I learned something today that changed what I think the Catholic Church CAN be.

[RandySF]

It was my life partner's idea a few years ago to send our son to a parochial school because I am not very religious and had reservations about what they would teach him about people who may be different. And, over time, they proved me wrong by teaching more general lessons about being kind to everyone. But it was today that I was floored by a frail, ninety-year old nun/counselor/spiritual advisor. A teacher informed me that this kind, mousy, meek lady to rides the municipal bus every day marched across California with Cesar Chavez in the 70's. And more recently, she took care of children in Juarez, Mexico during the height of the cartel wars. If this was how the Church worked globally, the world would be a much better place.

[pnwmom]

1. That's the kind of nun who taught me in high school.

A bunch of unabashed liberals who put their beliefs into practice and encouraged all of their students to do so, too.

I was also inspired by Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen of Seattle -- who in the eighties was demoted and made an example of for allowing the LGBT group Dignity to hold Masses in the Cathedral. So it's been a very long, painful wait for someone like Pope Francis to come along. He's not perfect by any means, but I'm having some hope that finally the pendulum might have swung again.

[BreakfastClub]

2. Nuns will be the Catholic church's salvation. nt

[a la izquierda]

3. You should read about Liberation Theology.

The Vatican, of course, did not like this idea back in the late '70s and '80s.
You have to know quite a bit about Latin Anerica and not be a rah-rah US supporter to appreciate liberation theology.
A strong stomach helps too.

[Bluenorthwest]

4. Another story. The RCC, including Sister Ancient, teaches that condoms are forbidden and in the US

members of that Church say 'Oh, that does not matter, we all use birth control anyway! It's fun that they say these crazy things'.
But what of other less affluent and educated places? Well, Uganda is 44% Catholic, focused on anti gay laws and has 7.2% of their population living with HIV, only 13% say they have ever used a condom because they are a sin. Over 60,000 Ugandans die of AIDS every year, this has produced about 650,000 orphans in Uganda. Recently Francis came to Congress to furrow his brow at people who want to be married. He said marriage is a 'threat to the family'. I think sick, dying and dead parents are a threat to families, I think any 'belief' that causes massive death is a threat to the family.

But the Church says no, best to let them 'go to heaven' rather than sin by using a condom. Aside from the anti gay bigotry and actions, how anyone can condone the spreading of fatal ignorance in Africa is beyond me. 'I am concerned with threats to the family'. Sure. Sure you are.

[cprise]

5. Their core identity revolves around denying women birth control

or even pleasure. They'll compromise on *many* issues now, but gender and birth control will be the last ones they ever reconsider.

Francis is being disingenuous when he defends the baby-machine policies but demands more action against climate change and greed. The environment can't sustain arbitrary numbers of people, and greed is empowered by huge populations of desperate low-wage earners.

[rug]

6. The causes, prevalence, and treatment of HIV and AIDS in Uganda is a lot more involved than you say.

http://www.avert.org/professionals/hiv-around-world/sub-saharan-africa/uganda

Your use of these human beings as props in an anti-religious tirade is revolting. Not to mention your ageist and misogynist characterization of this strong and admirable woman as "Sister Ancient".