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Pope Francis appears to be pushing reform on contraception/marriage/homosexuality
- Thread starter viciouskillersquirrel
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ComputerMKII
Banned
Does the Catholic Church want to lose even more members?
Winterfang
Banned
Good good, if Jesus was around today he would be hanging with gays, trans, gang members, homeless and just about everyone. He just wanted us to love each other as much as he loved us.
Fuck the hard-liners anyway. Nu-Church.
JC would definitely have connex to the best weed and hottest strippers. Probably some biker hitmen too.
It won't be hilarious when KKK and other anti-catholic organization membership skyrockets.
It's a low bar.
Paracelsus
Member
I wonder if it has to do with this.
tl;dr church attendance rate is dropping hard, especially with youngsters/young women. It's just old people now.
tl;dr church attendance rate is dropping hard, especially with youngsters/young women. It's just old people now.
For some reason I initially read that as "biker hotmen" instead.
Jesus hanging-out with leather daddies would be pretty amusing.
YES! He's hung because of sin!
TheKaeptain
Banned
They're losing numbers? Got a link explaining?
Still cleared the bar and then some, definitely a step in the right direction!
The American right doesn't really follow the Pope nor particularly care what he has to say.
Angelus Errare
Banned
Rebel Leader
THE POWER OF BUTTERSCOTCH BOTTOMS
THIS POPE!!!!!!!!
Yup.
When some of my dorm-mates in college found out that I was (nominally) Catholic, I was called a "Mary-worshipper."
The division is real.
Is the American right really Catholic? I'd imagine a lot are protestants or WASP's. Additionally, most Catholic growth is actually coming from places outside the west, like Latin America, Africa, East Asia.
Rebel Leader
THE POWER OF BUTTERSCOTCH BOTTOMS
Nope previous pope still alive
He only needed the slightest of steps to overcome it.
Nah, they can retire now.
AnathemicOne
Banned
Hmm interesting. Best case scenario is that contraception be allowed. I don't see the Catholic Church ever giving up their stance on abortion, the homosexuality issue maybe but I wouldn't count on it.
The last one didn't die... did he?
ComputerMKII
Banned
http://wwwgordonconwell.com/netcommunity/CSGCResources/ChristianityinitsGlobalContext.pdf
Christianity is waning in Europe and most places where it's more liberal on social issues. People don't go to church to learn about sexual liberation and play ballads with a guitar, they expect firm principles and guidance in a rapidly-changing world. See how Christianity is still going strong in more conservative places, e.g. Africa and how Islam is the fastest-growing religion.
Why would protestants give a fuck what the Catholic Pope says?
Or are we back to having to explain Christians != Catholics?
most lapsed Catholics I know stopped because of hypocrisy. This is at least addressing some of the many issues with the thinking of the Church body. I don't go for the firm hand of God, that's for sure. A lot of people are seeing this and thinking about going back to the faith.
also, fuck Christianity in Europe. A real shitshow if I ever seen one. Didn't do them ANY favors. Probably for the best they give it up.
iirc Scalia and Kennedy are catholic
ComputerMKII
Banned
A pope can resign and it may happen more often now that Benedict XVI made it a thing again.
StickSoldier
Member
I do wonder how Jesus would be if he was born in this age and time. I bet he would be one chill dude. He'd be considered a thug by FOX news most likely. Hanging out with all them pot heads, gay people, and stuff. Damn Jesus, you a rebel.
Scott32020
Member
Rick Santorum is (though he seems more like an evangelical Christian), Sean Hannity, others I'm probably forgetting
doctorblurg
Banned
Pope Frank keeps on wrecking shit so hard while I don't identify as catholic anymore my family and friends couldn't be more excited for news like this. If this does go through expect many protestants to further insult catholics as my friends have been called "idol worshippers" many, many times.
I lol'd!
Fenderputty
Banned
Odd you say that as their packing the Vatican and St Peters again because of him
There are plenty of conservative Catholic Republicans in America including the most conservative supreme court justice. Not to mention the Catholic Church in America is both large in numbers and politically active.
Tertullian
Member
Not to crush the dreams of anyone who is hoping otherwise, but there is a 0% chance of this synod changing any Catholic teachings on sexual morality or contraception or marriage, let alone abortion. That cherry-picking of Francis quotes in the BBC article is woefully misleading.
The actual big news when it comes to this synod is the possibility of a change in Church discipline (not doctrine) on the issue of admitting the divorced and remarried to Communion.
The Catholic Church teaches that sacramental marriages are indissoluble by anything but death, and that divorce is impossible. One's first marriage is presumed to be valid and sacramental. As a result, it follows that anyone who is divorced and remarried is living in adultery.
Catholics can apply for an annulment, which is a declaration that the first marriage was never valid in the first place (either because the person didn't get married in the Church properly, or because he/she didn't properly understand the sacrament, or something like that). If the annulment is granted, the person is free to get "remarried." If the tribunal that reviews the case determines that the first marriage is valid, however, then the person cannot get remarried without committing adultery. Those who are divorced and remarried are thus not allowed to receive Communion, unless the couple agree to live together celibately.
You can see how this presents a serious pastoral problem for the Church. On the one hand, the teaching of Christ that marriages are permanent has certain inescapable implications. On the other hand, Catholics who are divorced and remarried are in a very difficult position.
A cardinal named Cardinal Kasper has thus proposed a relaxing of the discipline that the divorced and remarried are not allowed to receive Communion. What exact form this relaxing might take is up in the air, and many bishops oppose it on the grounds that it doesn't really seem consistent with the Catholic teaching that marriages are indissoluble.
I hope I did a decent job of explaining all that.
The actual big news when it comes to this synod is the possibility of a change in Church discipline (not doctrine) on the issue of admitting the divorced and remarried to Communion.
The Catholic Church teaches that sacramental marriages are indissoluble by anything but death, and that divorce is impossible. One's first marriage is presumed to be valid and sacramental. As a result, it follows that anyone who is divorced and remarried is living in adultery.
Catholics can apply for an annulment, which is a declaration that the first marriage was never valid in the first place (either because the person didn't get married in the Church properly, or because he/she didn't properly understand the sacrament, or something like that). If the annulment is granted, the person is free to get "remarried." If the tribunal that reviews the case determines that the first marriage is valid, however, then the person cannot get remarried without committing adultery. Those who are divorced and remarried are thus not allowed to receive Communion, unless the couple agree to live together celibately.
You can see how this presents a serious pastoral problem for the Church. On the one hand, the teaching of Christ that marriages are permanent has certain inescapable implications. On the other hand, Catholics who are divorced and remarried are in a very difficult position.
A cardinal named Cardinal Kasper has thus proposed a relaxing of the discipline that the divorced and remarried are not allowed to receive Communion. What exact form this relaxing might take is up in the air, and many bishops oppose it on the grounds that it doesn't really seem consistent with the Catholic teaching that marriages are indissoluble.
I hope I did a decent job of explaining all that.
Francis da great.
This will have the opposite effect. Also something that has been pointed out a long time ago is that stuff like this goes up and down with time. I think you'll see a growth in catholic numbers due to Frankie.
This will have the opposite effect. Also something that has been pointed out a long time ago is that stuff like this goes up and down with time. I think you'll see a growth in catholic numbers due to Frankie.
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