Next pope likely won't see eye to eye with U.S. Catholics

[emad]

Michael Clancy
The Arizona Republic
Apr. 12, 2005 12:00 AM

ROME - American Catholics hope the world's cardinals will keep them in their thoughts as they begin next week to choose Pope John Paul II's successor.

The American Catholic Church faces a priest shortage and continues to struggle with the ongoing sex abuse scandal. Its congregations are increasingly polarized by issues such as celibacy, the possibility of female clergy, and societal standards regarding divorce, birth control and abortion.

But these concerns don't necessarily mirror the Vatican's priorities for the worldwide church.

"The way things are seen and interpreted in the United States are not necessarily seen and interpreted the same way internationally," said the Rev. Bob Rossi, a member of the Crosier religious order who worked in Phoenix in the late 1970s. "The church takes in very diverse views from very diverse cultures. What we may see as inappropriate may not be seen that way in the Vatican or elsewhere."

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/0412vatican-issues.html

[mmonk]

1. Nothing new

[saigon68]

2. U.S. Catholics

Are voting with their feet, wallets and dissuading their children from becoming involved in the "Cult of Personality".

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

3. Their problems with relevency to nominal congregants...

Are not as marked in the US as they are in Europe. They really need to ask themselves if what they keep doing is speaking to people in a way that reaches them, and that by continuing as they are, they will boost their attendance numbers.

Just as people have to face the realities of their religion, so must religions face the realities of their people.

[renaissanceguy]

6. If the US Catholics learn to think for themselves

they will break off from the worldly Catholic Church, and take the new sect out of the Dark Ages and into the 21st century.


http://www.cafepress.com/liberalissues.14744882

[ElectroPrincess]

7. No, it's inappropriate for us Liberal Catholics to break off ... give up

hope of helping our misinformed fellow parishioners to see the light.

Don't you know that God hates a quitter? <joke>

To those of you who believe we should get hostile instead of living our faith as an example, we have no hope of reaching you.

Most Catholics who happen to be Democrats have known for a long time that the leadership has been corrupted but it's no reason to give up on our faith: Catholicism.

Let those in leadership that are "drunk with power" decree at will because it doesn't change my behavior and faith that I'm living a "good" life and do as well an any other Catholic with regard to setting a good (albeit far from perfect) example for our youth - but definitely NOT by preaching and/or forcing my faith on others.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

9. No way...

Was it my intention to suggest that anyone renounce their faith in regards to any situation that exists within the Roman Catholic Church. My intention was to point out that there is a problem with attendance in both Europe and the US, one that even the church acknowledges, and that some personal needs may not be getting met, resulting in the attendance drops.

Beyond that, I have no opinion. I do not seek to criticize the church. That dialogue is for RC faithful.

[ElectroPrincess]

12. Excuse my mis-interpretation ... those who leave choose to find their

way elsewhere. I can only confine my statements to how Liberal Catholics live their faith WITHIN a hierarchy that is clearly corrupt.

[Guckert]

4. You mean he wont hide the child molesters??? that sucks !!!

:sarcasm:

[emad]

5. From TheSpoof......

http://www.thespoof.com/news/spoof.cfm?headline=s3i7904

[Norquist Nemesis]

8. Best next Pope comment

I heard was when Bush learned of the Pope's death he summoned Rove and asked, "Who do we nominate, Karl?" ;)

[JI7]

10. is the sexual abuse problems only or mostly in American Churches?

that's what this article makes it seem like. that the issue or problem is mostly one concerning American CAtholic churches.

if so, why do you think this is ? why don't other nations have this problem in their catholic churches ?

or is it just more open in america ?

[Bridget Burke]

11. No. Abuse problems have made headlines in numerous countries.

The Republic of Ireland is one; scandals involving youth & some involving Bishops with (female) lovers & children. People haven't necessarily left the Church over it but have begun making up their own minds on certain doctrines--like using birth control.

I remember an episode of Father Ted in which Ted was reading the Sunday Paper with Dougal. He asked "Could you pass me the Catholic Scandal Section?"