Man, Fran! I thought you were cool and not “down” with the culture war crap.
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The Catholic church is miffed that there are less butts to fill those pews, so they fetishize mandatory parenthood, never considering that not everyone is cut out to be a parent and that not everyone can afford to be a parent.
They never consider that there’s a problem with how they do things or that the doctrines and practices of their church is what’s killing them, plus they’ve been milquetoast over dealing with the sex abuse problem.
When a priest is molesting kids, send that idiot to the police, defrock him, or at least never let him be near any children, ever!
I am disappointed to see Francis say this because I assumed that, while Francis still upheld those dumb rules, that he wasn’t one to make it an issue and wasn’t into that Culture War crap.
But this, here, is what the more backwards popes said. People should have the right to not be parents and to use his own famous utterance against him… “Who are YOU to judge?”.
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A NOTE TO POPE FRANCIS…
There is almost 8 billion people on the planet! Too many people! You and your ilk want everyone miserable, poor and burdened with more kids than they can support or handle… while you and your Archbishops get to be childless and live in luxury and comfort!
If you want the Church to grow and be relevant, again, adapt with the times, get tough on sex abusers, allow women to be clergy, allow contraception and even early-term abortions and even create new variations on rituals as a compromise if you feel the changes are too drastic. This includes expanding upon the already existing Seven Sacraments, adding different variations to each (there’s still seven) …
* In the Medieval Period, there was a special kind of Marriage Ceremony for same - sex couples. Bring that back.
* Likewise, create different kinds of matrimony for couples… One for couples that plan on having children and one for those who don’t.
* Concerning divorce, create a parting ceremony (Sure, Man may not be able to ‘put asunder’ what ‘God hath joined together’ but that doesn’t mean God can’t ‘put asunder’. If a ritual can join two as one then another can make the one, two again).
* Another idea is to allow divorce in case of abuse (Physical, Mental, Sexual). If a spouse is cruel to another, it shall be considered a grievous breaking of vows, thus annulling the marriage and thus the “two made one” are “two”, once more.
* Late - term abortions only happen if the mother’s life is in danger. Nobody in their right mind just goes to a clinic and gets a fully - viable fetus… practically a baby, already… yanked out. Even I, a pro-choice person, find that repulsive and borderline - murder. However, there are cases where it must be done… and perhaps a special absolution ritual can be done for these gals.
* Women as Deacons! This is in the Bible! Many of the Epistles and the Book of Acts describe women as clergy and leaders. A Deacon can also act as a substitute Priest when a Priest isn’t available (thus acting in lieu of the Priest, as a proxy).
* Allow clergy to marry and have families! That’s Biblical, too. The Twelve Apostles had wives! Mary of Magdala would also qualify as a very special Apostle!
* Get heavy into fighting for Social Justice, Human Rights, Fair Labor Practices, Ending Slavery and Trafficking, etc.
* Have all the Vatican clergy live very simply. I heard that you’ve eschewed the over - the - top opulence in your own personal life but every higher up needs to live in simple, modest apartments.
* Finally, consider how you guys look to us. You’re a bunch of guys who have taken a vow of celibacy and you’re telling us how to live our sex lives. Don’t you see how dumb that looks?
… Do changes like this and the pews will fill. Sure, you may lose the purists, but people may find your denomination worthy of being followed again. Short on Priests? Expand on who can be a Priest and let them marry if they wish. Their kids can take up the “family biz”, so to speak!
Really! I like you, Your Holiness, Pope Francis, but this latest thing is the stupidest, most backwards thing you’ve said!