For all you believers out there: If you could be the next Pope, what...

would you do?

Assuming that you did have as much power that the Pope seems to have.

And I mean specifically. Don't just say "world peace".

Make room for a massive Interfaith Alliance

Say God accepts and loves GLBT people

Proclaim the 'christian' Right to be heretics

Label Bush as the Antichrist

Make room for a massive Interfaith Alliance

Proclaim the 'christian' Right to be heretics

Label Bush as the Antichrist

Go on the campaign to relieve debt from the poor and third world countries

Declare any person, groups, nation or corporation that takes advantage of the poor to be against the good of the earth and actively campaign to stop them in peaceful ways by appealing to all people of the earth, regardless of religious/spiritual affiliation

Make extended outreach to other religions in an effort to promote the tolerance and understanding of one another

actively work on making solutions rather than just opposing issues (ie abortion. If one opposes the practice, then one must find ways to work on making the need for abortion rare, not simply call everyone who disagrees evil or part of a culture of death.)

redefine the lexicon of the world, in matters of freedom and peace, love and truth, etc.



It's a lot to take on, but in the position of Pope, it's your duty to take on the world.

Recognize homosexuals as God's children worthy of love and acceptance by all.
Allow priests to marry and allow women to be priests.
Denounce wars, capital punishment and governments and leaders that promote wars and killings.

Promote love and acceptance and world peace.

I really don't know, but we as the inhabitants of this earth have allot to do, first I think we need to find common ground, and that I think, will be that we all have love for our children and there future, a start, maybe, that's all we really need is a good start from our collective hearts. warning I can't spell for shit, you gota take me as I am. peace.

-announce that birth control is completely accetptable to use
-declare that abortion is a personal choice between a woman and God
-allow women to be priests and priests to marry
-declare that homosexuals are God's children equally worthy of love and acceptance
-take harder stances against war, capital punishment and exploitation of the poor
-declare that * is a warmongerer, enemy of good in the world, and completely opposed to what God wants and that all true believers should rise against him

Burn all the stuff the earlier Pope's did and start over from scratch.

1. Gay marriage is allowed. God told me it's OK.
2. Birth control is mandatory. God told me.
3. 3% of income goes to Shriner's hospitals. Think of the children.
4. Priests that are pedophiles are to be defrocked and beaten.
5. NO priest/nun is to promote, discuss, or manipulate people's views on politics. Period.
6. Nuns are to have the same rights/powers as priests. God told me.
7. Respect other religions since god made them. Guess who told me?
and 8. New Orleans Saints are the official Catholic football team.

delete

I'd remove the entire College of Cardinals and apportion it more on a population basis (absolute numbers) by country. So, Brazil, Mexico, and the US would likely have the most representation...though, that would be relative.

I'd seriously consider excommunicating most of the US bishops. They have a bit too much independence.

Bishops would only have spiritual control over their dioceses (I realize I don't know the plural of diocese). The laity would control the worldly aspect.

All lawsuits regarding the pedophilia scandals would be settled immediately on an equitable basis (all legitimate suits, which is probably damn near all). Further, a blanket apology and assumption of responsibility to prevent future problems.

I would lock church doctrine on homosexuality into a neutral zone. It would remain in this zone until substantial proof can be shown one way or the other whether homosexuality has a genetic basis. This would be a purely tactical move, but it would hopefully forestall most criticism.

I would immediately allow the ordination of women. Not only because it's right, but it's necessary. I see no reason to effectively disenfranchise 50% of the church because the Apostles were all men. I would argue that Mary and Martha played an equally important role.

I would take the underlying assumption of John Paul II's idea of the culture of life and promote it for social justice. I would argue for both human and property rights. Not property rights for some, property rights for all. I would speak against great concentrations of wealth in the face of poverty. I would speak against those who pay lip service to human rights, then make contracts with the People's Liberation Army.

I would also continue the work of the current pope in terms of humility. The church should never fear owning up to mistakes or sins.

Finally, I would remind the church, especially the clergy, that our mission is moral, not legal or political. It is our job to change attitudes, not laws. I would require my priests and bishops to not wear their clerical gear when at protests and the like. I don't want the church to be seen sanctioning any public policy (that's some hyperbole, but I bet many on this site share my fear.

I'm impressed by your thougtfullness and clairty.

Great answer!

to all other faiths, emphasize the mystical aspects and practical aspects of Christianity, and show, by actions, that we are all One.

Neat question!

Personally, I hope that the Catholic Church does not go from a very strong leader to a very weak one, and I would agree with what Eamon Duffy was saying on BBC news last night that by the same token the Church might do well not to institutionalize the centralization of Pope John Paul II's reign.

Pope John Paul was a great Pope IMHO and a lot of good will be done by simply continuing a lot of his his work.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

- John 13:34-35



Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

- Matthew 5:3-10



Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying: "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, "Rabbi, Rabbi.' But you, do not be called "Rabbi'; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

"But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.

- Matthew 23:1-14



Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!

- Matthew 23:23-24



“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

“He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

- Matthew 25:34-45