Boy In Yellow Steals Pope Francis' Heart As Well As Ours At Vatican Celebration For Families

[Beacool]

By Yasmine Hafiz

This adorable little boy was on top of the world when he made friends with Pope Francis by wandering up onto the stage during the Pontiff's address to a crowd of families.


He hung out for a while, making sure that all was going well with his new buddy's speech.


Pope Francis was grateful for the help too.


Though some cardinals came to try to return him to his seat on the steps, he couldn't be parted from Papa Francesco, clinging to his robes in a tight hug.


The Vatican Instagram shared one of the cutest moments from the incident, when the little boy in yellow sat on the Pope's chair.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/29/pope-francis-boy--stage-yellow-_n_4175486.html

This is such a nice story that I wanted to share it. I love the photo of the little guy sitting on the Pope's chair, it's so cute.

[Aristus]

1. That's so cute, I can hardly stand it.

Pope Francis seems like a genuinely good guy.

[Beacool]

4. I think that he likes children and they like him back.

I'm liking this Pope a lot myself.

[riderinthestorm]

2. I needed a smile today.

Thanks for posting!!

[Beacool]

5. It brought a smile to my face too when I saw it this morning.

That's why I thought of sharing it. Goodness knows there's enough bad news to go around, but far too little of the good type.

[madokie]

3. This has to be the best Pope in years

I'm non religious but for those who are this pope shines for what I see religion as

[roguevalley]

43. I adored John the 23. This man has many of his qualities.

[JNelson6563]

6. Adorable boy, seems quite taken

with the Pope. I love that he was left to just kind of hang out where he wanted.

Julie

[Beacool]

33. It says in the article that some cardinals tried to get him off the stage,

but he wouldn't budge. Smart kid!!

[gopiscrap]

7. pretty cool, the more I see of this Pope, the more I like him!

[Beacool]

11. Mee too.

[gopiscrap]

12. I'm kinda suprised at myself

because I have taken a rather cynical view of Catholic bishops as of late.

[tavalon]

25. You and me too

[Beacool]

29. I don't blame you.

I was raised Catholic, but I have attended a Lutheran church for some years now. This is only the second Pope that I have liked in my lifetime (John Paul II was the other one).

[gopiscrap]

51. I loved John XXIII and think that I would have like John Paul I

but didn't like JP II because he appointed too many conservative cardinals, bishops and archbishops,

[Bluenorthwest]

8. Got any snapshots of Pat Robertson kissing a baby?

Same thing.

[Beacool]

10. No, it isn't!!

Don't compare the Pope to that kook. Also, this is a positive post don't piss on it.

[Katashi_itto]

47. +100000000000000000000000000000000!

[Humanist_Activist]

91. They are both homophobes, and some threads, like those that glorify HOMOPHOBES, deserve...

to be pissed on.

[HERVEPA]

101. Yup.

[Beacool]

137. He is not a homophobe.

The Catholic Church does not approve of gay marriage. That doesn't mean that they hate gay people.

[Humanist_Activist]

139. No, they just call them "intrinsically disordered" and say that when they...

enter into relationships, that gay people are acting against "natural law".

But you go ahead and defend this homophobic organization, keep it up, maybe you won't be around here much longer.

[Beacool]

140. Are you threatening me?

I have more gay friends that I can shake a stick at, but I don't expect the Catholic Church to approve of gay marriage or abortion. It's just not going to happen. You don't like the Catholic Church or the Pope? That's fine, now go crap on someone else's post.

[Humanist_Activist]

141. Ah, the "I have gay friends" defense.

[Beacool]

143. It's not a defense, it's a fact that your narrow minded opinions won't allow.

I don't even attend a Catholic church, but I happen to like this Pope. If you don't like him that's your business, but don't attack others who think differently than you do.

[trotsky]

151. The cold, hard fact of the matter is that...

this pope believes, and the official RCC position is, that the only way a homosexual person can stay in good graces with their god is to remain celibate. If they choose instead to love someone, they are engaging in sin.

That's a pretty big item in my book, and neutralizes any platitudes or photo ops. To me, the kid sitting in the chair is no different than a flight suit and a "Mission Accomplished" banner. Meaningless PR designed to emotionally sway people.

[Humanist_Activist]

162. You are the one who claimed that neither he nor the Church are homophobic...

You either think homophobia isn't a thing, or have a convoluted definition that somehow excludes someone who, you know, actively campaigned against LGBT civil rights.

[Bluenorthwest]

145. Wow. You'll have to pardon me for having a different opinon of those who promote hate

mongers. Francis says adoption by gay parents is child abuse and our relationships are 'an attack on God'. You are cool with that and I am not. The differences between Francis and Robertson are that Robertson is not as rich and does not use a rosary.

[Marrah_G]

146. Actually Bea, he is

He may have some good qualities, but that does not change the fact that he is indeed as bigot who has made some nasty bigotted comments in his role as a church leader.

[gopiscrap]

13. not at all, first of all Robertson is self appointed, not working his way up through the ranks

and then being elected by a universal gathering of his peers. More importantly, Pat Robertson wouldn't give a fuck about the poor, or starting a war for profit. I am not a Catholic nor a fan of the Roman Catholic church, but there is a fucking shit load of difference between this Pope and Robertson.

[pnwmom]

89. Thanks for the reality check. Philosophically speaking

they couldn't be further apart.

[Generic Other]

14. If Robertson kissed a baby

He'd steal the poor infant's breath.

[gopiscrap]

52. no kidding

plus check the child's pockets for change

[Xyzse]

17. Quite a few differences...

1 - Baby does not have much of a choice. This kid actually came up and he allowed him to stay.
2 - Like someone else said, Pat Robertson = SAP(Self Appointed Prick), the Pope, his sect in Catholicism had to make him decline being pope a few times before he can accept.

[Sanity Claws]

18. I think you forgot your sarcasm smilie

But I know that's what you meant.

[Gore1FL]

27. This Pope is more popular, and rightfully so.

Same basic snake oil, nonetheless.

[roguevalley]

45. perhaps but this thread is about a man and a boy having a sweet moment. there are

other threads to take those kind of remarks. Children are instinctive. They go toward good energy and avoid bad. COnsider how babies and infants like Obama but not romney. that means something about this man that a little baby like this could come to love him like this. Enjoy the moment. It is sweet and gentle. THank you, OP.

[gopiscrap]

53. I'm usually pretty cynical and jaded, specially because I have worked in the "church"

for 18 years and I found this to be a sublime moment and an indication of the personality of the man!

[roguevalley]

90. agreed. maybe I'm old but when gentleness shows itself I am glad.

[Gore1FL]

55. The sub-thread was about a poster suggesting that Pat Robertson with a child was no different.

I suggested that the Pope was more popular. It would seem you are "preaching to the choir" so to speak. I'd need to see the data from the scientific research on children's instincts, to believe that part of you assertion, however.

[roguevalley]

92. I taught thirty years. Six year old and up. Does that count? :) I know anecdotal

data from a teacher doesn't count for shit for some but this I know. Children and dogs know these kind of things.

[.99center]

105. You sure about that

Dogs were also fooled by their instincts.

[roguevalley]

111. the assumption that every impulse is always something

Is fallacious to me. My experience thirty years with kids and over sixty years with dogs is pretty vast. Day in day out experience

[Marrah_G]

147. Anyone looks great compared to Pope Rat

[TeamPooka]

64. Eating a baby maybe but kissing one? No. nt

[xfundy]

66. You really want to see a pic of Robertson

biting a child's head off?

[Humanist_Activist]

94. I would say he's more comparable to David Duke kissing a baby. n/t

[HappyMe]

9. That's so cool.

This Pope seems like a genuinely good man.

[Humanist_Activist]

93. How is a homophobe a good man? n/t

[arely staircase]

106. he is moving rhe roman church toward

Christ's one commandment. Faster than i would have ever imagined a Roman Bishop in my lifetime. I am an Episcopalian. We bless same sex unions. We are basically catholic liturgically but quite protestant (in a very liberal way) theologically. This Bishop's words and actions are very intriguing to us because they signal a possible (I pray) a full communion of holy sacraments between our churches. To outsiders they may seem only words. But words from the Bishop of Rome are important and encouraging when they focus on social justice and turn the roman church's focus away from unChrist-like homophobia.

[Humanist_Activist]

110. The current Pope reaffirms the Catholic Catechism on Human Sexuality, and you think...

that's moving his church forward to being more like the Episcopalian church? This guy, the one who said that those who advocate for same sex marriage are doing the work of the prince of lies, who says that same sex parenthood is child abuse. You think he will move the Church away from "unChrist-like" homophobia?

[ucrdem]

15. aw.

. . . but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” And he laid his hands on them and went away.

-- ESV, Matt 19.14-15 http://www.esvbible.org/Matthew+19%3A14/

[NYC_SKP]

16. Adorable!

[Beacool]

40. Hi sweets, how's life?

Hugs to you and your furry friends.

[NYC_SKP]

42. Busy but happy. How bout you?

[Beacool]

44. Same here, quite busy too.

Busy is good, though. Much better than having nothing to do.

[libodem]

19. Awwwwww

Too cute!

[ScreamingMeemie]

20. I have not attended a Catholic Mass in almost 10 years...

...but kudos to this pope.

Beautiful pictures.

[gopiscrap]

54. I only attend when I get paid to sing.

[OhioChick]

21. Oh, how adorable!

Thanks for posting.

[Beacool]

30. You're welcome.

With so many daily bad news, I thought that we needed a smile.

[Vashta Nerada]

22. Sensationalism at its best.

It doesn't cover up the fact that the Catholic church is one of the most corrupt organizations in the world.

I'll get a smile on my face when priests who diddle little boys start getting prosecuted for their crimes.

[TeeYiYi]

26. That third pic...

...reminds me of a certain Halloween costume I saw recently posted here at DU.

TYY

[cali]

35. seriously? you think that priests haven't been prosecuted?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_sex_abuse_cases

[Vashta Nerada]

38. Wikipedia is as credible as Fox News.

[cali]

60. for reason's sake: do you know how to do basic research? anything?

I'll take wikipedia over you any day of the week and a hundred times on sunday.

there are citations and links, dear. It's hardly rocket science.

Yes, lots of priest have been prosecuted for child sexual abuse- unlike what YOU claim. Yes, more certainly should have been, but that's not the same as saying that they should *start* prosecuting them.

duh.

[Vashta Nerada]

61. Haha.

"do you know how to do basic research?" I'm working on my Master's degree in Biology. I know how to do advanced research. Our professors would laugh at us if we cited anything from Wikipedia (as they should).

Your wikipedia references mean nothing to me.

[KittyWampus]

84. you might want to get out of the lab a bit and work on your interpersonal communication skills.

[Vashta Nerada]

95. I need to work on my interpersonal communication skills?

How about cali?

[roguevalley]

46. I will too but I will also enjoy this moment.

[gopiscrap]

56. If you think the Catholic Church is corrupt, take a good look at the fundies

[madrchsod]

97. of course it is and it is the bloodiest in history but....

this guy does have a chance to start to right some of the wrongs. he stripped a cardinal in germany of position because of his "bling". he`s one of the few truly humble popes that does`t believe in the red shoes. will he be able to change the direction of the church? i do`t think he has the time but maybe he can change the course enough to start to join the 21st century.

[Vashta Nerada]

98. This Pope is openly against homosexuals.

He hasn't done anything to change anything. He still sticks with the church's status quo.

The only difference between him and Ratz is that Francis has better PR. That's it.

[ScreamingMeemie]

131. Call it what it is, or don't call it anything at all.

It's rape or molestation. But diddling? God (no pun intended) I'm sick of that.

[LittleBlue]

23. That kid is adorable

Francis is a good pope. He seems like a genuinely nice guy.

[tavalon]

24. I fucking despised Pope Rattie and was fully prepared to find this one useless at best

He's, dare I say it, a good man of God.

[gopiscrap]

57. me too..I was pleasantly surprised at this one

but had a feeling from day one that he might be alright considering his personal narrative.

[Humanist_Activist]

74. I wouldn't call a man that calls same sex parenting child abuse a good man...

would you?

The "of God" part may be true if that god is a prick.

[joanbarnes]

28. If this happened in the US, with a politician, boy would be shot dead....

[FSogol]

73. Ridiculous. Didn't a little kid wander up to the podium and imitate Gulliani's hand gestures

during a speech? My own son got on stage for an Edwards rally (2003?) and mugged for the cameras.

[Rose Siding]

31. This pope keeps doing things that even I recognize as Jesus-y

This little thing brings me joy.

[840high]

32. So cute. Sweet.

[dembotoz]

34. i continue to be surprised by him--makes me wonder how pricks like dolan managed to elect him

the contrast between him and the rest of the church officials is striking

wonder when and how the blowback will begin

[gopiscrap]

58. the blowback and entrenchment has already begun

I have heard several pre Vatican II mindsets bitching and moaning about him.

[NJCher]

86. a little more on that

I have some union buddies who are Catholic by birth (they are not presently practicing Catholics) and every one of them (about five people) has a relative who is either a priest or a nun.

They tell me they think this pope will be "taken out."

They don't give him more than a few months.

Personally, I disagree, but then what do I know. I'm not a Catholic, never have been one, and don't even have a religion, per se. But that's what they say.

I hope not. I started liking the guy a few months ago when he got some old car from a buddy. The idea of a pope running around in a beater in his immaculate, pressed robes kind of amused me.


Cher

[warrant46]

142. Your quote ---"They tell me they think this pope will be "taken out." "

Just like in the Godfather 3

That would be a mistake === this guy will be the best fund raiser they have had in decades.

The poor people will line up in droves to drop their nickels and dimes into the basket.

To pay the billions of outstanding abuse judgments, his predecessor's priests have racked up in the various courts of the USA

[Marrah_G]

148. Wouldn't be a first

The Vatican is a pretty corrupt place.

[warrant46]

149. Yes but Murder ?

Well the rumor is JP #1 was offed

And any cabal that tolerates and protects child sodomites is probably capable of anything.

[Marrah_G]

150. Historically, murder in the Vatican is not unheard of

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_murdered_popes

And that's just the popes.

Pope's had people killed, Pope's tortured people, Pope's waged war, Pope's hoarded wealth.... It's a fascinating and dark history. The Vatical, historically is a place filled with politics, death, schemes..etc.

[warrant46]

153. I'm aware of that

Their history is replete with scoundrels

For Example we have Pope Alexander VI

Pope of the Catholic Church from 11 August 1492 to his death in 1503

Of Alexander's many mistresses the one for whom passion lasted longest was a certain Vannozza (Giovanna) dei Cattani, born in 1442, and wife of three successive husbands. The connection began in 1470, and she bore him four children whom he openly acknowledged as his own: Giovanni, afterwards duke of Gandia (born 1474), Cesare (born 1476), Lucrezia (born 1480), and Goffredo or Giuffre (born 1481 or 1482). Three of his other children, Girolama, Isabella and Pedro-Luiz, were of uncertain parentage. However, his son Bernardo, a product of his liaison with Vittoria (Victoria) Sailór dei Venezia in 1469, is much less known because his father kept him in hiding, most likely due to shame, for he was a cardinal, who aspired to become the pope. He obviously gave up hiding his many children after he fathered four more. Therefore, Bernardo received the least amount of attention of his siblings. ( From Wiki)

Pope Stephen VI: had his predecessor exhumed, tried, de-fingered, and thrown to the river

Pope Sergius III: ordered the murder of another pope and started the "pornocracy"

This "pornocracy" was an age with women in power: Theodora, whom Liutprand characterized as a "shameless whore... [who] exercised power on the Roman citizenry like a man" and her daughter Marozia, the mother of Pope John XI (931–935) and reputed to be the mistress of Sergius III.

It goes on and on

[Marrah_G]

157. It's all pretty fascinating

Truth is often stranger then fiction

[AtheistCrusader]

36. I see the charm offensive continues.

Very nice and all. In case anyone needs a reminder:

The church still opposes family planning that includes contraceptives and abortifacients.
The church opposes same-sex marriage.
The church opposes gender equality in leadership within the church.


Are you a priest that supports same-sex marriage and gender equality? Pope Francis excommunicates you for it.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/24/pope-francis-excommunicates-priest-greg-reynolds_n_3983059.html

"Melbourne priest Greg Reynolds has not only been defrocked, but also excommunicated by the Catholic Church over his support for women priests and homosexuals. The order came directly from Vatican under the authority of Pope Francis, who just recently said that the Church focuses too much on gays and abortion."


But yes, the kid is adorable.

[Vashta Nerada]

39. Thank you.

A few pictures of a little boy hugging the Pope surface online and suddenly the guy is Jesus and he's the best thing that happened since sliced bread.



Give me a break, people.

[roguevalley]

48. no. but acknowledging a sweet moment is human.

[gopiscrap]

59. Not saying that...just saying it was a wonderful sublime moment in stark

contrast to the inquisitor that held office right before Francis.

[Vashta Nerada]

62. Look at a few of the replies upthread.

Some have said he's the best Pope ever.

Why?

He's just as corrupt as the rest of them, but he doesn't outwardly show it as much as the previous popes.

[gopiscrap]

63. I don't think he's the best Pope ever, but he is way better

that Benny and also better than JP II

[Humanist_Activist]

72. He has better PR, that's for sure, as far as substance, he's as bad as the previous two Popes. n/t

[Vashta Nerada]

96. But, but, but...

a kid is hugging him!

HE'S THE BEST!!!!!11111111111111111111ELEVENS

[Katashi_itto]

49. BS. Australian priest, Greg Reynolds actually was excom- municated,

because he started his own church.

[AtheistCrusader]

50. Not as reported in the links I provided.

Source?

[tblue]

37. So sweet I could burst.

Excruciatingly adorable.

[Beacool]

41. Yes, isn't it?

[Ohio Joe]

65. awwww.... Yet another heart wrming pope story...

Let me know if he ever actually changes any policies... Then maybe I'll give a shit about him.

[Rex]

67. Small children tend to inherently sense good and evil in a person.

That would have never happened when Benny was in charge! They would have found the parents and kicked them out of the Vatican!

It is very strange seeing a humble Pope! I will have to get use to it!

[Arkana]

68. Pope Ratz would have just hit him with a blast of Force Lightning.

[madrchsod]

99. now that made me laugh..

...and i`m a methodist.

[JI7]

69. he even tried to get other kids to go up to meet the pope

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24750357

[Beacool]

108. Cute!!!

That boy has a lot of confidence.

[Grateful for Hope]

70. Little ones instinctively know who is good and trustworthy

As an aside, reminds me of how positively little ones react to our President.

[Bluenorthwest]

163. Then how do you explain all the child abuse in that organization?

If kids are protected by magical knowledge of who is good and trustworthy, then why do so many children each day face harm from those thy trust?
Weak and scary sauce you serve.

[Humanist_Activist]

71. "Vatican Celebration For Families"*

*---Note: Not all families need apply

[CFLDem]

75. Thank for reminding us.

As if we didn't already know.

Someday the Church may invite all families. Pope Francis might just be the first step in making that happen.

[Humanist_Activist]

76. Uhm, how? Pope Francis actively opposes those families as not being real families...

and indeed has said that same sex parents are guilty of child abuse by "depriving" children of a mom and dad..

[CFLDem]

79. One step at a time.

Just like Obama has to dismantle the attitudes behind for-profit healthcare first to give us single payer, the Pope has to change the attitude of the Church to lay the foundation for a more progressive and Christlike church.

[Humanist_Activist]

81. What steps? The Pope is NOT a reformer, he's an open homophobe...

outside of better PR, he is just as bad as the previous two popes. There is no evidence he's a progressive at all, he is an Orthodox Catholic from everything I read about him.

Oh, and don't compare this Pope with our President, that is insulting to President Obama.

[CFLDem]

83. I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.

[Humanist_Activist]

85. Agree to disagree on what?

That this Pope is anything more than what he presents? You would have an argument if this Pope denounced his homophobic beliefs and previous activities in Argentina. Let me just say that you are welcome to your own opinions, but not your own facts.

[CFLDem]

87. You're not looking at the big picture.

Sure he's a homophobe, and he won't be doing any favors in that regard anytime soon.

However, I believe his philosophy to reduce judgementalism is eliminating a major obstacle for one of his successors to eventually bring all sorts of equality to the Church. Like I said, one step at a time.

[Humanist_Activist]

88. He hasn't reduced Judgementalism one iota, indeed he damn near quotes 30 year old...

Catholic Catechism and people laud him for it, saying its a "change" when in reality, all he did was reiterate established dogma.

I see a man who, at best, represents a possible change in tone, but certainly not in content, and Big Picture wise, it will amount to no significant changes, at least due to him.

[AtheistCrusader]

118. I'm missing any evidence the pope DESIRES to do so.

[AtheistCrusader]

117. Precisely.

[riverbendviewgal]

77. Love it

especially the little one sitting in the chair.

I love this pope...I was raised a catholic and excommunicated myself, as I believe in birth control and also could not stand the idea of confession.
But his pope amazes me....It almost makes me think he is Jesus...at least he does what I expect Jesus would do.

May Pope Francis have a long time being pope.

[Liberal_in_LA]

78. ha ha, that's cute

[Skittles]

80. the Pope handled the situation well

[arely staircase]

82. he aint perfect

But this guy is the best Bishop of Rome in my lifetime. When he allows we Anglicans full communion in his church the way we allow Roman catholics to reveive the holy sacrements in ours Ill be pleased even more.

[madrchsod]

100. what about the methodists?

well maybe we'd get full communion before you anglicans. actually i known some methodists who could`t tell the difference between the two.

i have a feeling this guy is for real.

[arely staircase]

104. + 1 nt

[meti57b]

103. That is beautiful and so sweet. I too, will not forget that.

[liberalmuse]

107. I don't do religion, but I do kids and kind adults.

So this story is a win-win! What a sweetie! I'm sort of warming to this pope guy.

[Beacool]

109. I found a little more information on the boy.

His name is Carlos, he's 6 years old and he was born in Colombia. An Italian family adopted him last year.

A couple of other pics.

[rug]

112. It's amazing how this Pope gets under some people's skin.

[Beacool]

113. They think that the Church is evil and don't buy that this Pope is actually a nice guy.

Which he is. I was in Buenos Aires in September, I talked to people and read articles written about him. The way he behaves now as Pope is the same way he behaved when he was Archbishop of Buenos Aires. It's not an act, it's who he is and that's why I think the Conclave chose him. He's shaking up the Vatican and it's about time.

[Demo_Chris]

114. He's still covering up the wholesale rape and torture of children...

And promoting the sexual oppression of women. But other than that, he's a super nice guy. And Jeff Dahmer was a great babysitter -- the kids loved him.

Every tyrant in history has posed with kids and animals. It's a fucking cliche. Because for some evolutionary reason it works, and otherwise rational adults assume that kids have some preternatural ability to sense hidden evil, and anyone who likes kids as much as we do ourselves must somehow be just like us.

If he REALLY liked kids he would be leading a crusade against his own church.

[Vashta Nerada]

115. Don't forget, he said gay people are cool, as long as they act like straight people.

[Demo_Chris]

124. That's my point, he's soo nice! :) nt

[NYC Liberal]

116. It's funny because the last guy had the SAME thing happen

A kid ran on stage up to him and Benny reacted pretty much the same way as Francis.



Francis has better PR skills though, I guess.

[AtheistCrusader]

121. But but... but... THIS pope is DIFFERENT!

[NYC Liberal]

123. I don't get it either. Last pope had the same positions on

LGBT rights, women, poverty, etc.

This pope is just repeating what has been in the Catechism for a long time. What he said about gays has been the official Churh position for years. Nothing new.

[Demo_Chris]

125. He's 'better' with kids, if you know what I mean...

[Beacool]

132. I don't think he's covering anything.

Priests are being investigated, he is not Benedict. To compare Dahmer with Pope Francis is outrageous and a very poor analogy.

Yes, the Catholic Church does not approve of women being ordained. I don't agree with it, one of several reasons why I attend a Lutheran church, but I respect their choice.

[AtheistCrusader]

120. Why would that be a good thing, that he act as he did as Archbishop of Buenos Aires?

Francis wrote

"Let’s not be naïve, we’re not talking about a simple political battle; it is a destructive pretension against the plan of God. We are not talking about a mere bill, but rather a machination of the Father of Lies that seeks to confuse and deceive the children of God."

in regards to a bill being considered in Argentina for legalizing same sex marriage.
Of same sex couples adopting children, he called it "discrimination against children".

&feature=youtu.be

The idea that he's behaving as he did in Argentina is horrifying.

[Demo_Chris]

127. Hey now! When it comes to kids, no one loves them like a Catholic priest. nt

[Arugula Latte]

122. You think a homophobic, misogynistic institution that has caused untold harm

and exacerbated human misery exponentially on the planet (ban on birth control, for example) is some sort of benevolent institution?

I do not. I call that evil.

[Demo_Chris]

126. AIDs may be bad, but condoms are worse -- the Catholic Church's idea of morality nt

[rug]

128. I call that description purposeful hyperbole.

[Arugula Latte]

129. Uh huh.

Truth hurts.

[rug]

130. That must be why I don't feel anything.

It also may be said that lies assuage a troubled mind.

[Humanist_Activist]

133. So we can expect the same vitriol and hatred against LGBT people that he displayed as Archbishop?

When he campaigned against both same sex adoption and same sex marriage?

And how the fuck does this make him a nice guy?

[Demo_Chris]

134. Because some kid hugged him. SQWEEEE!!!! nt

[Beacool]

136. He does not support gay marriage, but he wasn't against civil unions. n/t

[Humanist_Activist]

138. He called civil unions a "lesser of two evils"...

he is a fucking homophobe, don't defend his filth.

[AtheistCrusader]

119. The pope isn't under my skin. He's doing exactly what I expected.

It's that people are BUYING IT that gets under my skin.

Trust is earned. Deeds speak louder than words.

[Humanist_Activist]

135. Not only that, but it also may lead to increased support for the Catholic Church...

materially, that is my primary concern, which will then lead to misguided people funding anti-LGBT civil rights, anti-contraception and anti-choice laws and practices in places like Africa, etc.

[goldent]

144. I had the same thought.

Sounds kinda Tourette-like in this case.

[CountAllVotes]

152. The little boy was acting as pope Francis' body guard for a bit

And yes, it was really cute!

As for pope Francis, his message that day was a simple one. He said we need to focus on three things: Saying please, thank you and sorry ...

It was particularly almost tearful to me when the little boy came out of nowhere and jumped on the stage and kissed the cross around pope Francis' neck and then he went and sat in the pope's chair!

I really think that pope Francis is a good man and he seems to be well-liked.

Thanks for posting this story!

& recommend.

[Beacool]

154. You're welcome.

But apparently some didn't like it.

[Rex]

155. You can never win over 100% of the people no matter what.

Someone will always be there to remind you of what is wrong with your OP.

Personally I LOVE seeing a humble Pope. Refreshing after Benny and his red shoes.

[Beacool]

156. Me too!!!

[CountAllVotes]

158. Well, they should not have bothered to read the thread

and start up bashing a pope that they know little if anything at all about.

And for you ... a and yes, thank you and I am sorry if you got your feelings hurt!

[Beacool]

159. That's OK, I'm used to the bashing that goes on around here.

I'm a Hillary supporter and with some here the Clintons are as popular as the Pope. Any positive thread about them or the Pope gets crapped on the minute it's posted, you have to be tough or they trample you. LOL!!!

Thanks for the hug and right back at you.

[CountAllVotes]

160. Thanks!!

n/t

[Humanist_Activist]

161. "...that they know little if anything at all about." Excuse me?

Are you fucking kidding me?!? This Pope ACTIVELY CAMPAIGNED against the civil rights of LGBT people in Argentina, and we are supposed to forget about that, not to mention insulting same sex headed families. Oh, and the OP's feelings were hurt? I guess the feelings(and rights) of LGBT people just don't matter to a certain segment of people here.