I Knew Pope Francis Was Good, But When I Found Out Everything He Did in 2013, I Was Blown Away

[Omaha Steve]

http://distractify.com/people/reasons-why-pope-francis-is-the-person-of-the-year/

Mark Pygas

Pope Francis has been declared Time’s Person Of The Year. Looking back on 2013, he has done some incredibly progressive things to lead the Church.

1. He spoke out against frivolous spending by the Church



Source: catholic-ew.org.uk

The average set of cardinal’s clothes costs as much as $20,000. In October, Pope Francis urged officials to dress more modestly and to not squander such money. In the same month, he ordered a German bishop to explain how he had spent $3 million on a marble courtyard.

Source: globalpost.com


2. He invited a boy with Down's Syndrome for a ride in the Popemobile



Source: thehindu.com

During a general audience, Pope Francis invited Alberto di Tullio, a 17-year-old boy with Downs Syndrome, to ride in his Popemobile while thousands watched. The boy and his father were said to be "choked up" when he was embraced by the Pope.

Source: cbsnews.com


3. He embraced and kissed Vinicio Riva



Source: huffpost.com

November saw Pope Francis embrace Vinicio Riva, a man scarred by a genetic disease. Fighting agonising pain on a daily basis, such an act restored the faith of a man who says he is often mocked in public.

Source: cnn.com

4. He denounced the judgment of homosexuals

FULL story at link.

[Laelth]

1. k&r for Pope Francis. n/t

-Laelth

[BootinUp]

2. I was raised Catholic, left the flock

but still its part of me. I can say without hesitation, that Francis is the biggest new thing in the Church in my lifetime. I see other Catholics feel the same way.

[Siwsan]

3. Francis has let the job of being Pope go to his heart, instead of his head

Sets him miles above most of his predecessors.

[backwoodsbob]

4. agreed

he is head and shoulders above any other pope of my lifetime.

[Enthusiast]

14. Me too.

[Dustlawyer]

5. Hopefully Christians will learn how they were supposed to be acting all along, from the

Pope, who is demonstrating how a true Christian should act. This should have been the norm all along, unfortunately this is the exception.
I was raised Catholic but realized later in life that the bible is not the word of God, but a book of fiction that has been changed over the centuries to suit the wishes of the powerful throughout its history. I am excited to see a man use power for good for a change. Even if I do not share the technical beliefs of his religion, I share the ones that matter, that we must love and help each other!

[Thinkingabout]

6. I am so happy to see his interaction with the sick and poor. He is following the teachings and

Examples of Jesus, definitely teaching moments. When I hear so much negatively coming from other churches it hurts to think Christians believe in such hate and intolerance. Hopefully this will start a turning from the hate and back to loving and caring.

[Kingofalldems]

7. Another John XXIII

[Bluenorthwest]

20. The last Pope to embrace disabled folk for the cameras was JP2 who did it on TV with an armless

guitar player. At that time, folks gasped and acted amazed that a Pope would embrace a disabled person. 1987.15 years later, they gasp and act amazed that a Pope would embrace a disabled person, now adding that this is a new, unseen act of a reformer. Like JP2 was thought to be in 87.....

[MellowDem]

8. Pope Francis thinks the fight for marriage equality is led by Satan...

Pope Francis leads a hateful institution whose actions leads to poverty and death around the globe.

I could really give less than a shit about the PR moves of this Pope. His photo-ops showing compassion to individuals does nothing to belie the fact that his beliefs and the institution he runs continues to increase the number of poor and suffering in the world. In fact, using people's suffering has a PR move even as he and his institution continue to spread misery is sickening.

You might as well show me pictures of Pro-life activists comforting young moms with unwanted children.

The Pope does judge homosexuals, and women as well. If the Pope didn't judge homosexuals, then he wouldn't think equality efforts were led by the devil and would stop his church's efforts to stop it. If the Pope didn't judge women, he wouldn't be allowing the crackdown on progressive nuns, much less keep the ban of women in place, much less the same view on contraceptives, or abortion.

The Pope lies.

But that's all beside the point.

The real sad thing is how many on DU are only concerned with optics and not substance. This Pope has changed no position from Pope Ratzinger. Both of their belief systems are the same. He has only changed the focus of his beliefs, and it's quite obvious that it's no accident, the church is losing influence and members like crazy. But the truth is, the progressive economic views of the church are completely subsumed by the poverty, hate, and ignorance the church spreads. And the reasoning underlying that progressive economic view is as shaky and amoral as it gets (a vengeful god commands it), indeed, it's the same reasoning that underlies the Pope's flagrant bigotry against women and homosexuals.

And then there is the religious privilege. The bar is set incredibly low for the Pope because of it.

But seriously, what about the Pope's belief system is admirable? All these posts show the Pope taking small actions that pale to the damage the church is doing and continues to dole out. So what about the Pope's ideology is admirable to anyone on here? What about his reasoning is so good, so worthy of imitation by progressives? I know plenty of conservatives that do these actions the Pope does, while supporting policies that hurt those they help individually. So please, espouse to me how the Pope's ideology is progressive.

[Humanist_Activist]

9. He's a new, progressive, Pope, who just happens to espouse ideas and doctrines that are...

not different with what the previous 3 Popes held as positions, and is well within doctrine of the Catholic Church. But...He's a reformer!

[Katashi_itto]

10. K&R!

[Humanist_Activist]

11. Question, can a homophobic person be categorized as good? n/t

[arely staircase]

12. recommended nt

[SidDithers]

13. And don't forget, he was named 2013's Best Dressed Man, by Esquire magazine...

Sid

[Wilms]

15. ^

[1000words]

16. The Vatican has an excellent PR team

The Pope plays his part, beautifully.

Just don't look behind the curtain ...

[DisgustipatedinCA]

17. Kicked. Recommended nt

[CoffeeCat]

18. Was the appointment of Francis a self-serving PR move, though?

...I think we can all agree that the Catholic church was losing members in droves. Because of the pedophile scandal--a scandal that is still revealing horrifying chapters, the church had to make some kind of drastic move.

Was the appointment of Pope Francis, a Progressive Pope, simply a PR stunt that would shift the focus away from the pedophile scandal?

People sure are talking about Pope Francis, and all of this "good deeds" and soundbytes. These symbolic acts of compassion toward the poor and less fortunate--all have pictures to go with the stories. His controversial, Progressive statements are made in very public speeches.

You have to wonder the intentions of the Catholic Church--given that they have spent decades covering up for child rapists and then placing those known child rapists in positions of religious authority, which created new victims of child rape. No other organization--not even NAMBLA has done such dastardly, evil deeds.

It's ok to be skeptical and to ask questions.

And furthermore, I've heard nothing from this Pope on the child-rape/child-rape cover-up scandals that have traumatized so many children and their families. I have not heard one iota from him about meaningful changes to the church that would prevent this from happening again. I also have not heard him discuss many issues related to the pedophile scandal--such as opening the sealed records of abuse, or working to prosecute these serial child rapists. Or doing more for victims.

As an organization, you can't expect to run yourself like a child-rape factory for decades--then lose power and credibility--and hope to regain it by appointing a kind figurehead.

I was Catholic. Went to Catholic grade schools and graduated from Catholic High Schools. The Church completely lost its way. Until this issue is fairly, adequately and honestly addressed--it doesn't matter who their figurehead is. And if they think they can escape accountability or use a kind guy as a shiny object, to make us all forget the child-rape scandals--they can forget it.

Let's see what Pope Francis actually does about the child-rape crisis that still permeates this institution--and continues to hurt families and victims. Then, we'll know whether or not this guy is meaningful, honest change or just a meaningless vacuous student meant to drum up membership and more power.

[Bluenorthwest]

19. #4 is not correct, Francis leads the path on judging gay people, he calls our marriages destructive

and an attack on God's plan, says marriage equality is a 'move by the Father of Lies'. He calls opposition to equality 'God's war'.
To treat a person differently because of who they are is an act of judgement. To claim we attack God is raving Medieval hate speech.

[Bluenorthwest]

21. So you think homophobic bigots can be good people. Do you think racists also can be good?

Is that question too much for you? Remember when JP2 hugged disabled people for the camera? I sure do. I was there.