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Best Pope Ever?

Who is the best Pope ever?


  • Total voters
    31
He seems like a good enough guy.

I think the left's appreciation of him has more to do with media slant though.

Exactly. He's not about to go and change doctrine on things like abortion and same sex marriage because doctrines cannot change!
 
Best Pope ever? Probably any number of the ones who looked the other way and protected peodophile priests who ruined the lives of tens of thousands of young boys and girls all over the world. If you're a Catholic with a sense of decency and a conscience, any of such Popes burning in hell would be a good Pope.
 
Quote from Pope Francis: "The teaching of the church, for that matter, is clear and I am a son of the church"
 
Pius V or Pius X
 
I voted for Francis on the poll, because I like him more than Emperor Palpatine.
 
I'm no religious scholar, but it seems to me if people want to go against what I understand are the teachings of the Catholic faith, or any faith for that matter, they should start a new religious order.

That's what King Edward VIII did.

Huh? By abdicating to marry a divorcee equals starting a new religious order?
 
I admire his humility and willing sacrifice of many of the luxuries of the office. Speaks well of him.
 
Exactly. He's not about to go and change doctrine on things like abortion and same sex marriage because doctrines cannot change!

this fellow says otherwise:
Pope Francis said the Catholic Church must shake off an obsession with teachings on abortion, contraception and homosexuality and become more merciful or risk the collapse of its entire moral edifice "like a house of cards". ...
Pope Francis on gay marriage, abortion, contraception - chicagotribune.com
 

That's really the problem, if you believe that these teachings were perfect and handed down by an omnipotent and omniscient deity, then they can't change. To change suggests that either the Church was wrong all these years, or that God changed his mind, both of which are very bad for the Church. The fact that he wants to change things presents some serious theological problems for Catholics.
 
That's really the problem, if you believe that these teachings were perfect and handed down by an omnipotent and omniscient deity, then they can't change. To change suggests that either the Church was wrong all these years, or that God changed his mind, both of which are very bad for the Church. The fact that he wants to change things presents some serious theological problems for Catholics.

Only to the extent that they represent new challenges. The Church has changed throughout its history. It just does so selectively and usually slowly.
 
I'm no religious scholar, but it seems to me if people want to go against what I understand are the teachings of the Catholic faith, or any faith for that matter, they should start a new religious order.

That's what King Edward VIII did.

Huh? By abdicating to marry a divorcee equals starting a new religious order?

That's Henry VIII.
 
That's Henry VIII.
Pope Pius 12. Me and several of my shipmates had and audience with him in Rome in 1958. It was great he actually blessed some rosaries I had. When I got back from the MED cruise I gave them to my girlfriend and she said it was the greatest present she ever received.
 
Pope Francis has again pushed aside tradition and embraced a progressive outlook, repairing frayed bonds between the Church and gays, atheists, and those who use contraception and have had abortions.

As leader of the Vatican, Pope Francis is not only a religious leader, but Head of State of the small Catholic nation, and can politically and diplomatically intervene in world affairs to promote peace and ethics.

So, with only a few months of experience, how does this Pope rank amongst all others?

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/20/w...l=1&adxnnlx=1379603441-u49LjqOIOSEikXs/MIljqw

Depends on your point of view. He not only defies tradition, but the scriptures of his religion.
 
Depends on your point of view. He not only defies tradition, but the scriptures of his religion.

I'm not sure that this is so. I will admit that I haven't been keeping up and that I haven't read the interview published by the Jesuits that is exciting so many, so I don't know. But I did wake up to find a couple of e-mails from a Catholic friend, and here's one article he linked that explains how the media are getting it wrong: The media are getting Pope Francis wrong, again
 
Pope Francis has again pushed aside tradition and embraced a progressive outlook, repairing frayed bonds between the Church and gays, atheists, and those who use contraception and have had abortions.

As leader of the Vatican, Pope Francis is not only a religious leader, but Head of State of the small Catholic nation, and can politically and diplomatically intervene in world affairs to promote peace and ethics.

So, with only a few months of experience, how does this Pope rank amongst all others?

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/20/w...l=1&adxnnlx=1379603441-u49LjqOIOSEikXs/MIljqw

Clearly you don't really understand a word of his message.
 
He's not trying to change doctrine, he's trying to change the church's approach to certain doctrines. That's just as important, if not more important.

He preaches love, justice, compassion... You know, what Jesus taught... and he is saying that the approach that the Chruch takes on these issues should not be devoid of those three things (which is the biggest problem the Chruch has had on the issues).


He's not trying to say Abortion is good or that homosexuality is not a sin, he's saying that only God can judge the people who do these things, and that doing those things is not, in and of themselves, things which will exclude someone from heaven.

Newsflash: that is the Church's doctrine. Jesus taught that stuff. The Church has always said that God is a forgiving God who loves people. If anything, Pope Francis is just reaffirming those doctrines.
 
Huh? By abdicating to marry a divorcee equals starting a new religious order?

Well, yes. The Church of England is something like Catholic light, and conveniently allows for things the Catholic Church did not.

It's good to be King.

What would you call that?
 
All I remember from JP2 is an old, barely audible man. I kinda believe Francis is the best but it's too early to tell. Benedict's resignation however was quite wise so he gets my vote.
 
Only to the extent that they represent new challenges. The Church has changed throughout its history. It just does so selectively and usually slowly.

And they shouldn't have changed at all, ever. To change on doctrinal issues, they have to admit they were wrong. I wouldn't be trusting a religious organization that thinks their beliefs are handed down by God that's shown to be wrong repeatedly.
 
I'm no religious scholar, but it seems to me if people want to go against what I understand are the teachings of the Catholic faith, or any faith for that matter, they should start a new religious order.

That's what King Edward VIII did.

Right. What's the purpose of religion if it changes according to which direction the wind blows?

He's essentially saying that his religion/belief system is a sham and that he willfully participated in said sham for decades.

If a particular religious belief is deemed to be the absolute truth, then it shouldn't change. Especially for current trends and popular opinion.
 
Right. What's the purpose of religion if it changes according to which direction the wind blows?

He's essentially saying that his religion/belief system is a sham and that he willfully participated in said sham for decades.

If a particular religious belief is deemed to be the absolute truth, then it shouldn't change. Especially for current trends and popular opinion.

i believe it required great courage - as well as the authority of the papacy - to assert "... the Catholic Church must shake off an obsession with teachings on abortion, contraception and homosexuality and become more merciful or risk the collapse of its entire moral edifice 'like a house of cards' "
by marshaling its resources on other, more essential, matters, the catholic church can better serve its faithful

kudos to Pope Francis for having the balls to say and do the right thing
 
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