Pope Francis--Loved by the World, Dissed by House Republicans

[whateyethynk]

This is copied from my blog. Original blog post w/ photo can be read here: http://whateyethynk-politics.blogspot.com/2014/08/quick-note-pope-francis-loved-by-world.html

With the gridlock that has plagued Congress for the past 5 1/2 years, the news that another piece of legislature is being held up in the House is hardly big news, but this one rates some notice:

Representatives John Larson (D-Connecticut) and Pete King (R- New York) introduced a resolution congratulating Pope Francis on his election and recognizing "his inspirational statements and actions." The measure, which is symbolic only, has 221 sponsors--202 of those sponsors are Democrats.

The resolution was referred to the House Foreign Affairs Committee, which has refused to act on it. One House Republican, who is unnamed in a Religion News Service report, said the GOP considers the pope to be "too liberal." This same lawmaker is quoted as saying that his fellow Republicans have complained that Pope Francis is "sounding like Obama" and were unhappy that the pope had voiced a negative opinion of his party's "trickle-down economics" platform. He said conservatives consider that sort of rhetoric to be "politically charged."

Nearly half of all resolutions introduced in the past two years have been voted on and passed by the House. A symbolic resolution praising the head of the Catholic church can't even make it out of committee in Washington.

There is so much wrong with this, that I don't know whether to laugh or cry. So I'm just going to roll my eyes, shake my head and sigh for the shallow and petty mind-set that has infected our modern day Republicans.

If the Pope isn't good enough for you, then maybe the problem isn't the Pope.

[Siwsan]

1. I read somewhere, 'If they think the Pope is too liberal, wait until they meet Jesus'.

Probably not the outcome they are expecting.

[whateyethynk]

6. Great...

...line. I'm going to see if I can find who said it. Even if I can't, that's still a great answer. Thank you!

[Thinkingabout]

2. It should be shameful to every Christian to look upon the Pope who supports efforts to help the sick

and poor. This is not the current Christian Republican platform. This group is on the wrong path for a Christian, Jesus taught to love everyone and aiding the sick. If the current Christians followed the teaching of Jesus they would not be able to hate people of color and anyone who does not follow the sick hateful treatment of anyone who does not follow the hate platform of republicans. The republicans also must "protect" the wealthy even though this is only one percent of the population, ergo they are against themselves.

[skepticscott]

3. The Pope has spouted bigoted rhetoric

concerning LGBT rights for a very long time, and he fully supports Catholic teachings in that regard, which mandate that an entire segment of the human population be deprived of their fundamental and equal rights.

So no, the pope is no "good enough" for me. And no, the problem is not with me. Unlike some here, I haven't taken the cowardly position of waiting until a meaningless conference this fall before deciding that the pope and the organization he leads are blatantly and rabidly bigoted.

The irony of that silly, staged photo-op on your blog page has probably escaped you.

[rug]

4. No, I have to disagree.

The problem is indeed with you.

[AtheistCrusader]

5. Sure, keep defending the Vatican's super-mammal bigot.

He is on the record, many times with his bigotry.

Defend away.

[rug]

10. The Vatican can take care iof itself.

The post was about a problem in this room.

I'll just step out of the way of your projecting.

[AtheistCrusader]

11. The house republicans problem is that the pope isn't far-right like his predecessor.

I would point out he's not so different after all. Particularly where civil rights come into play.

[trotsky]

7. "If the Pope isn't good enough for you, then maybe the problem isn't the Pope."

The pope isn't good enough for me. I support marriage equality and the rights of our LGBT allies to enjoy loving relationships. He opposes both.

So is the pope still not the problem?

[whateyethynk]

12. But, there is evidence that the Pope is moving toward more acceptance.

Yes, the moves he has made are very small, but they indicate a more open attitude and hope for the future. The church is thousands of years old, steeped in its own brand of bigotry, but THIS pope has at least made overtures of acceptance. It won't happen overnight; but he has put a tiny crack in the wall.

Republicans, on the other hand, choose to ignore him because is compassionate toward the poor and too much like "Obama." Their refusal to congratulate him on his election to pope is nothing more than another conservative swipe at the president they love to hate.

[trotsky]

13. What is that evidence, please?

I'd like to know what you consider "evidence" of an open attitude or hope for the future.

[edhopper]

8. Who cares about a meaningless, ceremonial house vote.

What interests me is this is obviously a thing for the GOP base and the TPers.
Are the rank and file Repukes really still that anti-Catholic?
Or is there a lot of anti-Francis shit going on with the fundies?

What's the backstory here?

[Goblinmonger]

9. "then maybe the problem isn't the Pope"

Do we say the same thing about RW bigots that hold the same views about gay marriage, women's rights, and gay rights that the Pope does? Of course we don't. The problem IS with the Pope and the bigoted polices he upholds in his organization.

[Starboard Tack]

14. House Republicans tend to cater to the "born again" fundie crowd

From my conversations with these people, they don't consider Catholics to be Christian.

[cbayer]

15. Well done.

If he's too liberal for republicans, he must be doing something right.