I'm an agnostic, and a non practicing Catholic, but

[Wry Catcher]

Pope Francis may bring me back to the Church. Not that I will ever believe God exists, but maybe organized religion can have an impact on making our short time on this earth worth spending our time and treasure supporting an organized religion.

Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell made organized religion evil, IMO; and the evangelical conservatives in all religions seem intent on power and not good works. If Pope Francis isn't killed by some right wing extremist and can carry forth his mission, maybe there's hope for humanity.

Pope Francis Denounces Big Business' 'Idolatry Of Money' In Sardinia Address Offering Hope To Unemployed, Poor

 

[BreezeWood]

If Pope Francis isn't killed by some right wing extremist ...

has the Pontiff proposed editing the Bible ? ... so much to correct, the only change that will matter.
.

 

[DGS49]

"Liberation Theology"

Basically, using "theology" to promote socialism.

Nothing new, and totally predicable from a South American Jesuit.

 

[Avatar4321]

Maybe a more enlightening endevour would be to seeking God and finding out the truth and then living it. Im sure He would appreciate that far more than going to a Church because of what the Pope does.

 

[longknife]

I think what impresses me most about Francis is his personal lifestyle and lack of pomp and regal trappings.

He is causing a great deal of consternation among the Princes of the Church, Archbishops, and bishops, telling them to give up the trappings of their offices to spend more time in their areas and churches among the common people. To be pastors and care for those who are members of THEIR church. [NOT the bishops and above!]

 

[Alfalfa]

Pope Francis may bring me back to the Church. Not that I will ever believe God exists, but maybe organized religion can have an impact on making our short time on this earth worth spending our time and treasure supporting an organized religion.

Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell made organized religion evil, IMO; and the evangelical conservatives in all religions seem intent on power and not good works. If Pope Francis isn't killed by some right wing extremist and can carry forth his mission, maybe there's hope for humanity.

Pope Francis Denounces Big Business' 'Idolatry Of Money' In Sardinia Address Offering Hope To Unemployed, Poor

When the Holy See auctions off the vatican, artwork and donates their 50-75 billion in assets to the poor, I'll believe him.

 

[Wry Catcher]

Maybe a more enlightening endevour would be to seeking God and finding out the truth and then living it. Im sure He would appreciate that far more than going to a Church because of what the Pope does.

Where is God? Hiding with Saddam's WMD's? Better read my OP and apply some critical thinking before posting.

 

[Unkotare]

Pope Francis may bring me back to the Church. Not that I will ever believe God exists, but maybe organized religion can have an impact on making our short time on this earth worth spending our time and treasure supporting an organized religion.

If you don't believe God exists then maybe you need to go to a different kind of church.

 

[Wry Catcher]

"Liberation Theology"

Basically, using "theology" to promote socialism.

Nothing new, and totally predicable from a South American Jesuit.

So Pope Francis in denouncing big business and their 'Idolatry Of Money' while offering hope to the unemployed and poor suggests he is promoting socialism? Would that make Jesus Christ the world's first Socialist?

 

[Unkotare]

Where is God? Hiding with Saddam's WMD's? .

Don't do that to yourself. Don't lower yourself to a Joeb level of obtuseness.

 

[Wry Catcher]

Pope Francis may bring me back to the Church. Not that I will ever believe God exists, but maybe organized religion can have an impact on making our short time on this earth worth spending our time and treasure supporting an organized religion.

If you don't believe God exists then maybe you need to go to a different kind of church.

As an agnostic I don't know if God exists, nor does it matter to me. My behavior is not dictated by fear of hell nor a desire for heaven. The Catholic Church in which I was baptized and confirmed is not the church ruled by bigoted Bishops; it was a place of parish picnics, CYO sports and community, where priests and nuns served the community.

 

[Unkotare]

Pope Francis may bring me back to the Church. Not that I will ever believe God exists, but maybe organized religion can have an impact on making our short time on this earth worth spending our time and treasure supporting an organized religion.

If you don't believe God exists then maybe you need to go to a different kind of church.

As an agnostic I don't know if God exists, nor does it matter to me. My behavior is not dictated by fear of hell nor a desire for heaven. The Catholic Church in which I was baptized and confirmed is not the church ruled by bigoted Bishops; it was a place of parish picnics, CYO sports and community, where priests and nuns served the community.

And where one of the non-negotiable tenets of the faith is a belief in God. You are obviously free to believe, not believe, or punt on whatever you want, but it would be dishonest to pretend to be something you are not.

 

[Wry Catcher]

If you don't believe God exists then maybe you need to go to a different kind of church.

As an agnostic I don't know if God exists, nor does it matter to me. My behavior is not dictated by fear of hell nor a desire for heaven. The Catholic Church in which I was baptized and confirmed is not the church ruled by bigoted Bishops; it was a place of parish picnics, CYO sports and community, where priests and nuns served the community.

And where one of the non-negotiable tenets of the faith is a belief in God. You are obviously free to believe, not believe, or punt on whatever you want, but it would be dishonest to pretend to be something you are not.

Fair enough. Acknowledging "I don't know" is he best I've got. I don't need or want someone to try to prove what can't be proved to me. What I see as dishonest is the business of being 'Born Again". Some acts are so vile, so evil that they should never be forgiven, by God or man.

 

[boedicca]

Pope Francis may bring me back to the Church. Not that I will ever believe God exists, but maybe organized religion can have an impact on making our short time on this earth worth spending our time and treasure supporting an organized religion.

Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell made organized religion evil, IMO; and the evangelical conservatives in all religions seem intent on power and not good works. If Pope Francis isn't killed by some right wing extremist and can carry forth his mission, maybe there's hope for humanity.

Pope Francis Denounces Big Business' 'Idolatry Of Money' In Sardinia Address Offering Hope To Unemployed, Poor

Methinks you left out the most important point:

"My young father went to Argentina full of illusions of making it in America," a somber Francis told the crowd at the start of a daylong visit to the island. "And he suffered the terrible crisis of the 1930s. They lost everything. There was no work."

"Where there is no work, there is no dignity," he said.


The lack of money due to lack of work is also a Big Evil...and our Awful President has made this the reality for millions of Americans.

 

[Unkotare]

As an agnostic I don't know if God exists, nor does it matter to me. My behavior is not dictated by fear of hell nor a desire for heaven. The Catholic Church in which I was baptized and confirmed is not the church ruled by bigoted Bishops; it was a place of parish picnics, CYO sports and community, where priests and nuns served the community.

And where one of the non-negotiable tenets of the faith is a belief in God. You are obviously free to believe, not believe, or punt on whatever you want, but it would be dishonest to pretend to be something you are not.

Fair enough. Acknowledging "I don't know" is he best I've got. I don't need or want someone to try to prove what can't be proved to me. What I see as dishonest is the business of being 'Born Again". Some acts are so vile, so evil that they should never be forgiven, by God or man.

Yeah, see, I don't think any form of Christianity is a good fit for you. There are lots of other options though. You might look into those.

 

[Sherry]

In what context would you be "brought back to the church"?? I'm assuming you wouldn't try to partake in the sacraments, correct??

 

[Intense]

Pope Francis may bring me back to the Church. Not that I will ever believe God exists, but maybe organized religion can have an impact on making our short time on this earth worth spending our time and treasure supporting an organized religion.

Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell made organized religion evil, IMO; and the evangelical conservatives in all religions seem intent on power and not good works. If Pope Francis isn't killed by some right wing extremist and can carry forth his mission, maybe there's hope for humanity.

Pope Francis Denounces Big Business' 'Idolatry Of Money' In Sardinia Address Offering Hope To Unemployed, Poor

Interesting perspective. I'd ask you to not waste the Church's time though, if you do not believe in God. The root of the Catholic Church is in God, not Pope Francis, thoughI confess, I like Him too.

Nicene Creed
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Either this is in you, or, it's not.
If it is not in you, as a Catholic, what does that make you?

 

[Wry Catcher]

In what context would you be "brought back to the church"?? I'm assuming you wouldn't try to partake in the sacraments, correct??

Correct. The Church in which I was raised was much more than a source of religious ritual, it was part of the community and included activities community wide such as cub scouts, CYO sports, parish picnics, festivals and good works. As a member of the parish we collected canned goods and used clothing for the poor, newspapers and soda bottles which in those days returned a deposit for Catholic Charities.

Homilies focused on community, aiding the poor and seniors, forgiving others and being honest and forthright in social and business activities, on being a good citizen. None of which seems to come from the words of an element on this message board who claim to be Christians or from the statement from the College of Bishops on women's health.

 

[Unkotare]

In what context would you be "brought back to the church"?? I'm assuming you wouldn't try to partake in the sacraments, correct??

Correct. The Church in which I was raised was much more than a source of religious ritual, it was part of the community and included activities community wide such as cub scouts, CYO sports, parish picnics, festivals and good works. As a member of the parish we collected canned goods and used clothing for the poor, newspapers and soda bottles .

All that sort of thing still goes on.

 

[Wry Catcher]

Pope Francis may bring me back to the Church. Not that I will ever believe God exists, but maybe organized religion can have an impact on making our short time on this earth worth spending our time and treasure supporting an organized religion.

Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell made organized religion evil, IMO; and the evangelical conservatives in all religions seem intent on power and not good works. If Pope Francis isn't killed by some right wing extremist and can carry forth his mission, maybe there's hope for humanity.

Pope Francis Denounces Big Business' 'Idolatry Of Money' In Sardinia Address Offering Hope To Unemployed, Poor

Interesting perspective. I'd ask you to not waste the Church's time though, if you do not believe in God. The root of the Catholic Church is in God, not Pope Francis, thoughI confess, I like Him too.

Nicene Creed
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Either this is in you, or, it's not.
If it is not in you, as a Catholic, what does that make you?

It makes me an agnostic, but one which accepts the ethos which once defined the church of my youth and rejected its direction until Pope Francis spoke.