Tuesday, June 7, 2005 - 11:19 AM PDT

I'm not Catholic--though my birth father was, and all my friends are lapsed Catholics--precisely because of attitudes like Pope Benedict XVI.

Ever since his appointment he has shown the makings of somebody who would make inflamatory statements such as this one.

Doesn't he want the Catholic Church to grow? Or does he believe that the Protestant Evengacial (sic) movement in the USA is growing and he should get in on a good thing?

But he's wrong because the radical right doesn't reflect the majority of American's.

Many Hispanic American Catholics have left the Roman Catholic church, and formed Catholic churces that don't bow to the pope. Does he want most Catholics to do the same?

Most importantly in this country we're not supposed to mix politics and religion. That people are doing it is a shame, and they will be stopped.

Tuesday, June 7, 2005 - 11:23 AM PDT

Talk about being an idealist -- maybe if he was more of a realist, he could really make some positive changes for the faith and followers.

Saturday, June 11, 2005 - 7:17 AM PDT

I'm Catholic, also. And I have to tell you, it's rough being a Catholic in this day and age. *g*

I know that the Catholic Church has gone through changes over the years, but their basic beliefs, based on their interpretation of the bible, has not changed (abortion, birth control, gay marriage, etc). So, my internal struggle is does the Church change its stance b/c society wants it to? Or does it stay firm on its stances b/c it *believes*, based on the Bible, that's what God wants it to do?

Society is not God. What if this is one big test to see if we can stay firm in our teachings from the Church? That we don't become influenced by a "sinning" society?

So, saying that. I guess I'm a sinning Catholic. I do have beliefs that are at odds w/ the Church. I don't know. I struggle w/ this constantly.

I have to tell you though. Once I became pregnant the very first time, I changed my stance on abortion. I just don't support it at all. JMO.

SL

Wednesday, June 29, 2005 - 9:29 AM PDT

First off, a person would have to be crazy to actually believe there is any form of separation of church and state going on in this country; and its not in our near future either. Relgion guides politics all the time and is often at the forefront of debate. The religious right yields great power in politics especially with regards to the current administration.
So for all you "liberal catholics" the pope is not that far off with regards to where not only the catholic church stands on abortion and/or euthanasia, but also where the bible stands. The pope is neither guided nor influenced by popular opinion, nor is he to be a symbol of popular opinion. He is the highest representative of the church and the bible.