19 Comments

As Catholic church doctrine begins to change to become less anti-LGBTQ, less anti-immigrant and more environmentally conscious (i.e., more like what Jesus would do), we may see people leaving the church in droves. That tells you everything you need to know about hateful people who embrace MAGA. Their churches are only a means to an end for them, to oppress others, not about true Christian principles and spirituality.

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American Catholics as a voting demographic already tend to be more liberal than mainstream Protestants, and definitely more so than evangelicals. It's the leadership that is backward here.

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I definitely don't mean Catholics like Biden or Pelosi. I'm thinking of those who are more inclined to believe Trump and not their church leadership, according to that bombshell recent survey. This also applies to Protestants and other faiths. As long as leadership is backwards and tells them what they want to hear, then they will stay in that church. The opposite is also true: many have left organized religion because of the leadership and their doctrines.

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Sakina, I left over 40 years ago. The church seemed half liberal at that time. I couldn't handle their stance on women in the clergy, abortion and LGBT right. Also, I was sick of church-going homophobes, racists and misogynists using religion as their crutch.

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He ain't heavy, he's my brother/sister.

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October 9, 2023
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Thanks, Rick!

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Thank you for the article on the Pope. As a recovering Catholic who left over the abortion issue back in the 1980's, I am so glad we have a pope now who standing up to useless and antiquated spiritual standards.

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Never underestimate how dangerous the American Catholic Church is! And I say that as someone who was raised Catholic. The insidiousness of the Opus Dei style Catholics is that unlike their ignorant, mouthbreathing Evangelical counterparts in the South these are really intelligent and educated people who know who to get rightwing policies in place to stay. I suspect if the Pope's move to liberalize continues we'll eventually see a breaking off of American Catholicism as the conservative Catholics over here simply will not accept the Church moving in that direction for real.

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Ha, that could be true. Reformation II.

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In a word; indoctrination. No thanks. Secular humanism over oppressive rule by organized religion.

If you are going to dress gay, at least act like one and fight for the LGBTQ+ population.

The papal couture line makes RuPaul look straight!. Bob Mackey on crack, for christ's sake. LOL.

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It appears he is trying. Catholic Fundamentalists are so backward. They ignore the head of their church and are disgraceful. And the wonder why so many people are “recovering Catholics”!!

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I never recovered.

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As a lapsed Baptist, I applaud any lessening of the hate towards the LGBT community and Women. Francis has done what he could to steer his flock towards the light and away from the fire. Just the laying of the groundwork for the future with an eye on greater tolerance is enough for the time being. As Shepard's of our souls, the church has experienced the downward trend of attendance and still the temperature towards gays and women hasn't been turned down. Wishing the Pope luck in the reform battles yet to come.

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Another non-practicing Baptist here!

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Understandable.

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The Catholic church is based on the Christian theology of Church Militant, Church Penitent, and Church Triumphant. Church Militant's in the US- and other nations- have become part of the Evangelicals of the Baptist church. They believe in using violence to achieve their goal of creating a Nationalist Religious order in the US. They are willing to destroy the Constitution in order to meet their goals. They say that God's law should be the all consuming law in the nation, replacing the Constitutions first amendment's ESTABLISHMENTS CLAUSE, often referred to as SEPERATION OF CHURCH AND STATE.

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The Pope has a continuing fight against the Vatican extremists ( Opus Dei etc.). He has been very aware of his “in-house” opponents & has taken security precautions . He chose not to live in the official Papal residence(Apostolic Palace) , where he would be living amongst entrenched extreme right winged staff. He has 2 Swiss guards who are outside his suite 24/7. The suite is in a hotel /guest house(House of Saint Martha), it is just outside the Vatican City walls.It is a modern building completed in mid 1990’s.

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This article is one of the most hopeful things I've read in a long time...thank you! THIS could actually get me back to church

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Megadonor the Pope of Christianity how much did he give to stop reproductive rights in Ohio, the rot of society the Pope or the Nat ionalist C hristians > Nat Cs donated $1M in favor of the yes vote, F the fucking Pope who is an Fn >Nat Cs, & F Christianity both are the scourge of society, My Religion: Meha4:20. When does the poison of religion end answer Never bc religious people beliefs don't change just their tactics F your religion & F your god s Anti-theist Atheist Apistevist me🌹😯😅🌞🌱💚💫

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