The pope a good thing...if you were male and straight and catholic

[drummer55]

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Pope John Paul II won a reputation as a crusader for human rights during his long papacy, but reform-minded Catholic women think he left out half of humanity along the way.

The Polish pontiff was a staunch defender of traditional Church policies on women, refusing to consider ordaining thempriests or approving contraception, condoms or abortion.

At times his and his conservative advisers even tried to roll back reforms from the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965)that gave women a more active role in the liturgy and allowed altar girls to serve Mass.


http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.html?siteSect=143&sid=5651288&cKey=1112500217000

[porphyrian]

1. He was better than many of the previous Popes.

At least this one made some apology for the Catholic church's participation in the Holocaust.

[eleny]

2. Even the church had an a la carte menu for itself

For instance, they found a way to allow divorce in the form of annulment. I believe that they could find a way to liberalize its views about women and homosexuals. They just don't want to do it and I say pfui.

Btw, I was raised Catholic and had 12 years of Cath education. I've earned the right to criticize where and when I see fit.

[zanne]

3. eleny--the last sentence was excellent!

I, too, spent many years in Catholic schools. I grew up in a traditional Catholic family. Every time somebody in my family is born, gets married or dies, I'm in church. But that's where it ends, and if I think the Catholic church has done more harm than good in my lifetime, I'll say so.

[Nobody]

4. As have I

And when I heard this one say that "women are not called to serve as priests" my initial reaction as a then-devout Catholic was

"How the fuck do you know?"

Far too often, bigotry toward women is given a pass.

Not from me.

[beam me up scottie]

5. I guess it must have been all downhill

after you used the f-word...
:yourock:

[eleny]

6. I was watching Christiane Amanpour interviewing a nice nun

The sister worked at the pope's traditional summer vacation place - Castel Gandolfo (sp?). Anyhow, the sister was saying how her order took care of the place, cooking for the pope and his staff. All I could think of was how it seemed like slave labor. I understand that it's their choice to join the convent. But they provide pretty much free labor and they get so little in return. No great retirement benefits for them since they have to work forever before most nuns can finally retire.