Do you approve of the Pope's job performace?

[bluestateguy]

[WilliamPitt]

1. Let's see how long this one takes to get ugly

...3...2...1...

[bluestateguy]

3. That's not my intention

but if others decide to flame, I can't be held responsible.

[Padraig18]

7. A bit disingenous, bsg...

It's like throwing a hand grenade, and then saying it's not your fault that people didn't run away before it blew up...

You HAD TO KNOW that this would (or will) degenerate into another content-free, anti-Catholic flame fest! :eyes:

[WilliamPitt]

8. Of course not

There have been ten threads here lately with people ripping each other to pieces on this issue and hurling incredible insults. An 11th thread on the exact same topic will certainly add to the discourse. Your hands are clean.

[VelmaD]

11. Why do people have to throw fuel on this...

we actually managed to work our way around to having a mostly civilized discussion on the Mother Teresa thread the other day but it was difficult. There was much nastiness on the way there. And it seems like we always have to start over at the beginning every time a new thread starts.

[bluestateguy]

13. I refuse to be held responsible for anti-Catholic bigots

nor will I suppress discussion of a relevant issue simply because some people are prejudiced. This is a legitimate issue, given the Pope's health and capacity to carry out his duties, as well as the recent scandals.

I voted yes, by the way.

[Padraig18]

15. How, precisely, is it relevant? n/t

[bluestateguy]

18. This is how

The same way you would hold the leader of any institution to scrutiny if there was corruption or scandal within that institution, OR if the leader's health raised legitimate questions about his or her ability to do his or her job. The Pope is a man that hundreds of millions of people look to for moral leadership, so I think that is a fair question to ask.

[Padraig18]

19. Then why...

... does no one ever post a thread about the Chief Rabbi of Israel, or the Dalai Lama? Why is it *ALWAYS* the leader of MY church? :grr:

[bluestateguy]

31. Many people here do

People attack the government of Israel all the time--sometimes to the point of descending into Anti-Semitism--not so much the religion of Judaism because Israel is a secular state. People question the leadership of the Islamic faith and many people here regularly question the leadership of the Southern Baptist church.

[WilliamPitt]

17. And you didn't get an answer from the other 10 threads

[VelmaD]

23. Do we have to do this again?

Can we not all just agree that the Pope is right about some things (i.e. the war with Iraq) and wrong about others (i.e. birth control).

[Padraig18]

4. Boom!

:P

[knight_of_the_star]

5. LOL!

[Friar]

14. yup

Dunno why this is still up.

[knight_of_the_star]

2. Not enough options

He has done somethings I don't like, but he has also done things that I do.

[laura888]

6. Should this poll be limited to only catholics?

as a non-catholic, I don't feel I have the background/knowledge to form an opinion.

If catholics don't like their religion, they have plenty of options, right?

[Deja Q]

9. He's an antideluvian old fogie!

Mother Teresa was good in many ways, but please - she wanted people to stay in poverty. (of course, with the US being the prime example of a rich life, nobody can blame her...)

The pope is old-sk00l in his beliefs.

And his religion alone is repressive and downright annoying. (My ex was a devout Catholic who felt his being gay was a PUNISHMENT from God. I feel sorry for him, but I feel anger toward the people who shove this cretinous mythology down everybody's throats, saying it's their way or hell. x( )

Oh well. Not much I can do about this world except get annoyed by it and sign lots of ultimately worthless petitions to organizations who claim they'll change the world for the better... :-( (which they, in turn, sell my phone # and address to everybody else so I can receive tons of useless junk mail, whoopee! x( )

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

10. His job is head of the Catholic Church. Not being Catholic, I chose no

opinion. I could really care less.

[Octafish]

12. More than any single person, he beat the commies.

Remember, the Pope supported Lech Walesa and SOLIDARITY. He helped end the Soviet Union without violence.

[alcuno]

20. The Holy Father, John Paul II, with the help of the amazing people

of Poland, brought about the downfall of communism. And, unlike the Republicans, he never takes credit for it.

There are some areas where the Holy Father and I are not in agreement, but I just love that little guy.

[Padraig18]

21. Indeed

He is a man, with all that entails, and he has accomplished *many* marvelous things in a remarkable lifetime.

[w4rma]

16. Not just yes, but heck yes.

And not just because Pope John Paul II did everything he could to stop Bush and Blair from invading Iraq.

I hope John Paul II lives a few more years, at least.

Note, I'm a Baptist Christian, not a Catholic Christian.

[KittyWampus]

22. Like My Parents- The Pope Does The Best He Can

Even though my family life was/is terribly dysfunctional... I long ago realised that my parents did/do the best they can.

The Pope, who is Father to many, has done the best he could.

[lovedems]

24. as a catholic, had to vote yes

As a catholic I think the pope has done a fine job. I am not in agreement with him on everything, but I haven't found a person today that I can say I am in 100% agreement with. He is a peace loving man who has done alot of good in the world. He does what he thinks is right for humanity and lives the way he preaches. I cannot say that for alot of other religious leaders (save a few). While I don't agree with every teaching of the catholic church, I do have respect for the pope.

[CBHagman]

25. He's done a lot for Jewish-Christian relations...

...and is also strong in the areas of human rights and general social justice issues, such as fair treatment of workers.

But he should come out in favor of the ordination of women.

:bounce:

[IndianaGreen]

26. Fuck'ng A!

This Pope has done more to repair Jewish-Christian relations than any Pope in history! This Pope has been a staunch advocate for peace and human rights.

[tom_paine]

27. I was pleased with his 1992 policy of the Church admitting

after 400 years that the Earth, in fact was not the center of the universe.

Yes. I remember quite vividly being stunned when I read about it in the newspaper.

[kodi]

28. his papacy lit the fire that gutted the house of cards of soviet communism

the ascendency of a polish pope activated in the polish people a strain of nationalism that successfully challenged soviet communist hegemony in eastern europe.

from this polish pope came the gdansk shipyard strikes, solidarity, lech welensa and the first true worker challenge to the soviet union in their client states. this counter-revolution spread throughout the eastern block, with the eventual collapse of the soviet union.

that is quite an accomplishment from a man who led no armies.

i dont think that the poles would have aggitated so vigorously against communism without the infusion of nationalistic pride of being polish had the pope not been polish and had he not challenged the soviets about freedom of religion in eastern europe.

whatever one thinks of the doctrines of the catholic church, this pope helped humanity and promoted freedom where it had all but vanished.

and he was successful in this even if we still have many more rivers to cross.

[Darranar]

29. I don't know...

It's not something I've studied.

I try to defend Catholics from being singled out, but I don't knwo much about the Pope and don't want to argue about it without being informed.

[arcos]

30. JP2 has managed to move the Vatican forward to the 17th century... n/t

[dirk007]

32. Id like to see the

church back off their stance on birth control. Every religion wants to populate the earth with like minds.... However, sharp population growth is the biggest threat to the world today.


Dirk

[UnapologeticLiberal]

33. Depends on the issue

I agree with him on the war and the death penalty, but I disagree with him strongly on abortion and birth control.