The new pope

[PedroPonyLikesCrisps]

So this is the guy who is strongly against gay marriage and adoption and of whom the Argentine president said that the church under his rule in Argentina was reminiscent of the inquisition and the dark ages.

Is this really the kind of guy we want running the most powerful religious organisation in the world?

I am sad he apparently has baggage.

In short: NO!!

In my view anyone so bigoted cannot be godly. Others may disagree though!

ADOPTION???? ADOPTION?????????

That wasnt a typo for abortion was it?

I guess I can understand the churches view (rightly or wrongly) on gays and abortion, but ADOPTION????? WTH is wrong with THAT???

No typo, that's genuinely his position.

Mind you, gay abortion would make for an interesting topic.....

A pope who (allegedly)endorses torture is not a new thing.the borgias would have been proud.

I'm not sure you have a say in it though Pedro :o. Any one of those Cardinals would be the same re: gay marriage and adoption, and I don't have a lot of faith in anything the Argentine president says, given her stance on the Falklands.

I wasn't very keen on the last Pope either, although when he was a Cardinal, he was apparently a liberal

The rhetoric from the Argentine government about him isn't neutral: he was a public critic of their actions. And indeed could have been classed as acting as ier enemy (eg lending his identity to help a persecuted individual escape).

Adoption, how odd?!

Why is it odd? He said that children should be adopted by heterosexual couples as it is good for families to have both a woman and a man within them.

His role is surely to set out what the Church sees as ideal. At least he's one of the few who has spoken publicly in a way that recognises that real people in real life do not necessarily live that way, but they are still valued members of the congregation.

It's less odd and more bigoted. Why shouldn't gay couples adopt if they can offer as a good a home as a heterosexual couple?

Any stance prejudicing against gay people is bad enough but when it comes from someone in such an 'esteemed' position it's verging on criminal.

You wouldn't be so blasé about it if the Church actively encouraged prejudices against women..... wait.... do they do that too?

I would have been more surprised if they'd elected a free-thinking Unitarian type. i don't see how a guy can become a cardinal without being conservative and bigoted.

I am more amazed they elected another old guy; we'll be doing this again soon.

And he's apparently against violence towards homosexuals, which is a teeny tiny glance in the right direction. Though being against them having the opportunity to adopt or get married pretty much negates any positives there.

'And he's apparently against violence towards homosexuals'

That's kind of the law, right?

Pedro,sadly it's a done deal. He's in & of course he has to stick to the party line.

He doesn't care if we disagree, nor does the church.

Of course it's the law, and its sad that everyone is so excited that he has such a liberal position on that.

It's sad that everyone is excited about the election of yet another bigoted anti women leader Feilfoo .

Liberal is NOT a word that applies to him!

What's actually sad is the tireless vocal RC-bashing. What do you hope to achieve? Support for one another? The 'conversion' of those of us who are still RC? You know, we do get it. Anyone who doesn't think like you is - bigoted... because that makes so much sense.

I'm starting to think it's YOU who are the bigots.

I get that not all of you are happy that the church or even any faith exists, and I also get your especial reservations, some/most of which I entirely share, but given that if St Francis himself were Pope you'd find a rock to throw, why should I take any interest in your particular murmurings this time around? You all said the same KIND of thing about the last pope and the one before...

And let me be clear. I don't give a flying FUCK about the Falklands.

Sieg

I am a Catholic. I am also gay.

I respect everyones right to follow their religion even if I disagree with its tenets.

However it is one thing to quietly state that these are the views of the church & quite another to make a large section of the said church feel evil outcasts. While at the same time covering up and enabling paedophiles to remain within the clergy so that the many many good works done by the church are overshadowed.

I will continue to pope bash until he comes up with a robust child protection strategy for the church & a full condemnation & prosecution of those responsible.

Well said sieglinde

I think it would be sad if places like MN were full of nothing but unquestioning adulation of the Pope and the practices of the Catholic hierarchy.

Or would it be better if it were like the 'good old days' before the internet when it was much easier for stuff to be swept under the carpet?

And another thing... the Catholic church is an unelected organisation which wields a lot of political power and influence around the world. It is only right that in a democratic society, its actions and policies should be questioned.

In fact, if it were a bona fide political party, it would probably be illegal for it to spout the stuff it does.

Of course it's not the only church / religion that this applies to.

Were you really expecting a pope who wasn't against gay marriage/gay adoption, and who was suddenly going to announce woman can become priests? You sound surprised about the popes beliefs.

Times change...society seems to change a little quicker than the Catholic church, though.

Lynette - I don't think anyone's surprised, no. What's sad is that so many people unquestioningly accept it.

Why do people assume that the Catholic Church should change to fit in with modern society? The Church preaches the Gospel which has an unchanging message. Many people can't accept this message which is up to them, but why insist that our Church bends to fit in with a society whos norms are quite often totally against everything the Gospel teaches?