Pope Francis quote...

[Playinghardball]

[Thinkingabout]

1. Great quote, in other words there is not any trickle down economics.

[Laelth]

43. Precisely. n/t

-Laelth

[pansypoo53219]

45. tinkle down + there's no PEE.

[woo me with science]

2. K&R

[leftyohiolib]

3. waiting for usual haters to pipe in

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

11. OP was at 1:22

First Pope-bashing occurred at 1:55. Geez a half an hour? Must have been lunch break.

[leftyohiolib]

13. not surprising that same person always has wonderful things to say.

[Bluenorthwest]

16. Francis says my family is a destructive attack on God, he's the hater, pal.

Uganda is over 40% Catholic, Francis Superstar has not said a word against the hate laws there. Not. One. Word.
How do YOU feel about his tacit approval of the Ugandan pogrom, carried out to a great extent by his own faithful?
Takes some serious denial to criticize those who oppose genocide and favor those who create it, pal. Who's the hater? Francis. Bigot. Willing to watch LGBT people rounded up and killed.

[leftyohiolib]

19. yea he should ride in there in there in his papal tank and blow them all away

he is of the belief that thou shall not kill so i doubt he wants anyone killed. calm down and climb down off your hyperbole hi-horse. like uganda will listen to him anymore than they listen to him here. btw you misquoted him and for what's it's worth i dont think your family is a destructive anything no matter what it's make up

[Bluenorthwest]

20. He should open his mouth and speak against this evil.

You are here calling those who want him to stop his followers in Uganda from murdering our people 'haters'.
Francis is silent in the face of evil he helped create with his anti gay rhetoric. He is culpable, as are his followers.
Francis can't even say he is opposed to this vile law. Do you seriously approve of this law and his silence? Or do you just try to bully those who speak against such horrors?

[leftyohiolib]

24. im saying that uganda wont listem to him anyway no matter what he says. his followers

already know it's not ok to kill and so maybe they are not his follwers and like in america are christians in name only. he cant stop the hate here he cant stop it there.
pope speaks out against violence
http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2014/02/20/pope-francis-leads-calls-for-an-end-to-violence-in-ukraine/

“In the name of God, we condemn violence, ruthlessness and the ignoring of human rights and the will of the nation,” he said on Wednesday as the United Nations and Western governments demanded an urgent resumption of government-opposition talks.

“I state with great sorrow that calls by the churches to stop the shedding of blood and seek a peaceful settlement of this conflict have not been heard,” the archbishop said, adding that he had asked Catholics to fast and pray for peace and asked Catholic churches to ring their bells in rejection of “fratricidal evil.”
but butbut he didnt say the word uganda
face it you just want to hate and just because he didnt say it the exact way you THINk he should say doesnt mean he's condoning it

[Bluenorthwest]

28. Uganda's largest religion is the one he leads, if his words are worthless to them

why even post his words here? He has spent years telling them that LGBT people are demonic and out to harm God. He stoked this fire.
And it is funny that you quote 'thou shalt not kill', did you know that the Papal States which the Popes headed, executed people for petty crimes until the late 1800's? Michigan outlawed the death penalty before the Vatican stopped their own. Historically, more civic executions have been done in the name of the Pope as head of State than have been done by Governors of Texas.

He has not said a word to his priests and followers about the genocide they are planning. There is no excuse for his silence. His hate speech helped create the environment in which his followers now carry out that which he has urged 'God's war' against gay rights.
He's a hateful bigot, leader of the majority faith in Uganda, where they are arresting and harassing innocent people in the name of his faith.

[leftyohiolib]

47. 1800s were a long time ago and this pope didnt behead anyone

he said his about the violence
“I state with great sorrow that calls by the churches to stop the shedding of blood and seek a peaceful settlement of this conflict have not been heard,” the archbishop said, adding that he had asked Catholics to fast and pray for peace and asked Catholic churches to ring their bells in rejection of “fratricidal evil.”
now this said during the time of violence in the ukraine but im sure it extends to uganda but dont let

hasnt said a word huh? you sound like the people pissed at potus cause he didnt fix everything on day one

[Bluenorthwest]

51. He has not said a word against this law, not one word. He has said many nasty

things about gay people, but not one word against this law. Your attempt to claim that he has is very dishonest and pitiful to behold.


Beheading was not the favored method of execution by the Popes, the last most popular before they stopped involved crushing the skull and slitting the throat of their victims.
I do not agree with you that things which happened around the time of our Civil War are in the distant meaningless past. I think those times are fairly recent in many ways.
""That's two 70-year old ladies living and dying back to back."
http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2010/12/louis-ck-does-the-math-on-slavery/67603/

[leftyohiolib]

55. my point was that things change given time and his words were about finding peace rather than

violence.

[sabrina 1]

64. What influence does the Pope have on the American Televangelists who are responsible for spreading

hate for Gays in Uganda? None, zero. But the US Government COULD take away their tax free status. Has anyone in our Government even suggested that?

By contrast, Catholic Bishops in Uganda have condemned these laws and asked all of their Bishops to speak out against them. Any other religious organizations calling on the government to abandon those laws?

Not that it matters to you, but just wanted to keep things real. I haven't seen you call on the leaders of the ACTUAL 'religious' perps responsible for these egregious laws.

As for your family, my family is also affected by bigotry towards Gays. But even if that was not the case I would still be working for Civil Rights for all human beings. Not just MY family. As I have, all my life.

[theHandpuppet]

71. The Catholic Bishops in Uganda have NOT condemned the new laws

Their latest stance is that they will "reserve judgment" on the newly passed laws while reaffirming their opposition to LGBT rights. Over the years their position on the anti-gay laws has seesawed from pushing the "kill the gays" bill, then withdrawing their support until the death penalty clause was removed, then supporting the bill again when it was reintroduced. Now they simply "reserve judgment". Ugandan Minister of Ethics and Integrity, Simon Lokodo, a former Catholic priest, has such a hatred for gays that he has stated that to commit child rape is better than being homosexual. So please don't try to pass off the Catholic leaders in Uganda as advocates for LGBT rights -- they are anything but.

There are plenty of folks here who have condemned and ridiculed the religious right's involvement in anti-gay violence and hatred. That they should find no support here is a given. The difference is, folks here don't post cheerleading threads for Rick Warren or Pat Robertson or Scott Lively (currently facing charges of crimes against humanity). They don't post threads here praising promoters of homophobia even as gays around the world are fighting for their rights and lives because most folks understand how incredibly insulting and hurtful that is. GLBTs and their supporters JUST won a victory in Arizona and are still fighting a similar law in Kansas, both bills backed by the Catholic conferences of both states. So instead of granting us just 24 hours to breathe a sigh of relief what we get instead is a reminder of the religious bigotry we still face. Well gee, thanks a freaking lot. That will really take my mind off the fact that women and gays are still facing scores of lawsuits filed in the church's "religious liberty" campaign.

Finally, you know, most of us can walk and chew gum at the same time. We can fight the war on poverty and income inequality, against unjust wars, support labor unionization, fight for immigrants, and yet do so without throwing the rights of women and LGBTs under the bus. Some of us actually see all of these battles as a common cause.

[sabrina 1]

73. We have fought the war on poverty? Really, tell that to women who have to work three jobs, 'thanks

Bill Clinton for that 'Welfare Reform' while trying to raise a family on their own. Tell it to the people I met in Ventura, La, among other places who were living on the streets because they lost their jobs and their homes, most of them either Veterans or Women.

Please, stop. There is no 'war ON poverty' here in this country there is a war on the POOR.

As for the Catholic Church, yes they have condemned those laws but clearly you would prefer to think otherwise. I understand bigotry, it comes in all forms, not limited to minorities and it's ugly, no matter what form it takes, because it filled with hate and blinding to those suffering from it. And yes, they are victims, those who hate. In case you are not aware of what bigotry means, it means attacking a people AS A GROUP and hating them simply because the belong to that group.

I despise bigotry and hatred in all its forms, whatever way it comes, and will point it out whenever I see it, no matter what the reaction.

There are good and bad everywhere, I look for the good, sometimes hard to find, but it's there, if you don't allow yourself to be blinded by irrational hatred. Bigots are found everywhere also. That is just the way it is.

[theHandpuppet]

74. Yes, there is a war on poverty

And there are a helluva lot of good people on DU who are fighting it, just like you.

I'm sure you do despise bigotry. I await your next post supporting not only full equality for LGBTs and women (including reproductive rights) but also your condemnation of those who would oppose those goals.

[treestar]

79. But that would just be words, no?

[theHandpuppet]

83. Well according to some...

... his mere words have the power to move mountains or at least a billion people. If by just opening his mouth he can bring down income inequality on a global scale, just imagine what a few words spared for the equal rights of women and LGBTs could do. But then you have actually be for those things.

Something like this would do...

"We must be entirely clear about this: the history of people is littered with attempts to legislate against love or marriage across class, caste, and race. But there is no scientific basis or genetic rationale for love. There is only the grace of God. There is no scientific justification for prejudice and discrimination, ever. And nor is there any moral justification. Nazi Germany and apartheid South Africa, among others, attest to these facts."

-- Archbishop Desmond Tutu, in response to the anti-gay laws enacted in Uganda

[Bluenorthwest]

23. I think this comment defines the Francis Fans.

Horrific bullshit. People are being rounded up and you make light of it for a rich man.

[Lordquinton]

25. "Thou shall not kill"

Is in the old testament, the Jewish holy book, not a part of Catholic doctrine. They may think it's a good idea, and there may be some othr mention of not killing people, but the ten commandments don't apply.

[LumosMaxima]

44. Wrong.

http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s2.htm

There's a lot of information on that page, but here's the bottom line:

"2068 The Council of Trent teaches that the Ten Commandments are obligatory for Christians . . . "

[Lordquinton]

53. Then every catholic priest I've asked about it

has been wrong on the issue.

[Moonwalk]

82. Actually, "Thou wall not kill" doesn't apply if you're not Jewish. Of course, I don't know....

...If Catholicism understands that any more than most Christians who insist on putting those commandments on Church walls. The Ten Commandments, however, were given by god to his "chosen" people, the Hebrews there, and they apply only to the tribes. So, no killing another tribe member. No stealing from another tribe member. No sleeping with another tribe-member's wife, etc. When we read about a trial in the bible on such laws being broken (Ruth and the neighbor bearing false witness, for example), it's always a Hebraic court discussing someone of the Hebraic faith breaking those laws, not anyone who is outside of the faith/tribe.

Of course, the "not kill" commandment is excepted even within the faith/tribe for certain sins like adultery. And a good many others come to that. It really doesn't say "Thou shalt NEVER kill" just "Don't kill anyone who doesn't deserve it." And there's a long, crazy list of those who deserve it. It's amazing to me that the Hebrews didn't die off as a people with stoning all their members who broke the laws.

Of course, if you want to kill someone who isn't part of the tribe/faith, well, that's perfectly fine. The very first thing the Hebrews do after 40 years in the desert is steal the land of Canaan from its peaceful and rightful owners. Why? Certainly not because the Canaaites have done anything wrong or terrible. They do it because they want the land. And they kill everyone. With god's blessing. Men, women, children, pregnant women and their unborn babies.... And from then on, the Israelites are a very bad-ass tribe, getting into wars and killing all sorts of people. So, the "thou shalt not kill" commandment? Has a lotta loopholes.

Again, not saying that Catholic doctrine takes all this into account when/if it preaches the ten commandments...But I'd rather think we'd be better off asking if Jesus would approve of these executions rather than whether the ten commandments apply to them or not. After all, that is the reason Christians (Catholics included) eat bacon though it's expressly forbidden by the Bible. Because Jesus' teachings, it was argued, applied to everyone, even non-Jews. So, only Jews have to follow the OT faith/tribe based laws given to Moses, everyone else can be "non-Jewish" and still be faithful to Jesus...of course, such Jewish laws should include the Ten Commandments AND that anti-gay law. And, thus, should not be applied to non-Jews any more than the "don't eat pig meat" law.

[happyslug]

41. The Pope, through his Papal Nunico to Uganda has objected to that law:

http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/pope-francis%E2%80%99-representative-uganda-concerned-new-anti-gay-law291213

But since the Nunico concentrated his attack on the bill in UGANDA as opposed to the United States you never heard of it. Think about it, where should the Pope direct his opposition, to the people and government of Uganda or the US internet community?

Pope Francis’ representative to Uganda has expressed his shock at lawmakers passing a bill that would see people imprisoned for life for having gay sex, reiterating the church’s opposition to the bill.

Papal Nuncio to Uganda Archbishop Michael Blume was written to by Divine Word Missionaries Brother Brian McLauchlin on 21 December, asking him to speak to Catholic bishops in the country about the law’s potential to abuse people’s human rights.

‘I am writing to you about a grave matter in terms of human rights abuses towards LGBT persons in Uganda,’ McLauchlin wrote.

‘Uganda’s Parliament recently passed a bill calling for tougher punishments for homosexual acts, including life imprisonment for those considered “repeat offenders.” In addition, this bill also criminalizes the public promotion of homosexuality. Once the President of Uganda signs the legislation, it will become law.

‘I am gravely concerned that a number of human rights violations will occur if the President signs this bill. Although the Catholic Hierarchy may not approve of same-sex relationships or a homosexual lifestyle, I believe the Hierarchy would agree that everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. Imprisoning someone for life would clearly constitute an abuse of his/her rights.’

McLauchlin urged that Catholics use their influence in Uganda to make sure the bill does not become law......


Archbishop Blume directed McLauchlin to a statement released by Uganda’s Catholic bishops in 2009 when the bill was first proposed.

‘The recent tabled Anti-Homosexuality Bill does not pass a test of a Christian caring approach to this issue,’ the bishops wrote in 2009.

‘The targeting of the sinner, not the sin, is the core flaw of the proposed Bill. The introduction of the death penalty and imprisonment for homosexual acts targets people rather than seeking to counsel and to reach out in compassion to those who need conversion, repentance, support, and hope.’

The bishops then quoted Luke 6:36-37, which says ‘Be merciful just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge and you will not be judged. Do not condemn and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.’
- See more at: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/pope-francis%E2%80%99-representative-uganda-concerned-new-anti-gay-law291213#sthash.p8DrSD24.dpuf

- See more at: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/pope-francis%E2%80%99-representative-uganda-concerned-new-anti-gay-law291213#sthash.p8DrSD24.dpuf

[Bluenorthwest]

50. Francis has not said a fucking word, this bull you are pushing is months old

He sat and silently watched his followers do this awful thing. 5 years this law took to become reality, he has spent those years railing about gay people attacking God and declaring that his followers need to 'fight God's war' against equality.
That man Francis should start making penance now, he is too old to waste a moment making up for what he has done.

[NYC Liberal]

26. Pope is a hate manger who is a bigot and a misogynist.

He has attacked the gay community with vicious hate speech. He opposes women's rights. His bigoted policies are incredibly destructive to economic and social equality. Because, yes, women's rights (contraception, birth control, abortion) are intrinsically tied to economic opportunity and status.

[stg81]

34. no

[NYC Liberal]

35. Yes. He believes gay couples adopting children is "child abuse".

That's just one of his horrific beliefs.

[Egalitarian Thug]

65. What? No answer? I'm shocked! n/t

[sabrina 1]

66. As a woman, I am very pleased with this Pope's stand on what most affects women all over the world,

poverty and lack of education. He has attacked the Right Wingers who USE women and gays for political purposes taking away their 'moral authority' as Catholics, telling them they need to remember what the word Christian means, it doesn't mean 'obsessing over other people's business', it means 'addressing the horrific poverty that exists in the world which they hypocritically ignore.

There was nothing more fun than watching Repubs like Santorum try to splutter out their 'but, but we ARE good Christians, how can the Pope say that about US'? First time they got slapped down by the very Church they've been using to justify their bigotry. He took it away from them. Kudos to him for doing so.

[theHandpuppet]

68. Tell it these women

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/population/la-fg-population-matters5-20120729-html,0,5897961.htmlstory#axzz2uaCPKDqP

[sabrina 1]

69. Why would I have to tell women anything? We women know what creates inequality for women.

I rarely see those expressing faux concern for women ever address the real issues facing women around the globe. Bathing suits or not? This is a priority for women? Francis gets it, poverty and war are two of the most devasting issues facing the world's women today. But sssshhhhh, Capitalism, trickle down WAR so very profitable etc. Thank the gods SOMEONE with a microphone has finally sorted out the real issues.

[theHandpuppet]

72. Yeah, well I'm a woman too

Last edited Fri Feb 28, 2014, 12:36 AM - Edit history (1)

And I get that equality for women, including the right to reproductive choice, are vital issues for women around the globe. That's why I post so many threads on these issues, including how both are related to economic inequality. This is not an either/or debate. You can fight against poverty and war without throwing the rights of women under the bus.

[leftyohiolib]

54. i was wondering how long that would last

[Beacool]

61. I see that you didn't have to wait long.

[leftyohiolib]

63. nope they flocked in like vultures on a carcass. i understand though if i were gay i think i would

have had enough of people saying what a plague i was to society

[SidDithers]

5. And another...

Sid

[SidDithers]

6. Oh, here's another good one...

Sid

[SunSeeker]

14. Wow, so he thinks marriage equality is the "machination of the Father of Lies."?!

I assume by "Father of Lies" he means the devil. So, equal access to a basic human right is the work of the devil?! Sheesh. On this issue, he makes Rick Santorum sound reasonable.

[leftyohiolib]

15. i guess tolerance is a one way street

[geek tragedy]

37. did you intentionally try to sound like the SB1062 sponsors? nt

[Bluenorthwest]

17. Yes, he says equality if from the Devil, he is leader of more Ugandans than any

other religious figure, Catholics comprise over 40% of that nation, Francis says nothing about the hate laws, yet his fans here call his critics 'haters'. That's how awful they are. If we don't let their preacher call us satanic, we are haters.

[el_bryanto]

7. Is this a recent quote?

It strikes me he said something like this a few months back if not this exactly. And if it is an old quote - why repost it, given that you know that some people get riled up at seeing the Pope lionized?

Bryant

[Bluenorthwest]

10. It is meant to distract from the reality of Francis' tacit approval of Uganda's hate

laws. His fans know he been murderously silent through the entire process, that shames them so they dig through his press releases to find something that makes him sound like less of an anti gay monster.

[Tikki]

8. That was the old industrialists…When philanthropy meant leaving a legacy with your name...

attached as part of building a Nation, the United States, that you loved.

New Industrialists love their money, power more than the love the United States…
…hell they can and do have their money laying around all over the World. Why
would they care about any one money deposit more than another.

Ass wipes like the koch bros are on a power trip and they have money.
Many of the 1% are my definition of extremely UNPATRIOTIC.


Tikki

[Bluenorthwest]

9. Has he, as spiritual leader of the largest religious group in Uganda, managed to

utter even a syllable against what is being done in the name of his faith, Christianity and carried out by large numbers in his and other Christian Churches?
No?
The silence defines him. Nothing you can post will distract from what is being done while he blathers about gay people attacking God.

Despicable.

[VA_Jill]

36. The president of Uganda

is some kind of "Born Again Christian" and the whole anti-gay campaign there has been orchestrated by AMERICAN RIGHT WING EVANGELICAL GROUPS who are bankrolled by outfits such as the Heritage Foundation, the Family Research Council, and Focus on the Family. Why don't you spend some of that vitriol on THEM instead of spewing it all out on the pope who has actually said some good things where these groups have said and done nothing but evil?

[Bluenorthwest]

49. Because no one here defends those evangelicals for their harmful action but they

work up a frothy sweat defending Francis and his Bishops for their contributions in hate speech, in silence and political action. That country is over 80% Catholic and Anglican, so harping that a small minority did this without the aid of that majority or of the leadership of the majority is absurd ravings.
Francis has not bothered to so much as object to these hateful laws being put into place by a nation that is nearly half made up of his devoted followers.
You wish to defend him, as if his hate speech was righteous. I find that to be arrogant and bigoted in and of itself.

[VA_Jill]

52. Apparently

you just want to hate Pope Francis. I leave you to it. Good day to you.

[Bluenorthwest]

78. Hate is what is being done in Uganda. I am being critical of dangerous teachings

from a public figure, Francis. His positions on LGBT rights, contraception and abortion rights are Republican positions which are the polar opposite of the positions of the Democratic Party. This is a Democratic website, the General Discussion forum is political in nature. When a public figure touts Republican policy I will criticize that in any political forum. When a public figure speaks against my community I will always criticize that in any political forum.
Sorry, but when touting anti gay, anti choice political figures on a liberal political forum, one should probably expect criticism of those Republican, right wing positions. Trying to claim it's 'hate' just makes you seem arrogant and lacking in actual valid arguments.

[theHandpuppet]

80. Apparently some folks need a refresher

Particularly on this forum we shouldn't have to defend our criticism of the leader of a religious institution that has used it's influence and money to lobby ceaselessly against these basic principles of the Democratic platform, be it from the altar or from the filing of endless lawsuits, e.g., numerous filings against the HHS contraception mandate, against ENDA (the Employment Non-Discrimination Act), constant attacks against Roe .v Wade, backing a Federal Marriage Amendment, spending millions to fight gay marriage in state after state, backing anti-gay bills in state after state (including recent bills in Kansas and Arizona), withdrawing monies and support from charitable organizations who refuse to denounce LGBTs. That's not religious liberty, that's theocratic tyranny.

Nor would we abide without criticism, on a progressive forum, any other proponents of anti-gay, anti-woman rhetoric. Victimizers cannot be defended by claiming that they are the real victims -- that's RW circle-speak that would be laughed at if it didn't involve a cleric. A powerful cleric who has publicly denounced the rights of gays and women as outlined in the following:

Democratic Party platform

Women
(excerpt)
We understand that economic issues are women's issues, and the challenges of supporting and raising a family are often primarily a woman's responsibility. That's why putting Americans back to work is Job One. That's why the Affordable Care Act especially helps women by guaranteeing they and their families won't become uninsured when they lose their jobs. That's why this administration strengthened Medicare and Medicaid for millions of women and families. And that's why the Affordable Care Act is ending health insurance discrimination against women, and provides women with free access to preventive care, including prenatal screenings, mammograms, cervical cancer screening, breast-feeding supports, and contraception.

We understand that women's rights are civil rights. That's why we reaffirm our support for the ERA, recommit to enforcing Title IX, and will urge ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. That's why we are committed to ending violence against women, why Vice President Joe Biden originally wrote and championed the Violence Against Women Act during his time in the Senate, and why we support reauthorizing and strengthening it now.

The President and the Democratic Party believe that women have a right to control their reproductive choices. Democrats support access to affordable family planning services, and President Obama and Democrats will continue to stand up to Republican efforts to defund Planned Parenthood health centers. The Affordable Care Act ensures that women have access to contraception in their health insurance plans, and the President has respected the principle of religious liberty. Democrats support evidence-based and age-appropriate sex education

Protecting A Woman's Right to Choose. The Democratic Party strongly and unequivocally supports Roe v. Wade and a woman's right to make decisions regarding her pregnancy, including a safe and legal abortion, regardless of ability to pay. We oppose any and all efforts to weaken or undermine that right. Abortion is an intensely personal decision between a woman, her family, her doctor, and her clergy; there is no place for politicians or government to get in the way. We also recognize that health care and education help reduce the number of unintended pregnancies and thereby also reduce the need for abortions. We strongly and unequivocally support a woman's decision to have a child by providing affordable health care and ensuring the availability of and access to programs that help women during pregnancy and after the birth of a child, including caring adoption programs.

Freedom to Marry. We support the right of all families to have equal respect, responsibilities, and protections under the law. We support marriage equality and support the movement to secure equal treatment under law for same-sex couples. We also support the freedom of churches and religious entities to decide how to administer marriage as a religious sacrament without government interference.

We oppose discriminatory federal and state constitutional amendments and other attempts to deny equal protection of the laws to committed same-sex couples who seek the same respect and responsibilities as other married couples. We support the full repeal of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act and the passage of the Respect for Marriage Act.

[theHandpuppet]

85. And right on cue...

http://www.usccb.org/news/2014/14-043.cfm
State Marriage Defense Act introduced in U.S. Senate Receives Strong Endorsement From USCCB Subcommittee Chairman
February 28, 2014

Archbishop Cordileone says federal government acting contrary to Supreme Court decision
Federal government ought to defer to state law where couples reside
Says state laws defining marriage as between a man and woman deserve respect

WASHINGTON—Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage, strongly endorsed the State Marriage Defense Act of 2014 (S. 2024) introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX). A companion bill (H.R. 3829) was previously introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representative Randy Weber (R-TX).

In a February 28 letter of support to Senator Cruz, Archbishop Cordileone noted that the Department of Justice is the most recent federal agency “to use a ‘place of celebration’ rule rather than a ‘place of domicile’ rule when determining the validity of a marriage for purposes of federal rights, benefits, and privileges.”

“By employing a ‘place of celebration’ rule, these agencies have chosen to ignore the law of the state in which people reside in determining whether they are married. The effect, if not the intent, of this choice is to circumvent state laws defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman,” said Archbishop Cordileone.

He noted that these federal agencies are acting contrary to the Supreme Court decision on the federal Defense of Marriage Act. “The Supreme Court’s decision last year in United States v. Windsor, however, requires the federal government to defer to state marriage law, not disregard it.” He concluded the bill is necessary because it “would remedy this problem by requiring the federal government, consistent with Windsor, to defer to the marriage law of the state in which people actually reside when determining whether they are married for purposes of federal law.” MORE

[hue]

12. Especially when it comes to the Catholic Church--richest organization in the world!

Catholic hierarchy continues to solicit & collect whatever their middle class & poor can give during Mass & other trillions of fund raisers. The Catholic Church & Vatican is going "bankrupt" & Pope Benedict just wasn't bringing in the $$.

(My own case in point, having told the diocese that I live in, in many ways, to stop sending me mailings for donations, calls & visits etc. they continue to solicit me for money at every turn.)

I say let them auction off a few gold chalices in their museums & art libraries to make ends meet--not to mention tie their own shoes & wipe their own @$$es rather have their valets do it!

[hue]

18. some food for thought. "How Rich Is the Catholic Church?"

http://www.slate.com/articles/business/moneybox/2013/03/catholic_church_and_pope_francis_religious_institutions_are_exempted_from.html

Pope Francis is not just the spiritual leader of one of the world’s major religions: He’s also the head of what’s probably the wealthiest institution in the entire world. The Catholic Church’s global spending matches the annual revenues of the planet’s largest firms, and its assets—huge amounts of real estate, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Vatican City, some of the world’s greatest art—surely exceed those of any corporation by an order of magnitude....

...The main thing we know about Catholic Church finance is that in cash flow terms, the United States is by far the most important branch. America is a rich country with a large population of Catholics. What’s more, America’s Catholic population is a religious minority. That’s meant that, rather than using political clout to influence the shape of mainstream government institutions, as in an overwhelmingly Catholic country such as Brazil, the Catholic Church in the United States has created a parallel state: a vast web of schools, hospitals, universities, and charities that serve millions of clients.

[Bluenorthwest]

21. Francis is Spirtual Leader of nearly half of Uganda, yet he is silent about the horrific

oppression of LGBT people there. He is culpable, he must be held accountable.

[Egalitarian Thug]

22. "I call you all here to announce that I'm turning over all Vatican materiels to the prosecutors

of all the nations we've offended with our centuries-long practice of ignoring and then shielding pederasts." "These predators have already been excommunicated and will be awaiting arrest at you earliest convenience."

Wake me up when he says something like that. Until then he's just another accessory to serial rapists and a pederast.

[Bluenorthwest]

27. The contruction of a pubic image that is counter to the reality is very difficult at best

and the situation with anti gay and anti woman wildfires burning makes it impossible. You folks will fail. To even attempt to distract from the horrors in Uganda and elsewhere just makes the organization look worse. It is a disgusting endeavor.

[Enthusiast]

29. Supply side economics is mythology.

The Pope recognizes this and workers of every stripe should recognize it too.

The American people should still be pissed off at Reagan for pushing this on us. And the American worker should be pissed off at both parties for pretending trickle down is effective decades after it has been proven ineffective.

[Enthusiast]

30. K&R! This post should have hundreds of recommendations!

[reformist2]

31. This pope won't let up in his holy war against the 1%! :)

[Renew Deal]

33. The pope is on a jihad

Ack!!!

[Renew Deal]

32. Maybe he meant nothing comes out for the pour.

[Thinkingabout]

38. As much negative posters try they will not destroy the paths Pope Francis leads.

Hopefully they can find the peace in which they seek.

[theHandpuppet]

39. He also leads people down the path of oppression and bigotry

But this is only a progressive political forum, after all. Nothing wrong with rah-rah threads devoted to someone who is an avowed misogynist and homophobe, and whose institution is one of the primary movers, if not THE primary promoter, of anti-woman, anti-gay laws around the world. Sorry about your loss in Arizona.

[Thinkingabout]

46. Sometimes one becomes a prisoner of their own hate, you can have a glass which is half full or a

glass half empty.

[Bluenorthwest]

48. Francis speaks hate againt my family, he is a prisoner of hate, his followers

in Uganda, which is over 40% Catholic, are expressing that hate he taught them with a terrible set of laws. When your hero attacks those I love, his glass is full of shit.

[Thinkingabout]

57. Are you saying Pope Francis speaks hate and therefore you speak hate?

By your standard it is okay to speak hate and perhaps this may be the reason others speaks hate against you and your family. Where does this leave you?

[theHandpuppet]

59. I think what it means is...

...as long as Francis touts the kind of bigotry that oppresses millions of women and GLBTs around the globe, some of us aren't obliged to kiss his feet. Especially not here. And especially not now when we are fighting tooth and nail against church-backed anti-gay legislation. That really takes some kind of gall.

[Bluenorthwest]

76. Saying his glass is full of shit is criticism of his bigoted views. Why do you defend

his bigoted views? I get to have an opinion, just like you straight folks, just like Francis. And in my opinion, when some jerk says my family is a tool of Satan and I say his opinion of my family is full of shit, he is the one engaged in hate speech. You claim I am supposed to simply let him rail against us? Why? He's your hero, not mine, to me he's just another dime a dozen anti choice, anti gay religious quack. Do you defend all the anti choice, anti gay religious figures on the right, or just this one?

[Bluenorthwest]

77. It means his bigoted opinions are full of shit.

Do you agree with his anti gay positions? How about his stance against contraception and reproductive choice? I think he's full of shit about birth control, abortion, his attacks on LGBT people, all of those positions are the opposite of my own and those of the Democratic Party. His positions on choice, contraception and LGBT rights are Republican positions. Those positions are full of shit.
He spent years attacking LGBT equality in Argentina. He threw the first stone, which his 'Lord and Savior' sort of suggested no one is fit to throw.
Your preacher does not have impunity to attack others without facing criticism. Deal with it.

[theHandpuppet]

58. Then I suggest Francis free himself from the shackles of his own bigotry

So he may drink from a full cup.

[NYC Liberal]

70. Yeah, well, I suspect if the same criticism were levied against

Republican politicians who hold the same bigoted views, the people criticizing wouldn't be called "haters".

If it were Senator Francis or Gov. Francis, his shit would not be welcomed here on a progressive forum.

[Thinkingabout]

75. Did you find hate in the original post or did you see sensible reasoning in

Pope Francis statement. I did not hear hate in the quote.

[TBF]

40. I think it overflows -

into their offshore bank accounts.

[Laelth]

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

-Laelth

[NaturalHigh]

56. I hope that American Catholic voters read this...

because our economy is becoming more favorable to corporations and more unfair to the poor.

[Beacool]

60. You tell them, your Holiness!!!

[Le Taz Hot]

62. When are you going to speak out against

the jihad against the LBGT community in Uganda, Pope?

This is one of those do-or-die moments and, so far, his silence is deafening.

I tried to give this Pope the benefit of the doubt but the fact that he's not said word one about Uganda sealed his fate with me.

[Jake2413]

67. I'm sorry but this guy needs a food tester....soon

[AikidoSoul]

81. Francis is the only pope I've ever loved.

[warrprayer]

84. Good Pope

Francis!