Pope Francis: better to be an atheist than a hypocritical Catholic

[shrike]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/feb/23/pope-francis-better-to-be-atheist-than-hypocritical-catholic

Pope Francis has delivered another criticism of some members of his own church , suggesting it was better to be an atheist than one of many Catholics who he said lead a hypocritical double life.

In improvised comments in the sermon of his private morning mass in his residence, he said: “It is a scandal to say one thing and do another. That is a double life.

“There are those who say, ‘I am very Catholic, I always go to mass, I belong to this and that association’,” the head of the 1.2 billion-member Roman Catholic church said, according to a Vatican Radio transcript.

He said some of these people should also say “‘my life is not Christian, I don’t pay my employees proper salaries, I exploit people, I do dirty business, I launder money, [I lead] a double life’.”

“There are many Catholics who are like this and they cause scandal,” he said. “How many times have we all heard people say ‘if that person is a Catholic, it is better to be an atheist’.”

[Raster]

1. Papa Frank needs to hire a food taster and stay off of small planes.

[rpannier]

4. My father thinks that's why he lives in the apartments and not the palace

It's easier for the guard to see who comes and goes

[Raster]

5. He certainly had a target on his back in Argentina...

...he does not mince words when it comes to the wealthy and powerful using and abusing those less fortunate. I am not a Catholic, I am, however, a student of the church in a historical sense. Over the centuries, more than one Pope has perished under dubious circumstances. And correct me if wrong, but I believe Popes are not autopsied.

[lapucelle]

2. A thinly veiled Trump endorsement from our bishop

was read from the pulpit of my church on LI the Sunday before election day. Then the congregation applauded.

The bishop who wrote the "voting guide" was in exile in my small dioceses due to his high level involvement in the pedophilia scandal made (in)famous by the movie Spotlight.

What must Francis think of these people?

[meow2u3]

3. Tell that to repuke politicians who go to Mass Sunday

and steal from the poor the rest of the week.

Are you listening to His Holiness, Paul Ryan? Do you get it, Pat Toomey?!

[Willie Pep]

6. Sadly I know a number of Catholics who fit this description.

And yes, they usually vote Republican. I often wonder how they square their Christianity with their hatred and contempt for the poor.

[shrike]

7. As do I. n/t

[Paula Sims]

8. My huband's Aunt is one of those

She claims to be a big Catholic. When we asked her what she thought about the new Pope (back then) she said she didn't like his emphasis on helping others that are "less fortunate". If she could pick herself up, so should others. But then again, her husband got his degree via the GI bill and she and her sons have been on Social Security due to family circumstances. And she's one of those that lives in a 1950s house but is loaded.

Yes, Who Would Jesus forsake. . . ???