ROME — Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina, a humble pastor and Jesuit known for his care of the poor, was elected the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church on Wednesday. He chose the name Francis.
He is the first non-European pope in modern times and the first ever from Latin America, now home to 42 percent of the world’s Catholics. He is also the first member of a religious order elected since the early 19th century.
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I was more excited yesterday when all I knew about the new pope is he's a Jesuit.
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I like that he is a Jesuit placing a value on intellect. I like his stand on the poor BUT his nasty and utterly false statement about gays calling them an attempt to subvert god's law induced by Satan and opposing even gay adoption, contraception etc. is ridiculous. I would never think the church would be pro choice but I might think a Jesuit would at least soften his position on the existence of the reality of the diversity sexuality while making darn sure that pedophile priests are not let off the hook. His ascension to the papacy does NOT obviate the fact that this unisex institution has TONS of NON abusive homosexuals within it. Either he turns his back on it, reassesses the Church's position on sexuality at least recognizing homosexual people as HUMAN BEINGS and not a stupid Medieval construct.
My point is that the pope is not just an average right winger that you can ignore. He is a man who has sway over votes and policy. Of course we lived with an anti gay church always. I worry that the progress gays have made can be erased on a whim -- if the masses are swayed by him and keep electing Republicans who would gladly obviate all this singular group has achieved.
This issue among many fuels my anger at all things Republican. It is their base and it is their platform to deny American human beings constitutional rights. THAT is the issue. Gays are targets of them. It's not so much Republican economics although it is inane as 2007 showed and does NOT work. It is, however, the SOCIAL ISSUES and the religious dogma it demands that sticks in my throat.
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Viva Papa!
The "rant" against Republicans as HHKitcher has called is NOT a rant. It is truth and if one cannot see that about the modern know nothing Repubicans than it is you that err. Their base IS their beliefs and the fact that one most take a pure stand on things is NOT the stuff of fiction. It is the way things are and why moderate Republicans are running from previously more moderate positions on social issues.
It matters. Who elections usher in matters. It matters for war, it matters for social safety nets that keep people alive AND it matter for entire groups of human beings who are denied what everyone else takes for granted. The pope while it is good he is from South American, show one the trajectory of the church's power, it also means that many who are Catholic will accept ALL of Catholic doctrine. As Argentina where he is from showed they ignored the Chuch's stance on gay marriage.
Republicans insult this group ALL the time and now the Pope has used the word Satin in reference? Sorry, but I think that is important. He is not just another right wing relgious extremist. He has sway over things political!
Make that Satan! ugh typos...Globe needs to allow people to change typo errors.