I have a question for Catholics.

[Siddhartha]

I just read this artilcle, AP Poll: New Pope Should Push for Change , and it had me wondering what changes would these people like to see.

If you are Catholic, what changes if any would you like the next Pope make?

Please only post in this thread if you have something positive to contribute.

 

[OverVolt]

I remember hearing something about changing it so that priests can marry, but i really doubt that will happen. Maybe they will relax their stands on stuff like birth control.

 

[psiu]

No changes.

Some of the topics could be changed, but I don't see why they should be (celibacy for priests, women clergy), others, if they were to change, go against everything the church is to stand for (abortion/euthanasia).

It's not a damn democracy, people can either believe and follow the teachings, or leave if they don't believe human life is special, IMO.

Some of the articles are ridiculous, how the Pope (and by extension the church) are "responsible" for the spread of AIDs in Africa/the gay community because of the stance against condoms...where it is left out that the stance is for faithful marriages and celibacy outside of marriage. No, tons of promiscous sex would be responsible for that. Of course accountability for one's actions is such a quaint idea nowadays.

Not too mention, there aren't a whole lot of Catholics in Africa right now anyway nor is there much access to TV/radio.

Personally I hope a for strong pope, who even if he doesn't come up with any deep insightful commentaries, can simply crack down on enforcing and educating regarding the church's views; i.e., if you want to be Catholic, you are against abortion. End of story. I was pissed that our illustrious governor Jennifer Granholm came out with her BS sympathies for the pope as a Catholic (she's like Kerry, claims to be Catholic, yet doesn't understand some of the basic concepts and doctrines, like life=sacred, Pope=always right).

Err....so, that's my answer, I guess. No changes other than a better job perhaps of hammering home core beliefs AND why they are core (and unchangeable) beliefs.

Hopefully it's positive.

 

[Zugzwang152]

I'd like to see Catholic priests be allowed to marry. I suspect that would drastically decrease their tendency towards molestation of little boys. A great many Protestant denominations allow and most encourage the practice.


<--- Christian, but most definitely not Catholic.

 

[Sheepathon]

away with celibacy + tolerance for gayness = progressive pope

 

[Siddhartha]

My request for only positive posts is an effort to keep this thread from becoming another ATOT flame war and hopefully to get answers to my question.

 

[aidanjm]

Originally posted by: Zugzwang152
I'd like to see Catholic priests be allowed to marry. I suspect that would drastically decrease their tendency towards molestation of little boys. A great many Protestant denominations allow and most encourage the practice.


<--- Christian, but most definitely not Catholic.

Apparently during the first 1000 years of the church there was no celibacy requirement and married males were free to be priests.

I don't see why the elimination of the celibacy requirement will have much affect on molestation rates.

 

[Hossenfeffer]

In the back of my mind, I kinda hope for the random Roman Catholic guy, who's not a bishop, cardinal, or anything else.

I'd like to see a continued progressive stance on a wealth of issues, particularly homosexuality. It's not my thing, but I'd prefer that we all just get over it and move on. I know too many wonderful homosexual individuals. People I cherish and care the world for. The thought that these extremely loving people are in some way sinning just boggles my mind.

 

[Zugzwang152]

Originally posted by: aidanjm

Originally posted by: Zugzwang152
I'd like to see Catholic priests be allowed to marry. I suspect that would drastically decrease their tendency towards molestation of little boys. A great many Protestant denominations allow and most encourage the practice.


<--- Christian, but most definitely not Catholic.

Apparently during the first 1000 years of the church there was no celibacy requirement and married males were free to be priests.

I don't see why the elimination of the celibacy requirement will have much affect on molestation rates.

People have natural sexual tendencies and needs. If they have a spouse or other loved one to satisfy their needs, they won't have to do dirty things in secret.

 

[oboeguy]

Originally posted by: Zugzwang152

Originally posted by: aidanjm

Originally posted by: Zugzwang152
I'd like to see Catholic priests be allowed to marry. I suspect that would drastically decrease their tendency towards molestation of little boys. A great many Protestant denominations allow and most encourage the practice.


<--- Christian, but most definitely not Catholic.

Apparently during the first 1000 years of the church there was no celibacy requirement and married males were free to be priests.

I don't see why the elimination of the celibacy requirement will have much affect on molestation rates.

People have natural sexual tendencies and needs. If they have a spouse or other loved one to satisfy their needs, they won't have to do dirty things in secret.

Then why aren't they doing grown women instead of children? Your argument makes no sense. Molestation is not about sex, AFAIK.

The Church, is OK with homosexuality, but is opposed to certain acts that tend to go with it. So I was told by a priest (one of the sharpest people I know).

(<--- straight, RC)

Edit: P&N?

 

[moshquerade]

i don't think with the appointment of a new Pope that there will be sweeping changes.
i would like to see acceptance of homosexuals because i don't feel they choose that lifestyle. i feel it is inherent.
also, i do think their should be revision to allow women priests. there is a severe shortage of priests and if they are not going to allow priests to marry, they have to do something else drastic to address this shortage.

other than that, i don't think there is anything that has a chance of changing.

 

[Zebo]

You guys want "progressive" go be a protestant... there's like over 1000 denominations you can choose from. JC 's teachings should'nt change w/ political winds...

One thing I like to see is a policy shift back to allowing clergy to get married which was abolished in 1553 due to currupt pope who did'nt wnat to support for family of deceased clergy.

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: Zebo
You guys want "progressive" go be a protestant... there's like over 1000 denominations you can choose from. JC 's teachings should'nt change w/ political winds...

One thing I like to see is a policy shift back to allowing clergy to get married which was abolished in 1553 due to currupt pope who did'nt wnat to support for family of deceased clergy.

i dunno, when you are born, raised in a religion, you tend to stick it out, and not go for the religion of the week. i know some people change religions, but i feel a dedication and have remained.

 

[Modeps]

#1) Priests should be able to get married.
#2) Women should be allowed to be priests.

There's really not anything else.

 

[Spamela]

IMHO:

married priests - wouldn't bother me. would be a good
thing if it increased the number of priests.

female priests - if you want this, become an Episcopalian.

greater crackdown on child molestors - they've done a lot &
need to keep it up.

homosexuals - the church is already pretty tolerant; nothing needs to change.

birth control - fine as is.

You guys want "progressive" go be a protestant... there's like over 1000 denominations you can choose from.

i think the number's closer to 30,000, LOL.

 

[FlyLice]

Originally posted by: Sheepathon
away with celibacy + tolerance for gayness = progressive pope

Believing gayness is a sin means you are intolerant of people who choose to live gay lifestyle?

 

[FlyLice]

Originally posted by: moshquerade
i don't think with the appointment of a new Pope that there will be sweeping changes.
i would like to see acceptance of homosexuals because i don't feel they choose that lifestyle. i feel it is inherent.
also, i do think their should be revision to allow women priests. there is a severe shortage of priests and if they are not going to allow priests to marry, they have to do something else drastic to address this shortage.

other than that, i don't think there is anything that has a chance of changing.

So you want to rewrite the Bible/change the status quo of 4000 years because YOU believe gayness is not a choice?

 

[Sqube]

They definitely need to crack down on the priest molestation situation, but I always found it kind of silly that a lot of people seemed to operate under the belief that Catholic priests were the only ones molesting small children. But that's neither here nor there.

I would like to see a bit more tolerance towards homosexuals, seeing as I'm also one of the people who believe it's more a genetic predisposition than anything else.

I can't help but be a little perturbed at requests for "modernizing" the Church. That just sounds like a different way of saying "cater to our whim of the minute."

 

[DougK62]

My mom is Catholic and she said that she wants the new pope to sell a bunch of the Catholic treasures to museums in order to raise money for humanitarian stuff. She'd also like to see women allowed to be priests. She thinks that priests should not be allowed to marry.

 

[Miramonti]

Let priests marry. Why such a gift from god should be held back from them is to me cult-ish.

The church has lost the ability to communicate with todays society because of its self-imposed regulations that have nothing to do with helping to expand others' faith in god, or for that matter helping to expand priests faith in god.

These restrictions should have never existed and shouldn't exist today.

 

[nakedfrog]

They should at least allow the usage of condoms.

 

[osiris3mc]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog
They should at least allow the usage of condoms.

I agree, there are too many Catholics with 5-7 children, even today. These are ardent Catholics that follow the rule of no contraception and this hurts the family in the long run - as they don't have the financial stability to raise so many children.

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: FlyLice

Originally posted by: moshquerade
i don't think with the appointment of a new Pope that there will be sweeping changes.
i would like to see acceptance of homosexuals because i don't feel they choose that lifestyle. i feel it is inherent.
also, i do think their should be revision to allow women priests. there is a severe shortage of priests and if they are not going to allow priests to marry, they have to do something else drastic to address this shortage.

other than that, i don't think there is anything that has a chance of changing.

So you want to rewrite the Bible/change the status quo of 4000 years because YOU believe gayness is not a choice?

i cannot rewrite anything

and you believe homosexuality is a choice?

 

[FlyLice]

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: FlyLice

Originally posted by: moshquerade
i don't think with the appointment of a new Pope that there will be sweeping changes.
i would like to see acceptance of homosexuals because i don't feel they choose that lifestyle. i feel it is inherent.
also, i do think their should be revision to allow women priests. there is a severe shortage of priests and if they are not going to allow priests to marry, they have to do something else drastic to address this shortage.

other than that, i don't think there is anything that has a chance of changing.

So you want to rewrite the Bible/change the status quo of 4000 years because YOU believe gayness is not a choice?

i cannot rewrite anything

and you believe homosexuality is a choice?

Yes.

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: FlyLice

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: FlyLice

Originally posted by: moshquerade
i don't think with the appointment of a new Pope that there will be sweeping changes.
i would like to see acceptance of homosexuals because i don't feel they choose that lifestyle. i feel it is inherent.
also, i do think their should be revision to allow women priests. there is a severe shortage of priests and if they are not going to allow priests to marry, they have to do something else drastic to address this shortage.

other than that, i don't think there is anything that has a chance of changing.

So you want to rewrite the Bible/change the status quo of 4000 years because YOU believe gayness is not a choice?

i cannot rewrite anything

and you believe homosexuality is a choice?

Yes.

i don't, because why would someone choose to live with the ridicule and stigma people like you place upon them?