a single man, even the Pope, to do against a thousands years old organization, the single biggest organized religion in the world? Someone said "if he was any good he would shut down the Church"; if he woke up one day and declared he was going to do just that do you actually believe it would happen, instead of the whole Church turning against him and choosing another Pope who would probably keep tradition? Do you believe that he can just declare gay marriage as normal and everybody would be OK with him?

I've read about him, what he says, and how he acts, and I believe he is a great man, who is doing as good as he can within an organization as heavy as the Catholic Church. He has been Pope for less than a year, and I expect great things from him int he years to come. I'd hope he doesn't disappoint and this is not a huge act, but so far I have no reason to believe that. Or that he doesn't get assassinated, I actually have that fear too.

You think previous modern Popes never had that same attitude towards gay people?

It would only be something awesome if he actually declares support for gay marriage. Then it would be something impressive to talk about. Until he does that, he is no different from previous Popes, except that he knows how to tickle people's ears.

Also, what corruption is he actively fighting exactly?



Well, the Pope himself already said something along the line of "shutting down" the Church as it is. But I don't believe he'll even attempt to go through with it because he knows it's just sweet talk.



It's easy to fall into these traps. I don't blame any of you guys for supporting him as I see myself often falling into similar traps myself.

Consider the contrast principle (for example) and how you might just be exaggerating the difference in goodness and achievements between him and the previous Popes.

I have never been Catholic so whoever is Pope means nothing to me. However, I am pleased to see a pope who isn't dressing himself in the papal vestments, wearing the pretty red shoes, and refused to live in the papal apartments. I hope he steers his church away from meddling in politics and and leads them to more missional work.

Anyone want to make some form of a "bet"? If, within a year's time from now, the Pope ends up doing really marvelous things as promised (for example, he actively addresses the issue of child abuse within the church by, say, expelling the offending priests and having them put in prison or rehab ... then apologizes to the victims and their families and pays them compensation), then one of you bump this thread by that time and tell me as many times as you want that I was wrong the whole time. I will also apologize to the Pope in this thread (even though he is most likely not going to check this thread).

If, on the other hand, I turned out I was right all along, if I'm still here, I'm bumping this thread to remind the lot of you which side was wrong and misguided. And then you all worship me instead of him.

http://www.iol.co.za/news/world/pope-in ... ptmEMTuJc8
Corruption in the Vatican Bank

I don't think supporting gay marriage is possible for anyone to do, even the Pope, at this time. All in all there is only one way to know, which you proposed already (in fact I considered proposing something similar, I also had a year in mind ) Let's wait a year, and see what happens.

I'm a Catholic and I don't hate anyone, including people like you who hate the Church.

Admit it. You really hate me now.