Do any of the Catholic believers on Du think

[n2mark]

if the Cardinals do not elect a liberal or semi-liberal Pope could cause a real problem within the church perhaps cause of schism within the church? I am basing this upon the lack of priests in parishes, the lack of respect for women, the controversy with abortion, stem cell research and other issues?

[Celeborn Skywalker]

1. Possibly

We won't get a liberal pope, though. No way in hell. The best we can hope for is a moderate. I don't expect the church to change its abortion or same sex marriage stances, but maybe they'll change their stances on birth control and the ordination of women.

[n2mark]

4. I'm just praying the Cardinals

don't elect an ultra-conservative. This could do damage to the church.

[UrbScotty]

5. ABR: Anybody but Ratzinger

:scared:

[n2mark]

11. Will be surprised if he is not the next pope

[n2mark]

12. Didn't he support Shrub, against Kerry in the last election?

Let's be logical, if this is true, shrub spent over an hour in closed doors with the cardinals who are electing the next pope. Won't be surprised if he is the man.

[scarletwoman]

10. The policies of "Saint" John-Paul II "the Great" will NOT be revised.

"...maybe they'll change their stances on birth control and the ordination of women."

You're kidding, right? The Roman Catholic version of fundamentalism is THE rising tide in the Church. The global adoration of JPII will cement his views in place -- do you honestly think the Church's powers-that-be are going to mess with THAT?

Watch for Cardinal Ratzinger to be elected Pope. The Church will become even more conservative and intransigent.

Disclaimer: While I have not been a practicing Catholic for close to 40 years, I was raised Roman Catholic and attended Catholic school until 8th grade. I even seriously aspired to becoming a nun for most of my childhood.

sw

[Cleita]

15. LOL No convent for a scarletwoman?

I think the Church is on the wane. It will hang in there still but Catholics will be on the decline in the next century. The only thing that could save it is a new surge of liberalism and they aren't going in that direction so. RIP

[scarletwoman]

17. Heh. Well, you know what they say about Catholic girls....

:evilgrin:

[CatholicEdHead]

13. I hope so too

of course Ratiznger may not get it as he is a frontrunner, and the trends are that the expected frontrunners do not get the top post.

While the third world has the followers, it is the first world (yes we are still one of those for the present) that brings in the money to the church.

[MichiganVote]

2. There already is an idealogical schism

[Sanity Claws]

3. Schism?

Doubt it. More likely the Church would slowly wither away and die due to lack of followers. The only way a schism could happen is if a group of cardinals (no, not the St. Louis kind) colluded and broke from the rest of the college. I would imagine that would happen only if there was some illegitimacy regarding the papal election. Diebold machines, anyone?

[Celeborn Skywalker]

7. Maybe in Europe and the USA it would wither away.

In Africa, Latin America, and Asia the Catholics are much more conservative so they would keep the Catholic Church afloat worldwide.

[n2mark]

8. A schism could happen

maybe I do not understand schism correctly, but I can see the church split in half because of the many issues the church faces. Again, it is the ultraconservatives and the liberals dividing. The church will not wither away as there are too many followers on each side. The church is not going to lose it followers, they will split, I am seeing this happen already.

The one thing I've read the Catholics in Europe and other countries do not have the problems that is occurring in the US.

[patrice]

6. We are already the black sheep minority in the world church

Only about 8% of total Catholics are American, and there are some distinct personality differences between American Catholics and the rest of the Church.

The ones I know who are still in the Church aren't going anywhere though.

[alcuno]

9. I agree. Although American Catholics tend to fight amongst

themselves more than elsewhere. In Europe, for example, they have a much more laissez faire attitude. There will be no break in the Church and the next pope will likely be similar to John Paul II.

[n2mark]

14. In the US

there is a movement to have priests marry. I don't think the US has a voice at all anymore.

[Cuban_Liberal]

16. Unlikely.

The American Catholic Church is already ideologically at odds with most of the rest of the Church, and unless a radical conservative like Ratzinger is elected, I doubt it will get worse.