Pope Francis Turning Into a Headache for Catholic Presidential Hopefuls

[rug]

Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio, and Rick Santorum must walk a fine line when dealing with the leader of their church.

Jan 28, 2015 5:50 AM EST
By David Knowles

It is a new era for the Roman Catholic church, much to the dismay of three of its Republican members who are poised to run for president.

On issues ranging from climate change to lifting the U.S. embargo on Cuba and the demotion of an anti-gay American bishop, Pope Francis has shown himself to be more liberal than many of the men who will likely seek the GOP presidential nomination, including Catholics such as former Senator Rick Santorum and Senator Marco Rubio.

The rift between the Vatican and American conservatives has been building ever since Francis was named to succeed Benedict, and flared dramatically over his 2013 critique of the bedrock GOP principle of free-market capitalism.

“Inequality is the root of social ills,” Francis said, adding, “as long as the problems of the poor are not radically resolved by rejecting the absolute autonomy of markets and financial speculation and by attacking the structural causes of inequality, no solution will be found for the world’s problems or, for that matter, to any problems.”

http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-01-28/pope-francis-turning-into-a-headache-for-catholic-presidential-hopefuls

[CurtEastPoint]

1. Jeb is Catholic?

[rug]

2. Yes. He converted from the Episcopal Church in 1995, twenty-one years after he married a Catholic.

[CurtEastPoint]

3. Thank you.

[Bluenorthwest]

4. Of course it's also been a problem for Catholic Democrats, there were calls to deny communion to

Kerry and other Pro Choice Democrats.
"Amid questions of how Catholic leadership will respond to the pro-choice senator, Kerry's archbishop -- Boston's own Sean O'Malley -- has refused to clarify a statement last summer that pro-choice Catholics are in a state of grave sin and cannot take communion properly.

Adding to the fray in February, St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke forbade Kerry from taking communion while campaigning in the area due to Kerry's stance on abortion and possibly stem cell research.

The two archbishops' admonishments shed light on the challenges faced by the liberal senator, as he tries to woo Catholics, which represent 27 percent of registered voters."
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/kerrys-communion-controversy/

Fact is, Bush, Rubio, Santorum and Francis agree on much policy, they all oppose LGBT rights vehemently and are stridently opposed to reproductive choice for women. It's cute to say the Pope is liberal, but that means you are defining 'liberal' as inclusive of anti gay and anti choice positions, which I do not accept. Bigotry and sexism are not liberal traits.

[rug]

5. The analysis is about Francis and his statements, not "it", whatever that is.

If you don't see the difference I can't help you.

At least you typed a post without the word Uganda in it.

BTW, do you know where you're posting this?

[okasha]

6. Burke is the Cardinal

Francis has just kicked downstairs. Twice.

[rustbeltvoice]

7. Policing here too, huh?