Confidant of Pope Francis condemns US religious right

[tadoflamb]

A close confidant of Pope Francis, writing Thursday in a Vatican-approved magazine, condemned the way some American evangelicals and their Roman Catholic supporters mix religion and politics, saying their worldview promotes division and hatred.

Confidant of Pope Francis condemns US religious right

Certainly seems that way.

 

[Shiloh Raven]

Yes, it does seem that way. It's getting to the point, especially since Trump came into the political scene, where it's almost impossible to distinguish between conservative politics and evangelical Christianity.

 

[Norbert L]

I think since Moses and Pharaoh, religion and politics has always had it's fair share of division and hatred. This present world has made leaps and bounds recently with its' technological changes but people/groups behave the same.

 

[tadoflamb]

Yes, it does seem that way. It's getting to the point, especially since Trump came into the political scene, where it's almost impossible to distinguish between conservative politics and evangelical Christianity.

I can't tell the difference between a political and religious conservatives and like the Holy Father, Pope Francis (now gloriously reigning in Rome) I'm disappointed that some American Catholics have jumped on the bandwagon.

It has little if nothing to do with the Gospel.

 

[Godlovesmetwo]

Why cant there be more people like me in the world who never demonize anyone!

 

[tadoflamb]

Why cant there be more people like me in the world who never demonize anyone!

That was a ridiculous thing to say.

 

[Godlovesmetwo]

That was a ridiculous thing to say.

That's ridiculous! As long as you aren't demonising me, I don't mind.

 

[Godlovesmetwo]

I don't want the Pope to become a champion of the political left though. He's much more than that. Maybe its unavoidable?

 

[GUANO]

 

[Shiloh Raven]

I see Pope Francis as a champion and a stern advocate for marginalized people, such as the poor, Indigenous people, homosexuals and other LGBT people. He also shows compassion for and extends mercy toward Muslims and Palestinians, which I really respect. I personally think he embodies Christ's teaching of love your neighbor as yourself, love your enemies, and turning the other cheek. He speaks up for people who are often marginalized and suppressed because of who they are or because they believe in another religion. Overall, he has definitely caught my attention and caused me to take a serious look into Catholicism. His Christlike example has helped to restore my respect for the Christian faith (for the most part anyway because there are sects of Christianity that I simply can't respect).

 

[Godlovesmetwo]

I see Pope Francis as a champion and a stern advocate for marginalized people, such as the poor, Indigenous people, homosexuals and other LGBT people. He also shows compassion for and extends mercy toward Muslims and Palestinians, which I really respect. I personally think he embodies Christ's teaching of love your neighbor as yourself, love your enemies, and turning the other cheek. He speaks up for people who are often marginalized and suppressed because of who they are or because they believe in another religion. Overall, he has definitely caught my attention and caused me to take a serious look into Catholicism. His Christlike example has helped to restore my respect for the Christian faith (for the most part anyway because there are sects of Christianity that I simply can't respect).

I agree. The problem being that people who espouse left wing views can take possession of Pope Francis as if he is their poster boy. As if he only represents liberal views. But His stance is more Christian than liberal. Liberal views only skim the surface.

 

[Fantine]

We all had to listen to visions of Catholicism that seemed stern, sin-obsessed, and antithetical to the primary gospel message of Jesus in previous decades. Isn't it refreshing to hear something different, something that for once those of us who felt on the margins can cheer about?

So yeah, I'm not upset. It's karma--for everything we've had to listen to all these years. May these words open the eyes of fundamentalists--and if they don't, let them at least realize turnabout's fair play.

 

[Godlovesmetwo]

I think we have to be careful that our Christian stance is not based on hatred. Hatred of those who stand on the opposite end of the political spectrum.
As liberals we can assume that conservatives don't care about the poor and are not walking the talk. But many of them are. Which kind of spoils our need to pigeon-hole them. They are not all the same. You can see just as much hypocrisy on the left as the right.