While I, too, welcome all kinds of actions by Francis, the Catholic Church, and other Christian churches and their leaders that lead to safety, respect and peace, I have reached a point where I don't feel the need to make arguments for progress based on the “rules” or beliefs of members of those churches and their leaders. The framing of arguments or progress in purely Christian terms or the assumption of the necessity to do that seems to reinforce the fiction that this is a Christian nation in the Christian nationalist mode. I welcome the good will of Christians in all things, but am tired of the seemingly pervasive assumption that logic, and therefore government and society, plays by Christian rules.
"When the Pope says something that is likely to reduce violence and discrimination against my community, I’m gonna loudly praise it and hope anyone within earshot has their heart softened." Amen.
I was raised as a Catholic and attended Catholic grade school and high school. I left the Church years ago for a number of reasons concerning the treatment of women and LGBTQ+ individuals, its accumulation of excessive wealth, pedophilia, etc. but I am happy to see the Pope issue statements such as this one. It's a step forward and the Pope has a huge audience and some influence. Morality and ethical behavior are always top down in any organization and let's hope that parish priests are listening.
I completely agree with your larger point, Charlotte, and admire you for your generosity of spirit regarding Francis’ comments on the trans community. But for some unknown reason your column struck me with the absurdity of all this talk about sex. Let’s take this sentence, “Over the years, he has periodically made headlines with his openness on topics of sexual morality.” Yes, he has, and he has moved the conversation in a positive direction. But, just for fun, why don’t we make some substitutions for “sexual morality”? How about “tooth decay”? Or “cocktail hour”? Or “hot air balloons”? What a stupid, stupid, stupid obsession sex is for them. I’m sorry we have to talk about it, and worse, that you have to live with the oppression they continue to impose on you.
I was in Buenos Aires for Christmas and New Years. We watched the Oscar nominated movie 1985 about the savage killings by military fascists in Argentina for generations. They kidnapped pregnant woman, held them captive and then murdered them after they delivered their babies and gave the babies to military fascists. They murdered over 30,000 mostly young anti fascists folks there. Pope Francis was intimately involved in the military murdering young people there. Their blood 🩸 is in his hands. Read the 2013 New Yorker article about it. This man is a war criminal. He deserves to be thrown in prison and rot there. Stop acting like he’s some pious holy man. He is NOT.
I just want to point out the Catholic church received $1.4 billion in COVID relief funds and nearly all of it went to legal defense of pedophile priests. So fuck the church. Burn 🔥 it down. Take away their power. Francis is evil in covering up pedophile priests. When he supported a pedophile priest in South America in 2017 I tweeted “Fuck the pope” for covering up pedophiles and Twitter suspended my Twitter account instantly and claimed it was because my account had some interaction with Russian bots- a cover up.
Remember when Francis said you can hit your children, just don’t leave bruises on their face.
I was in NY when he came to NY. I listened to his sermon. It was gross 🤮 rank patriarchy and abuse. May they all be wiped off the face of the earth, stripped of every penny, and reincarnated as worms.
I so appreciate your analysis here, Charlotte. Obviously you are not a leper, and I don't really believe in sin (Christian though I am), but politically this is SUCH a huge, positive moment for the LGBTQ+ community and your faithful allies. Thank you for being logical and pragmatic, and celebrating the wins.
I'm sorry it took me so long to be a paid subscriber. Better late than never -- your writing has been valuable to me.
As someone raised Catholic, I agree. The Church changes ever so slowly, and I feel like the arc bent more towards wisdom and compassion when Pope Francis was elected. This gives me hope. He is a scientist, and maybe he will eventually come around.
While I, too, welcome all kinds of actions by Francis, the Catholic Church, and other Christian churches and their leaders that lead to safety, respect and peace, I have reached a point where I don't feel the need to make arguments for progress based on the “rules” or beliefs of members of those churches and their leaders. The framing of arguments or progress in purely Christian terms or the assumption of the necessity to do that seems to reinforce the fiction that this is a Christian nation in the Christian nationalist mode. I welcome the good will of Christians in all things, but am tired of the seemingly pervasive assumption that logic, and therefore government and society, plays by Christian rules.
"When the Pope says something that is likely to reduce violence and discrimination against my community, I’m gonna loudly praise it and hope anyone within earshot has their heart softened." Amen.
I was raised as a Catholic and attended Catholic grade school and high school. I left the Church years ago for a number of reasons concerning the treatment of women and LGBTQ+ individuals, its accumulation of excessive wealth, pedophilia, etc. but I am happy to see the Pope issue statements such as this one. It's a step forward and the Pope has a huge audience and some influence. Morality and ethical behavior are always top down in any organization and let's hope that parish priests are listening.
Do not allow the perfect to be the enemy of good. Thank you for this timely reminder. I so appreciate you!
I completely agree with your larger point, Charlotte, and admire you for your generosity of spirit regarding Francis’ comments on the trans community. But for some unknown reason your column struck me with the absurdity of all this talk about sex. Let’s take this sentence, “Over the years, he has periodically made headlines with his openness on topics of sexual morality.” Yes, he has, and he has moved the conversation in a positive direction. But, just for fun, why don’t we make some substitutions for “sexual morality”? How about “tooth decay”? Or “cocktail hour”? Or “hot air balloons”? What a stupid, stupid, stupid obsession sex is for them. I’m sorry we have to talk about it, and worse, that you have to live with the oppression they continue to impose on you.
I was in Buenos Aires for Christmas and New Years. We watched the Oscar nominated movie 1985 about the savage killings by military fascists in Argentina for generations. They kidnapped pregnant woman, held them captive and then murdered them after they delivered their babies and gave the babies to military fascists. They murdered over 30,000 mostly young anti fascists folks there. Pope Francis was intimately involved in the military murdering young people there. Their blood 🩸 is in his hands. Read the 2013 New Yorker article about it. This man is a war criminal. He deserves to be thrown in prison and rot there. Stop acting like he’s some pious holy man. He is NOT.
I just want to point out the Catholic church received $1.4 billion in COVID relief funds and nearly all of it went to legal defense of pedophile priests. So fuck the church. Burn 🔥 it down. Take away their power. Francis is evil in covering up pedophile priests. When he supported a pedophile priest in South America in 2017 I tweeted “Fuck the pope” for covering up pedophiles and Twitter suspended my Twitter account instantly and claimed it was because my account had some interaction with Russian bots- a cover up.
Remember when Francis said you can hit your children, just don’t leave bruises on their face.
I was in NY when he came to NY. I listened to his sermon. It was gross 🤮 rank patriarchy and abuse. May they all be wiped off the face of the earth, stripped of every penny, and reincarnated as worms.
I so appreciate your analysis here, Charlotte. Obviously you are not a leper, and I don't really believe in sin (Christian though I am), but politically this is SUCH a huge, positive moment for the LGBTQ+ community and your faithful allies. Thank you for being logical and pragmatic, and celebrating the wins.
I'm sorry it took me so long to be a paid subscriber. Better late than never -- your writing has been valuable to me.
As someone raised Catholic, I agree. The Church changes ever so slowly, and I feel like the arc bent more towards wisdom and compassion when Pope Francis was elected. This gives me hope. He is a scientist, and maybe he will eventually come around.