Hey, it's the Pope! It's a city-state within Italy.

Can you not dig up a nice healthy pomodoro sauce?

ragu bolognese is very popular there...I tried it everywhere, but the cafeteria was awfully good! It made me wonder why the hell we can't have good food like that for ordinary people...

"Shit...this would happen the day I had the devil's food cake."

This Pope has not parted with the long-held doctrines of the RCC that subjugate women and others to a second-class status.

He has done a damned good PR offensive to make the church look less judgmental and horrible. However, he has not changed any doctrine that the Church espouses. Those doctrines that condemn women and LGBT people.

The RCC condemns women for just being women. Don't take my word for it. Read their texts.

They hired a very good pR agent to disguise the stink in the Vatican. Did you all know that they also have a law they have makes reporting abuse a crime.IN other words "don't ask " and we won't tell ya. that place stinks to high heaven. ask any person from a FIRST NATIONS band.
IF I live to be 100 , peoples gullibility to trust these pedophiles makes my skin crawl

"You're money's no good here"

food tasters. Francis lives at the Vatican Guest Hotel. He knows his history all right.

Just a common man with the title of Pope. He is and will be blessed!

Your enthusiasm is noted.

By the way, where were the women in the cafeteria? In the kitchen?

but he has only been in the job a little over a year. When President Obama was over a year, he was still revolving his beliefs of gay marriage. Things are slow to change. If five years from now, we are still here at the same situation than I think criticism could be justified. No I don't think we will have a full liberal Catholic Religion, but we have no idea what the Pope will do in the future.

At the time President Obama's stance was still evolving, he was not crusading against the rights of women and LGBTs. (And, BTW, I was highly critical of Obama for his non-support.) Pope Francis still does. He speaks out against reproductive rights, gay marriage, gay adoption. He calls childless couples "selfish". He fails to speak out when his own bishops and archbishops are complicit in the horrible oppression of LGBTS in Uganda and Nigeria. He says nothing when his own archbishop here in the US was a guest speaker at an anti-gay march on Washington, yet found time to twitter his support for anti-choice marchers in D.C. He heads an institution which is NOW, RIGHT NOW unleashing unrelenting attacks on the rights of women and LGBTs here at home with such a litany of lawsuits and legislation I couldn't begin to have time to list them all here.

Give him five years? Five years to do what? Make more anti-gay speeches? Condemn contraception and reproductive choice? Pose for more pictures while his bishops and archbishops continue their daily attacks, such as these?
http://www.usccb.org/news/2014/14-131.cfm
http://www.usccb.org/news/2014/14-126.cfm
http://www.usccb.org/news/2014/pr-14-123.cfm
http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/hhs-mandate/usccb-hobby-lobby-case-statement-june-2014.cfm
http://usccbmedia.blogspot.com/2014/07/hobby-lobby-and-enda.html

You'll have to pardon me for not feeling so enthused about Francis popping in to the Vatican cafeteria (where, from the looks of things, women aren't allowed) when I'm fighting my ass off for the rights of women and LGBTs. Face it, folks -- he is the leader of one of the most powerful and activist anti-woman, anti-gay institutions on the planet. I really don't give a rat's ass if he eats a cheese sandwich or drives an old car.

Real news is that he's decided to come to Philadelphia next year for the "World Meeting of Families". Sounds nice, doesn't it? Well, think "National March for Marriage" if you want an idea of the agenda.

In the meanwhile, I'll be spending the next five years fighting these same forces in the battle for the rights of women and LGBTs. To find a thread on LBN, of all places, about Francis slumming in the cafeteria and to the tune of gushing praise is something I find insulting in the extreme.

And my personal ones are quite different. A person, which the Pope is, does not have to pass a 150% "Purely Test" for I can admire his work.

In addition, as a person of religious Faith, it is nice to finally experience a Pope who practices the priniciples in the Bible where no Man or Woman deserves or should be Worshiped as a False Idol. In other words, the Pope is a Common Man with the title of Pope.

If you want others to respect your position on subjects matters, respect theirs. Even on areas where disagreements exist, respect the principle on where their position is formed.

No dripping necessary.

Nor any principles on which those positions are formed.

Typical....

I prefer to deal in evidence and facts.

Because Francis' priorities are not yours.

And I will not apologize for that. Insult me all you will.

Although insulting the Pope seems to be something you want to do.

If, however, you wish to actually rebut the points I have made, please do. Although merely dismissing what evidence I've presented as pissing and moaning doesn't qualify.

You think pointing out that this man runs an institution that has systematically oppressed and continues to oppress women and gays is "pissing and moaning." That is utterly insulting, especially on a supposedly progressive board.

That would be called your facts, not the reality of what is demonstrated by the Pope's actions, words, statements and repeated kindness towards his fellow Woman or Man.

Speaking of kindness, I will kindly end this useless back and forth with you by using the DU Block button. Have a lovely afternoon!

Nonetheless, I will kindly back up my statements with facts, which I'm sure you would prefer not to hear. Actions and words? Let's review what I said in post #22:

At the time President Obama's stance was still evolving, he was not crusading against the rights of women and LGBTs. (And, BTW, I was highly critical of Obama for his non-support.) Pope Francis still does. He speaks out against reproductive rights, gay marriage, gay adoption. He calls childless couples "selfish". He fails to speak out when his own bishops and archbishops are complicit in the horrible oppression of LGBTS in Uganda and Nigeria. He says nothing when his own archbishop here in the US was a guest speaker at an anti-gay march on Washington, yet found time to twitter his support for anti-choice marchers in D.C. He heads an institution which is NOW, RIGHT NOW unleashing unrelenting attacks on the rights of women and LGBTs here at home with such a litany of lawsuits and legislation I couldn't begin to have time to list them all here.


I shall skip over addressing the last sentence about the lawsuits, lobbying and legislation, as that is being carried out by his bishops, archbishops and other organizations such as the Knights of Columbus, Legatus, The Beckett Fund, etc. That would take several posts in order to list all the evidence and facts, of which you should already be aware.

As for the rest, this is the reality as opposed to the fantasy....

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/scott-novak/for-lgbt-people-the-pope-_b_5516144.html
http://www.ncregister.com/blog/edward-pentin/cardinal_bergoglio_hits_out_at_same-sex_marriage
http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2014/06/rome-pope-francis-meets-with-head-of.html#disqus_thread
http://oblogdeeoblogda.me/2014/06/17/5000-signatures-calling-on-pope-to-ask-anti-gay-ugandan-bishop-to-resign/
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/29/pope-francis-woman-from-rib-avoids-pledge-reform-catholic-church
http://ncronline.org/blogs/grace-margins/uganda-opportunity-pope-francis-act-his-words
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2014/0505/Pope-crackdown-on-nuns-in-US-continues.-Why
http://www.truthdig.com/eartotheground/item/lets_face_it_pope_francis_still_aint_that_great_20130921?ln
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57604023/
http://www.todayscatholicnews.org/2014/06/pope-blames-culture-of-comfort-for-intentionally-childless-marriages/
http://www.advocate.com/politics/religion/2014/04/13/letter-pope-protect-lgbt-youth
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2014/01/12/anti-gay-catholic-archbishop-vincent-nichols-to-become-cardinal/
http://allafrica.com/stories/201401200239.html
http://allafrica.com/stories/201401150307.html?aa_source=useful-column
http://www.ewtnnews.com/catholic-news/Vatican.php?id=9512
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2014/06/10/god-evil-and-pope-francis/
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/pope-francis-denounces-abortion-as-horrific-9058040.html
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/damianthompson/100252140/pope-francis-shocked-by-gay-adoption-will-time-take-back-its-person-of-the-year-award/
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20030731_homosexual-unions_en.html
http://www.salon.com/2014/06/22/pope_franciss_liberal_reformer_image_is_all_smoke_and_mirrors_partner/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/scott-novak/for-lgbt-people-the-pope-_b_5516144.html
http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/cardinal-george-defends-cchd-canceling-groups-funds-over-same-sex/#ixzz2kS8NzgwK
http://www.salon.com/2013/11/27/sorry_pope_francis_reproductive_justice_and_lgbtq_rights_are_economic_issues_too/
http://www.newrepublic.com/article/116056/progressives-who-love-pope-francis-are-abandoning-women-and-gay-rights
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/hobby-lobbys-green-family-meets-with-pope-francis/2014/03/31/4dfbe22c-b913-11e3-80de-2ff8801f27af_story.html
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2013/07/10/2003566788
http://www.buzzfeed.com/lesterfeder/despite-popes-softening-tone-the-vatican-remains-a-key-oppon
http://www.religiondispatches.org/dispatches/petermontgomery/7752/anti_gay_celebration_in_uganda__weddings_in_england___francis_effect__at_the_vatican/
http://msmagazine.com/blog/2013/12/09/pope-condemns-income-gap-ignores-gender-inequality/
http://ncronline.org/blogs/grace-margins/contraception-philippines-and-pope-francis-passion-poor
http://www.truthdig.com/eartotheground/item/lets_face_it_pope_francis_still_aint_that_great_20130921?ln
http://www.advocate.com/politics/religion/2014/04/11/pope-francis-kids-must-have-moms-and-dads
http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/pope-attacks-same-sex-marriage-in-historic-policy-statement/marriage/2013/11/30/79348#.Upoqq5EhuPU
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/27/world/europe/in-major-document-pope-francis-present-his-vision.html?hp&pagewanted=all&_r=0
http://www.ewtnnews.com/catholic-news/Vatican.php?id=9512
http://www.salon.com/2013/03/14/pope_francis_on_gay_rights_his_5_worst_quotes/
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/pope-francis-tweets-march-life-washington-article-1.1587487
http://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/Op-Ed/2014/04/06/Francis-keeps-his-distance-MICHAEL-O-LOUGHLIN/stories/201404060013
http://thoughtcatalog.com/parker-marie-molloy/2013/09/can-we-stop-pretending-pope-francis-is-a-reformer/
http://news.softpedia.com/news/New-Pope-Francis-Dubbed-Gay-Marriage-a-Disruptive-Attack-on-God-s-plan-337142.shtml
http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/14234092-new-pope-francis-is-against-gay-marriages
http://www.msnbc.com/hardball/pope-tweets-march-life-support
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20131230/local/lgbt-federation-in-argentina-not-surprised-by-popes-comments-on-maltas-gay-adoptions-legislation.500822#.UsKxcq8o6M8
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/scott-novak/for-lgbt-people-the-pope-_b_5516144.html
http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/Pope-Vatican-homosexual-unions/2014/07/03/id/580827/#ixzz36XanI1nw
http://www.salon.com/2014/06/22/pope_franciss_liberal_reformer_image_is_all_smoke_and_mirrors_partner/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2014/06/10/god-evil-and-pope-francis/

Frankly, I have to wonder why anyone on a supposedly progressive, democratic forum would defend such a record as this.

He thinks I don't deserve full autonomy as a human being because I'm female. He and his Big Hat boy gang can go eff themselves.

I'm not Catholic, but I've been very impressed with him too.

or autonomy over her own body?

Alrighty then.

The Pope PR campaign continues. I thought this might have some substance...but I guess celebrity news rules the day, Yay!

For a minute there I thought he might have made a retraction of the horrid things he's said about reproductive rights or gay marriage. But I see it's fish & chips Friday again.

Amazeballs!!!

Bishops. What a guy. An anti choice, anti gay politically active preacher, admired on DU for eating a bowl of noodles. If only Pat Robertson had ordered the linguini, he could have been a DU favorite too!

Should be in the Lounge.

a tiny bit of fresh garlic, maybe a few basil leaves, an infinitesimally small amount of butter or olive oil.....

Must have been infectious sanity swept the college.

But just wait, he's gonna fix a whole lot of bad things. And I don't expect him to fix everything.

They're not going to change because he AGREES with them.

anti gay misogynistic conservative preachers.

"third from right" "bottom right" etc...

Order a few pints, shoot some pool in the back. When I call him his holiness he waves me off and says, "just Frank is good."

Oh, except the fact that for most of us don't rule over a plundering medieval institution that says women are second-class chattel and gays don't deserve full rights.