Now That The Pope (Catholic Church)...

[stepnw1f]

has decided what side it would take, on such a devisive issue, I ask what other Catholics are really feeling? It's a gut feeling I'm talking about, not what the Church has been teaching you all. What is your individualistic stance on the Catholic Church condoning discrimination?

[BR_Parkway]

1. He's against gay marriage because it's a form of birth control

[bif]

2. Who cares what he thinks?

To quote our great leader.

[ithacan]

3. actually, two thoughts

1. It is consistent with the teachings of the Church, which sees sex as meant for procreation and sex only within marriage sanctioned by the church. So I would never expect the church to say, gay marriage, no problem.

2. I do find troubling that the church tends to focus so much on issues of sexuality. I only wish they would spend so much time and effort pushing the social justice teachings of the church, which are much more important in terms of the teachings of Jesus and of the church overall than the obsession with sexuality.

[roguevalley]

4. given their track record over the centuries on sexual matters,

their hypocracy about the recent scandals, the Pope's
belief that this conduct is American, rather than a
wide spread world wide church phenomenon and their
abstenance from sex and marriage, at least theoretically,
they are talking out their asses.

[stepnw1f]

5. The social teachings are very important...

I grew up and around many Catholics, and that has been one very positive aspect of the Catholic Faith. I believe its universal: Do good to others, etc

[chemenger]

6. Judge not lest you be judged.

I'm no Biblical scholar, but I do know that on more than one occasion Christ made it quite clear that it is not within the province of man to judge another:

"... only the Father knows what is in the heart ..."
"... before you attempt to remove the speck out of your neighbor's eye remove the board from your own ..."
"... let he who is without sin cast the first stone ..."
"... be careful lest you be judged by the same measure as you judge others ..."

We are charged only with taking responsibility for our own damn selves and for forgiving the trepasses of others.

Ergo, here lies the reason why I can't stand religious fundies. They just don't get Christ's message (IMHO).

[stepnw1f]

7. I feel the same way

They preach, but don't practice what they preach.

[chemenger]

8. And another thing ...

These religious fundies, in pointing to homosexuals and anyone else who incurs their displeasure cast them as sinners, are using the Old Testament ... the same Old Testament of the Jewish people. The same Old Testament used by Temple officials to incriminate Christ and hand him over to the Romans. Then they point to all Jews and label them as Christ-killers, forgetting that Christ himself was born and died a Jew, and there were many Jews back then who grieved his fate.

Seems to me that something doesn't quite add up here.

[lupita]

9. I am Catholic, and I don't care what he thinks about gay marriage

Just like I don't care how he feels about birth control.
He is out touch, and too old to be leading the church.

Lupita

[orwell]

10. Catlicker

I was raised as a "catlicker".

I remember an early exchange with a nun that went something like this.

Me: Is the Pope ever wrong?

Sister: No. He is infallible.

Me: Why?

Sister: He talks to God. He speaks God's word to us and God's word is law.

Me: But sister, you talk to God everyday?

Sister: Many times a day.

Me: Doesn't that make you infallible too?

Sister: Did you finish your history assignment?

This is when I started to figure out that logic and faith were not comfortable bedfellows.

O

[skippysmom]

11. Another reason why the church is leaving me behind

I was raised a good Catholic girl, but it just seems like I part ways with the church in so many ways -- abortion, birth control, homosexuality, etc. I feel as if it is inappropriate for a group of celibate men to dictate what people and nations should do sexually -- particularly given that their track record on sexuality isn't so hot.

In other words, my political beliefs are in direct conflict with my religious beliefs -- and the former trumps the latter in my list of priorities.