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April 19, 2005

The new Pope

Full Disclosure - I am Catholic. I don't practice Catholicism very well, but I am very much a Catholic.

I am appalled, dismayed and disgusted by all the people in the Blogosphere who are damning the new Pope Benedict because he is not a liberal willing to say that abortion is okay for Catholics. Or, that he doesn't appear to be in favor of female priests. Good Lord - he just got elected Pope today - give him a break, already.

And, by the way - Catholicism is a very old religion - the first Christian religion, and it started with St. Peter. People who don't like the Church's Doctrine can leave any time and join a church that matches their beliefs better. There are plenty of religions out there willing to change what is good and bad to get more adherents - like the Unitarians, and more and more, Episcopalians.

Why is it okay to slam Catholics? Why is it okay to throw fits because the Church is not going to say that homosexual marriage is okay or because the Church (hopefully) will never allow abortion except to save the life of the mother (not the mental health, but the life) or that the Church will never say that sex outside of marriage is okay.

That is the entire point of a religion - to set moral standards - not to change standards to make members feel less guilty.

What many non-Catholics do not understand and do not realize is Catholics understand that we are all sinners. We aim to follow Church doctrine, but if we fail, we can ask for and gain forgiveness through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Lefties, righties, middle of the road people - this is our faith, our religion. You have no right to stomp your feet and tell us that it should be this way or that way.

It's not like Catholics are trying to force the world to follow Sharia law.

So cut it out.

Posted by Beth at April 19, 2005 08:49 PM