Pope stirs excitement in DC; calls for climate action

"I would point out that if you’re a believer in the Bible, one would have to say the Great Flood is an example of climate change and that certainly wasn’t because mankind had overdeveloped hydrocarbon energy.” — Rep. Joe Barton (Texas)

Is the pope heading down to Texas? Perhaps Mr. Barton can school him in science and theology.

Who elects these headcases?

There's no evidence of 'the great flood' just as no evidence of "Human Influenced Climate Change". Theory, speculation and profit drives the HICC theory.

Should we humans treat the planet better? Absolutely! It our home and some of us just love clean water, air, and pristine forests not just in my small corner, globally.

Religious righties hate the pope now because he actually PRACTICES the teachings of Jesus like they are supposed to do?

Is there any limit to their idiocy?

The charge of "sheltering abusers" is getting pretty old. If any organization threw people out on the basis of accusation alone, there would be nobody left to do anything in this world. There was never anything stopping victims or parents of victims from going to police. But they went to police about as much people not remotely Roman Catholic. The way people tell it, you would think the low reporting rates of rape and child sex abuse are all because of the Vatican. No. Its the fault of society at large. You can say "Catholic guilt" plays a role, but Protestants sure have not shaken that off have they?

Yes, the church erred on the side of forgiveness. It failed to press summary judgement based on a dearth of evidence. It shuffled priests around, but that was to avoid tensions, not shelter sex abusers. And like it or not, the abuse rates for Catholic priests are still lower than the general population. They would be lower still if priests were allowed to have wives and girlfriends though, and the way I see it, if there is any legitimate gripe against the Vatican, its that stupid prohibition against allowing priests to be normal sexual human beings which of course fosters them becoming abnormal sexual human beings.

The way people tell it, you would think the low reporting rates of rape and child sex abuse are all because of the Vatican. - comment

It is unfair to blame children who were too afraid and confused to report rape. The history of many of those crimes took place in a time before the internet and many at a time when the Church was beyond reproach. As far as the Vatican's responsibility goes, it is indefensible to pretend the highest authority was anything less than an accomplice that shielded lecherous child rapists for decades.

Pope Francis' message isn't the final resolution to the child rape issue. P Fran is bringing a reality check for many of the most duplicitous manipulators of religious power to ignore other crimes of financial, moral and environmental impact.

Although imperfect, at leaste P Fran is not lying to cover crime and isn't ignoring the hypocrisy of the 'gop-tea' in their campaign of ignorance and prejudice. That's why so many are so angry with his message. Many in the 'gop-tea' hatefully resent the Pope's suggestion of a reality that always makes them cry 'Marxist'. Worst, they want their country back to practice their prejudice without limit as Mr. Trump has shown repeatedly. No wonder why he is so popular with the 'gop-tea'.

That is what makes P Fran's visit so important and should shame the hucksters who mouth religion but practice greed as their creed, but it doesn't. It just makes them 'double-down' on prejudice. All of it is very enlightening for those who care enough to see the truth.

Religious righties hate the pope now because he actually PRACTICES the teachings of Jesus like they are supposed to do? Is there any limit to their idiocy?

Has nothing to do with it and everything to do with the Pope coming to our country and trying to act more like a politician than a pontiff. Other than that, no one has a problem with the Pope.

Pope coming to our country

the nerve!

and trying to act more like a politician than a pontiff

pontiff (Lat. pontifex) means bridge builder. How many of your favourite politicians build bridges?

@Bass Are you saying the pope shouldn't express opinions on economic matters and climate change? You were saying the other day how politicians are allowed to have firm and declared religious opinions. Aren't religious leaders allowed firm and declared political opinions, particularly if faith informs these political opinions?

Everyone is entitled to have opinions. Valid opinions build credibility. Unreserched poor opinions destroy it.

The pope can say or do whatever he wants. He is not in favor of abortion or same sex marriage. Is he vilified for those opinions? He also wants global equality. Is that even possible? Some of us work hard, some don't. Some are smart, some are not. Some make brilliant decisions and some can't even decide. Where should rewards be directed?

@kcjapan

It is unfair to blame children who were too afraid and confused to report rape

Its unfair to accuse me of blaming people I didn't blame.

I simply pointed out that the Catholic church did not stop anybody going to police, and that includes the parents and also the kids when they grew up. There are deep social reasons why people do not report these things. But in the rush to not blame society (themselves in other words) for it, they attempt to blame the Catholic church for something it never did. I never even read that they threatened excommunication to anyone who talked.

Lets face it. Western society is as intolerant of the promiscuous as it is of the victimized. The rule is silence, and after several hundred years of Protestantism, I think its unfair to blame the Catholic church that continuing state of affairs. The day western society never ever shames a person for consensual relations ( by such actions as elimination of the S and W words) is the day victims of sex abuse can speak without shame.

Cheered by jubilant crowds across the nation’s capital,

The 78-year-old pontiff’s whirlwind day in Washington enlivened the often stoic, politically polarized city. Excited crowds lined streets near the White House to catch a glimpse of the smiling and waving Francis as he passed by in his open-air “popemobile.” He seemed to draw energy from the cheering spectators, particularly the children his security detail brought to him for a papal kiss and blessing.

In keeping with his reputation as the “people’s pope,” Francis kept Obama and other dignitaries at the White House waiting so he could spend time greeting schoolchildren gathered outside the Vatican’s diplomatic mission where he spent the night.

Guess you missed these parts of the article bass. For myself, it was a proud day to be a Catholic, and was amazed at the way the networks covered him, and understood his basic mission -- as a pastor. Shame that was missed on some posters here.

'Yes, the church erred on the side of forgiveness. It failed to press summary judgement based on a dearth of evidence. It shuffled priests around, but that was to avoid tensions, not shelter sex abusers. And like it or not, the abuse rates for Catholic priests are still lower than the general population.'

A pretty grubby attempt to duck this filthy business. I'm sure you aware of the case of Cardinal Bernard Law to name but one who covered up disgraceful abuses and was later rewarded after arriving at The Vatican with a prestigious position.

In my own country predatory priests were shifted around in full knowledge they had abused children and many did again in new territory. This was abuse on a worldwide scale and complicity in the cover-up reached very high indeed.

Whether Catholic priests are less or more likely to abuse children isn't the issue. Covering up disgusting abuse is unforgivable. I find your expression 'the church erred on the side of forgiveness' stomach-churning.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/little-girl-becomes-new-face-of-immigration-after-popes-beckoning/

Has nothing to do with it and everything to do with the Pope coming to our country and trying to act more like a politician than a pontiff.

Yeah bass. The pope is encouraging americans to accept immigrants/ refugees is certainly more political than a religious gesture.

Pope allows young hispanic girl break through the crowd to approach him ( prob a cuddle fix). Her request to him was to prevent the US authorities from deporting her illegal dad. (See news link above).How much more political can that be??

Perhaps some US politicians should kindly pull this guy to the side and remind him that the US is still a nation with laws and borders, regardless of any religious aspects.

Yeah bass. The pope is encouraging americans to accept immigrants/ refugees is certainly more political than a religious gesture.

Jesus would never say anything like that. What nerve!

Wc626: Perhaps some US politicians should kindly pull this guy to the side and remind him that the US is still a nation with laws and borders, regardless of any religious aspects.

Why are you persecuting the Pope?

'Perhaps some US politicians should kindly pull this guy to the side and remind him that the US is still a nation with laws and borders, regardless of any religious aspects.'

I can imagine the kind of lawmakers you have in mind.

In the interests of diplomacy, would that be better before or after praising his church for opposing same-sex marriage and abortion?

Kinda puts a new spin on that GOP trope, "Christians are under attack!"

Some of us work hard, some don't. Some are smart, some are not.

Or some are smart and work hard but don't get paid enough to support their families. And some get stuck in this rut for the rest of their lives. Often because big 'job creators', finance pirates, and corrupt politicians have deemed that this is the way of the world. Their world.

In other news, the Pope has turned down lunch with the smart, hardworking, rich and powerful members of Congress in order to eat with the homeless of DC. Not only that, but to feed them.

Blessed are the meek: for they will inherit the earth.

Eloquently put, Mr P Monkey.

Problem is there'll be no world for the meek to inherit after the Tories/LDP/Republicans etc. have finished having their way with her....

Jesus would never say anything like that. What nerve!

Ha! Jesus doesn't pay my mortgage. Jesus ain't gona cough up the public funding for future illegal immigrants and refugees, put that BURDEN on the american tax payer sir!

Pope won't neither. I rest my case-

Ha! Jesus doesn't pay my mortgage. Jesus ain't gona cough up the public funding for future illegal immigrants and refugees, put that BURDEN on the american tax payer sir!

If only they, POTUS and Francis were WASPs, eh?

'Ha! Jesus doesn't pay my mortgage'

You could consider a career change. When I lived in the US, I was astonished at the number of rip-off artists paying off mortgages by name-dropping Jesus. Failed used-car salesmen with angel white teeth, bulging eyes and outrageous hairdos blabbering in tongues, 'healing' the sick, casting out demons from delirious Texans and asking for money.

That seems more in tune with the entrepreneurial spirit of the US right than some lefty Latino papist banging on about inequality.

LoL, whatever do you mean? Careers have nothing to do with it.

The fact is that normal law abiding US citizens don't wish to shoulder the extra cost for more illegal immigrants. It's bad enough Kerry announced the US would let in more syrian refugees over next couple years.

The pope is acting like a politician by encouraging the US to accept more and more immigrants. Vatican City isn't willing to do anything. Render to ceasar what is ceasar's. And render to god what is god's.

The Pope and Obama. Two zealot Lefty theologians. They make a good couple.

'The Pope and Obama. Two zealot Lefty theologians. They make a good couple.'

I know you have same-sex couples on the mind but I think you're barking up the wrong tree here. Keep watching the Batman TV show from the sixties.

Are you saying the pope shouldn't express opinions on economic matters and climate change?

He can if he wants to, doesn't mean congress has to follow what he says. Just say what you need to say and move on.

You were saying the other day how politicians are allowed to have firm and declared religious opinions. Aren't religious leaders allowed firm and declared political opinions, particularly if faith informs these political opinions?

That depends. The Pope is not a US elected official and an invited guest. He is allowed to speak freely, but his words have no bearings on US policy. He is in a sense a religious commentator and that's all.

In other news, the Pope has turned down lunch with the smart, hardworking, rich and powerful members of Congress in order to eat with the homeless of DC. Not only that, but to feed them.

Blessed are the meek: for they will inherit the earth.

And good on him. That's his job or do you think the Pope deserves special recognition for doing that?

You can say "Catholic guilt" plays a role, but Protestants sure have not shaken that off have they?

Ah, Peace Out, I groaned when I first read that, but then smiled some. I live in a country where the words "Protestant and Catholic" conjure up images of alcoholic anger and football violence. The general joke is that Catholics live with guilt while Protestants live with frustration. Every case of abuse by priests can be matched by those of abuse at boys clubs and orphanages. Abuse of children is non-denominational.

I was brought up as a Protestant but quickly became an Agnostic Fundamentalist. (No one knows less than me about the truth of things.) We sent our son to a Catholic primary school because it happened to be on our doorstep. I can't speak for my son, but it was a great experience for me as a parent. I found an atmosphere where parents had a loose but warm solidarity against authority, and particularly against the church hierarchy. The Pope (not the current one) visited our city when stories of abuse were hitting the media. He had a great parade which ended up at the Bishop's premises. These were near the school, and so the kids got marched up the road so they could see the man. There was a huge police presence outside the Bishop's place. The general question among the parents was, "Are they here to protect the Pope or to protect the kids." Some may find the humour distasteful, but I found it strangely comforting.

wolfpack,

the Pope and Obama. Two zealot Lefty theologians.

Only in Wing Nut World.

Ignorance clearly is bliss.....

Scott Walker said he ran for president because God wanted him to. Now he's bowing out of the race, saying that God wants him to.

Sometimes the whole thing seems absurd.

Why? If he believes so, then let him. He's not hurting anyone, chopping off heads, enforcing Christianity laws in his state, let the man say and believe what he wants. I find it absurd that anyone would make a fuss about it.