I'm curious to think what you all - Christian and unwashed heathens non-Christian - think of Francis.

These two pictures and a quote pretty much sum up my opinion of him.




“If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?”


Many have said that he is a breath of fresh air in the Vatican, so I'm curious to hear what you all think of him. He seems like a genuinely good guy.

I don't follow it closely, other than the general buzz going around that he is a chill dude, but yeah, he definitely seems like an improvement over Pope Palpatine.

The primary thing I've heard of course, is that he says that they shouldn't focus on the gay and abortion stuff. At least, that's how its come through to me. Is that right, or is it tainted by the media sources?

If that is his message, sure, good. But I have heard some people say basically, "Fuck him. He should come out strongly against the common religious hate as opposed to essentially saying hate quietly."

Although, in my experience, Catholics tend to be a lot more likely to consider gays and abortionists (as an example) as worthy and good humans, deserving of respect, even if their dogma condemns the behaviors. It is other religions that seem more apt to denigrate the person that embodies what they hate.

But, I will never get over the fact that Catholicism, as a collection of beliefs, is among the most crazy of all religions.

Posted by MutantMandias The primary thing I've heard of course, is that he says that they shouldn't focus on the gay and abortion stuff. At least, that's how its come through to me. Is that right, or is it tainted by the media sources?

Not sure about abortion, but he is considerably less anti-gay than Benedict and his predecessors.

Posted by MutantMandias But, I will never get over the fact that Catholicism, as a collection of beliefs, is among the most crazy of all religions.

It still is, unfortunately, but perhaps this pope is highlighting the possibility that it's the people who make the religion loony, and not necessarily their leader.

Well, like I said, in practice, Catholics often appear to be fairly normal and loving, genuine people. They've got the guilt thing, that fucks up their personal relationships, but whatevs.

I have before considered that maybe its because they are presented with so many impossible beliefs that they cannot functionally hold in their brains (which causes more guilt), that they just go about their lives doing the right thing anyway.

But then again, stupid Catholics are as bad as stupid anythings.

personally, i think Pope Frank is just another in a long line of salesman, but the catch with him is that he seems genuinely sincere and wants to do the right thing, rather than the scripted thing. I mean, you guys know that I am a mean, hateful atheist that rates god about as high as i rate poop on a shoe. But, the thing with El Frank is that he might be able to change the Catholic cult from exclusionary dogma to a faith that embraces everyone, includes everyone and accentuates all the best the cult has to offer. This would be better than what's gone on for the past several hundred plus years.

It would also be nice if he... no fuck that, it is the absolute minimum required thing for him to do to show that he is not a complete piece of shit... spoke up and cleaned house about institutional kid fucking.

But, honestly, if he tried to go that far, he probably would not live too much longer.

Posted by MutantMandias It would also be nice if he... no fuck that, it is the absolute minimum required thing for him to do to show that he is not a complete piece of shit... spoke up and cleaned house about institutional kid fucking. But, honestly, if he tried to go that far, he probably would not live too much longer.

I feel like that isn't too unrealistic at this point.

After all, if the Vatican is firing religious figures for being too lavish, what's next?

He seems pretty cool to me, compared to his predecessors. But yeah, addressing the whole child rape coverup won't win him any friends within the organization. I've never been Catholic, but I know a few heavy-duty ones, and the impression I get is that they worship the church, more than they worship God. Franny doesn't seem like he's planning on changing that.

Posted by splumer He seems pretty cool to me, compared to his predecessors. But yeah, addressing the whole child rape coverup won't win him any friends within the organization. I've never been Catholic, but I know a few heavy-duty ones, and the impression I get is that they worship the church, more than they worship God. Franny doesn't seem like he's planning on changing that.

it's too early to make judgements like that... I say give Frank a chance and see what he does. The Catholic church needs to evolve into the 21st century or it's going to disappear.
Do you think Muslims in Europe and North America think the same thing? Evolve or else?

Posted by Samurai The Catholic church needs to evolve into the 21st century or it's going to disappear.

They seem to have done a good job of surviving with little adaptation to modern times for the past few hundred years.

The Vatican councils were some of the only times when the Catholic church actually got off its collective ass and said "hey. maybe the pope isn't actually infallible" or "hey, maybe the members of our church could relate to our beliefs a little more if not everything was in Latin".

Posted by Samurai it's too early to make judgements like that... I say give Frank a chance and see what he does. The Catholic church needs to evolve into the 21st century or it's going to disappear. Do you think Muslims in Europe and North America think the same thing? Evolve or else?

The ones that actually want to move forward think that. Sure, you can have Sharia law and all that, if you don't mind being stuck in the Middle Ages or being a failed basket case like Afghanistan. I doubt the Taliban ever thought they were living in an Islamic paradise.

Do you suppose we could petition the Vatican Mafia to arrange a hit on this daft cunt?

Posted by KublaKhan Do you suppose we could petition the Vatican Mafia to arrange a hit on this daft cunt?

I don't doubt that they will be praying their hardest for an act of God.

That.

Posted by Samurai personally, i think Pope Frank is just another in a long line of salesman, but the catch with him is that he seems genuinely sincere and wants to do the right thing, rather than the scripted thing. I mean, you guys know that I am a mean, hateful atheist that rates god about as high as i rate poop on a shoe. But, the thing with El Frank is that he might be able to change the Catholic cult from exclusionary dogma to a faith that embraces everyone, includes everyone and accentuates all the best the cult has to offer. This would be better than what's gone on for the past several hundred plus years.