But, you know, I'm just a hater. I should love the Pope because he talks (again, only talks) about how bad capitalism is. I'm just supposed to forget that he's anti-LGBT, anti-women serving in the church, anti-contraception, etc.

The pope can say whatever he wants, but my opinion will be based on his actions.

If you do, you're dismissed as an "anti-Catholic crank."

Seriously, it just looks more and more like post-9/11 when those of us who didn't "support the president!!11eleventy!" had all sorts of nasty names thrown at us.

I can't decide which of the church's continuing regressive policies is most disturbing (they're all terrible, imho) but their policies on contraception and condom use in sub-Saharan Africa are leading to thousands of new cases of HIV and AIDS every year because the church has told people that condom use is sinful and that condoms don't do anything to stop the spread of HIV and AIDS, anyway.

Someone in another group actually pointed out that Catholic hospitals treat HIV and AIDS-affected people in Africa, as if the RCC didn't contribute heavily to the problem in the first place! That's like being shot by an burglar who then drives you to the hospital for treatment and expects you to thank him for making sure you didn't bleed to death, imo.

We're officially living in Bizarro World.

Leading directly to wholly unnecessary suffering and death.

But hey, it's a great business model - collect funds from people to deal with the problem you are helping create! Win-win!

While our cohorts are practically tripping over themselves to heap praise upon Francis' entirely non-revolutionary criticism of capitalism (JPII's positions on capitalism were markedly more radical), they are just as eager to ignore the fact the church's opposition to birth control has effectively limited people's upward mobility for generations. Having a child before they are good and ready is a financial burden from which many are unable to recover. So, what are we to make of this? Poverty is bad, but not as bad as recreational sex?

The more I hear from this Pope, the more I think he's easily the worst of the past three. At least JP II and Benedict XVI were open and honest about where they stood. This guy is clearly playing the PR game, and people are lapping it up and asking for seconds.

with different packaging. And old and simple tactic, but still very effective against the gullible and the desperate.

Francis followed one that was practically booed off the stage.

I can't for the life of me understand what all the Francis reverence is about. He's more personable than the last one. Cooler. Much more media savvy. Whatever. But the article is dead on. He's DONE nothing. And no signs he's going to. But don't dare broach this in any other forum. They'll rip you to shreds.

(and correct me if I'm just being an ignorant foreigner) not being Bush.

And, of course, I'm not equating the Pres. with Blank Frank.

so you're not far off here.