SHAFTWAXER

So they elected a new pope an hour ago…

Meh…

While we should offer the new pope the benefit of the doubt, his previous statements and stances taken on issues are worth looking at in terms of the direction that 1.1 billion member Catholic church will be taking over the next few years. The new pope follows the conservative, hard-line doctrines of the church very prominently, which if you boil it down essentially means it’s my way or the highway. And that’s where I further separate myself from the religion I was raised in.

There has been an ongoing discussion about what they are calling cafeteria Catholics, also a a phenomena that seems to be most prevalent in the United States. These are members of the church who like some parts of the doctrine but do not agree with the rest. The church is essentially saying it’s all or nothing now. Sorry. I can’t get behind that, especially when all or nothing includes (but is not limited to):

• turning a blind eye towards priests abusing and destroying children’s lives
• classifying women as second class citizens by not allowing them to be priests
• not allowing priests to marry and then expecting them to know something about families and how to counsel them (pedophilia is not counseling by the way)
• supporting the horrifically fucking stupid concept that abstinence only sex education works (condoms are bad, we need you to fuck like bunnies because WE NEED THE NUMBERS! Don’t worry about AIDS, WE NEED BODIES IN THE PEWS DAMN IT!!!)
• homosexuals are really bad, horrible people… unless they choose to be a priest.

Like I said, maybe he will be willing to listen and be open-minded.

I doubt it.