General Discussion

cali

(114,904 posts)

85. Pope Francis asks bishops: How can the Church help same-sex couples?

Sun Nov 17, 2013, 01:48 PM

Nov 2013

The Vatican on Tuesday launched an unprecedented worldwide consultation on the new realities of family life including gay marriage as part of Pope Francis’s efforts to reform the Catholic Church.

A questionnaire has been sent to bishops around the world asking them for detailed information about the “many new situations requiring the Church’s attention and pastoral care”.

“Concerns which were unheard of until a few years ago have arisen today as a result of different situations, from the widespread practice of cohabitation… to same-sex unions,” it said.

The 39 questions are unusual because of their non-judgemental, practical nature in what could be a signal of greater openness and increased pastoral care regardless of a believer’s background.

<snip>

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/11/05/pope-francis-asks-bishops-how-can-the-church-help-same-sex-couples/

He seems to be moving away from his anti-gay positions.

"Who am I to judge gay people?" is a move forward for the Church.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

117 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Why even atheists should be praying for Pope Francis [View all] cali Nov 2013 OP

No prayers... But I wish him well and to be successful JimDandy Nov 2013 #1

Don't do prayer. But as far as high priests in bad hats go, he's not doing too awful Scootaloo Nov 2013 #2

+1 Tien1985 Nov 2013 #3

I certainly wish him well, but... Lizzie Poppet Nov 2013 #4

Someone once frogmarch Nov 2013 #5

hehehe progressoid Nov 2013 #6

He is a tremendous breath of fresh air Aerows Nov 2013 #7

Francis has the same positions on social issues and rights as NYC Liberal Nov 2013 #8

No, he doesn't Aerows Nov 2013 #11

So Francis has better PR and does photo-ops. NYC Liberal Nov 2013 #27

The Church was so corrupt under Benedict Aerows Nov 2013 #34

I know. nt arely staircase Nov 2013 #48

Well, the article in the OP says he is about to issue an encyclical on "care for the planet" MH1 Nov 2013 #87

Benedict was better, on a "truth in advertising" basis. FarCenter Nov 2013 #20

I'd like to believe that the nuns that help the poor and the sick Aerows Nov 2013 #22

Pray to What/ Who Heather MC Nov 2013 #9

I'm not even going to waste my time reading the article because of the ridiculous title alone. Vashta Nerada Nov 2013 #10

It's not about atheists. musical_soul Nov 2013 #90

It's an offensive title. Vashta Nerada Nov 2013 #91

Of course a theist is going to plea that atheists pray. longship Nov 2013 #12

You summed it up nicely...thanks! Morphia Nov 2013 #53

Uh no, for the same silly reason atheist don't belong in a church. giftedgirl77 Nov 2013 #13

What giftedgirl77 said. BlueJazz Nov 2013 #84

Happy to praise, no need to pray. wickerwoman Nov 2013 #14

what is this, some kind of trick?? BOG PERSON Nov 2013 #15

I'm not Catholic, or even religious, but I like this guy. He's moved the needle ... Scuba Nov 2013 #16

Yeah... needle moved to "be nice to disabled people" and sibelian Nov 2013 #18

It's better than Aerows Nov 2013 #23

Well if that isn't damning with faint praise I don't know what is... sibelian Nov 2013 #50

How is ANY of this even vaguely interesting? What, he believes mildly sensible things? sibelian Nov 2013 #17

I'm going to go out on a limb Aerows Nov 2013 #24

No and no. Don't pray to any big daddy in the sky. n/t RebelOne Nov 2013 #47

No. Well, sort of, if you count wibbly Scottish Episcopalianism as a religion. sibelian Nov 2013 #54

Just what would that have to do with anything? cleanhippie Nov 2013 #67

I did, and what Pope Francis says is in line with traditional Catholic doctrine.. Humanist_Activist Nov 2013 #76

I hope he is successful Uncle Joe Nov 2013 #19

Fuck that. Obama is no Progressive giant, but he supports equality for women and LGBT. PeaceNikki Nov 2013 #21

+1000 Vashta Nerada Nov 2013 #26

That whole piece linked in OP is nothing but fluffy bullshit. PeaceNikki Nov 2013 #28

All the pope threads that have been posted in the last week have been nothing but fluffy bullshit. Vashta Nerada Nov 2013 #29

Agreed. This one doesn't even have a single 'news' or current event twist to it. PeaceNikki Nov 2013 #31

Oh good. It's been a couple of days since we've had a thread glorifying Pope Photo-Op...nt SidDithers Nov 2013 #25

Pope Photo-Op? Aerows Nov 2013 #30

Religious leaders should be doing the first three things anyway. Vashta Nerada Nov 2013 #33

It's quite disgusting to see a bigot praised here constantly. NYC Liberal Nov 2013 #35

But he drives a Renault!!... SidDithers Nov 2013 #36

Any other totally pointless activities you'd like to advise me to do? Warren DeMontague Nov 2013 #32

Warren's going to Hell!! Warren's going to Hell!! Kaleva Nov 2013 #57

which explains the bucket. Warren DeMontague Nov 2013 #99

They say that the eyes are the windows of the soul. janlyn Nov 2013 #37

My oppinion will change when he apologises for homophobic bigotry, anti-choice BS, paedophilia, idwiyo Nov 2013 #38

Real atheists don't pray. Like how gangsters don't dance we boogie. bravenak Nov 2013 #39

My feelings exactly..... paleotn Nov 2013 #44

Exactly. bravenak Nov 2013 #46

Pope Francis is somewhat to the poor as Democrats should be. It is surprising to read Thinkingabout Nov 2013 #40

Democrats treat homosexuals as human beings. Vashta Nerada Nov 2013 #41

i am not so sure you are right in this. Thinkingabout Nov 2013 #43

The Pope built his reputation in Argentina as a fire breathing activist opposing marriage equality Bluenorthwest Nov 2013 #71

Just as you have opinions Pope Francis gives opinions and statements, things change over time Thinkingabout Nov 2013 #74

Uhm, his opinions are those that were put in the Catechism of the Catholic Church... Humanist_Activist Nov 2013 #77

So, are you saying if a person says or does one thing you do not agree with then the person is Thinkingabout Nov 2013 #79

You are comparing a bigoted opinion to an innate trait? Humanist_Activist Nov 2013 #83

Here you go, now you are graded by your opinion, you might be a bad person who is bigoted. Thinkingabout Nov 2013 #86

Is there something wrong with judging people by the beliefs they hold, particularly... Humanist_Activist Nov 2013 #88

Exactly, this was my point, you expressed your opinion, sounded bigoted and one should Thinkingabout Nov 2013 #97

What bigotry did I express? n/t Humanist_Activist Nov 2013 #98

You listed several issues of your dislike of Pope Francis, I did not see your appreciation of his Thinkingabout Nov 2013 #101

What a horrific thing for you to say. Bluenorthwest Nov 2013 #103

I thought the same about several post about Pope Francis. Thinkingabout Nov 2013 #106

What Francis says about gay people being an 'attack on God' is hate speech. He is free to apolgize Bluenorthwest Nov 2013 #102

Your knee jerk reaction speaks for itself. You dont like attack on your family members and you want Thinkingabout Nov 2013 #104

Why the fuck should a LGBT person apologize for attacking a homophobe? Humanist_Activist Nov 2013 #112

If you like attacking others and helps you then by all means make yourself happy, if you don't Thinkingabout Nov 2013 #115

while they compromise on food stamp cuts, etc. G_j Nov 2013 #56

What actual help has he offered to the poor? Words and words alone? Bluenorthwest Nov 2013 #65

So sorry that he isn't perfect Courtesy Flush Nov 2013 #42

This Episcopalian has included the Bishop of Rome in my prayers at mass for several weeks now arely staircase Nov 2013 #45

Offensive headline scheming daemons Nov 2013 #49

Agreed. The whole piece is offensive and not political, despite hosts' opinions. PeaceNikki Nov 2013 #55

GD Hosting is a joke... SidDithers Nov 2013 #61

GD hosting is and always has been a joke. But currently I think the 'hosts' are intentionally Bluenorthwest Nov 2013 #64

That was a disgusting lock. Arugula Latte Nov 2013 #92

Yup... SidDithers Nov 2013 #111

Wow talk about a disgusting double standard giftedgirl77 Nov 2013 #107

Then there's this one... SidDithers Nov 2013 #109

Ugh, what the hell? giftedgirl77 Nov 2013 #113

"Praying is the act of a deluded mind. It is talking to oneself."... SidDithers Nov 2013 #60

I quite like the guy Riftaxe Nov 2013 #51

He says gay families are 'an attack on God' and that gay parenting should not be legal because Bluenorthwest Nov 2013 #63

Pope Francis asks bishops: How can the Church help same-sex couples? cali Nov 2013 #85

He should then instantly fire those Bishops who have been attacking gay people in the press Bluenorthwest Nov 2013 #100

Things are not black and white. musical_soul Nov 2013 #94

He is much better than his predecssor LostOne4Ever Nov 2013 #52

no silly. you pray to steve buscemi! dionysus Nov 2013 #95

For those of you comforatbale with the Alec Baldwin Lexicon and anti gay attitude, Francis is great! Bluenorthwest Nov 2013 #58

Agreed. But the defense of Francis is no surprise. NYC Liberal Nov 2013 #75

Not a big deal. If people want to pray for him, that's fine. If not, that's fine too. Kaleva Nov 2013 #59

The SOP of General Discussion says no threads about religion, why are the current hosts not Bluenorthwest Nov 2013 #62

I concur. PeaceNikki Nov 2013 #66

If the Pope was a politician, and people here still supported him, Vashta Nerada Nov 2013 #70

It's more than a free pass, they allow promotion of him in GD where religious subjects are Bluenorthwest Nov 2013 #72

Touche. Vashta Nerada Nov 2013 #80

Defender of child rapists, persecutor of women and homosexuals, sounds like a great guy. nt Demo_Chris Nov 2013 #68

Says the leader of the proto-typical multi-national corporation... Wounded Bear Nov 2013 #69

In the first place, atheists don't pray. MineralMan Nov 2013 #73

Well, as a leader to one of the world's largest religions, one would think that he would have Vashta Nerada Nov 2013 #81

True enough. MineralMan Nov 2013 #82

I don't pray…the pope has control of many people's minds and hearts…he would do well to.. Tikki Nov 2013 #78

Why do I have a horrible feeling for Pope Francis's safety? musical_soul Nov 2013 #89

Instead of praying, I think I'll hop on one foot and snap my fingers. Arugula Latte Nov 2013 #93

No. RedCappedBandit Nov 2013 #96

I'm not Catholic but an Episcopalian. Fallen Away when we Invaded Iraq KoKo Nov 2013 #105

Yep. I pray to Zeus every night for the Pope. stopbush Nov 2013 #108

The more I hear about him, the more I like him. sabrina 1 Nov 2013 #110

This centuries old practice of melding the church and the Establishment needs to be shaken up... WCGreen Nov 2013 #114

says they dude at the head of the single wealthiest organization in the world TorchTheWitch Nov 2013 #116

Just have to stick my nose into and old thread. defacto7 Nov 2013 #117