Originally Posted by Toy Soldier (Post 10561308)

The thing is, this is another example where experience seems pretty important in having a fully rounded opinion.

As awful as this is going to sound, I was really against the idea of abortion (though I'd never have wanted it to be illegal) until I had children :umm2:. Now just to quickly say, that's not because I don't want the ones I have!

I'm now 100% Pro choice and 100% woman's choice. The reason for this, is that I don't think people fully comprehend the physical and psychological effect that even a PLANNED pregnancy has on a woman's body until they directly experience one. Obviously I appreciate that it's still something I'll never completely understand but even having experienced it as best supporting actor completely changed my perspective on it. It's spoken of so flippantly in the abortion debate - especially by men, but also especially by anyone who has no real experience of what a 9 month pregnancy and birth entails.

So the pope, who pregnancy could not be LESS relevant for personally, really has a very limited scope for commenting on this even if you take the blatant hypocrisy out of the equation.

Also what's with the idea that you can't say "I'm not interested in what this guy has to offer" based on past actions?? Is that how it works now? I mean sure everyone is entitled to their opinion, but they're not entitled to "have their opinion taken seriously" when they're being a laughable hypocrite :think:.

Originally Posted by Niamh. (Post 10561264)

Because until he takes a proper stance on those atrocities within his own organisation his opinion on what is and is not "criminal" is comedic, if it wasn't so horrific.

Originally Posted by Marsh. (Post 10561619)

Comedic or not, he's entitled to it as much as you.

Originally Posted by Marsh. (Post 10561619)

Comedic or not, he's entitled to it as much as you.

Originally Posted by Mokka (Post 10561780)

Can you not concede that when it's the Pope... it isn't an opinion anymore. If he is saying it out loud, his followers believe it to be the word of God.
It's not the same as you and me spouting our opinions online... and yes opinions can be perspective based and can be right and can be wrong.
There is a huge Catholic culture in many parts of the world that will use this word of God to roll back women's rights.

It isn't just an opinion

Originally Posted by Twosugars (Post 10561818)

Mokka that's not how the doctrine of papal infallibility works :hee:

Originally Posted by Mokka (Post 10561826)

90% of Catholics believers don't know how it works .. this is what the general belief is :hee:

Originally Posted by Marsh. (Post 10561619)

Comedic or not, he's entitled to it as much as you.

Originally Posted by Twosugars (Post 10561878)

The thing is it's very very rare, so rare that's it's safe to assume what he said is not infallible.

Originally Posted by Mokka (Post 10561780)

Can you not concede that when it's the Pope... it isn't an opinion anymore. If he is saying it out loud, his followers believe it to be the word of God.

Originally Posted by Niamh. (Post 10561941)

Sure and I'm entitled to my opinion on that opinion, works both ways

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier (Post 10561645)

Being entitled to an opinion doesn't mean immunity having that opinion criticised :shrug:.

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier (Post 10561977)

I think Mokka's point (and I agree with her) is that many if not most Catholics will not follow those sorts of technicalities and will go with a broad "if the pope said it then that's what my religion says is right and I will go with that".

Being frank; it's not people in coutries / states where the population is generally philosophically and theologically aware that are at risk. It's women in places where the religion is devout, dogmatic and basic and what the pope says will be taken as gospel, full stop.

Originally Posted by Twosugars (Post 10562067)

Usually reality intervenes ie Catholics are mostly used to not following the church when it doesn't suit them

Originally Posted by Twosugars (Post 10562067)

Usually reality intervenes ie Catholics are mostly used to not following the church when it doesn't suit them

Originally Posted by Cherie (Post 10562092)

Does that only apply to Catholics, unless you are an extremist I think most people who follow a religious doctrine tend to pick the bits that suit

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier (Post 10561977)

I think Mokka's point (and I agree with her) is that many if not most Catholics will not follow those sorts of technicalities and will go with a broad "if the pope said it then that's what my religion says is right and I will go with that".

Being frank; it's not people in coutries / states where the population is generally philosophically and theologically aware that are at risk. It's women in places where the religion is devout, dogmatic and basic and what the pope says will be taken as gospel, full stop.

Originally Posted by Twosugars (Post 10562104)

That's right. But the argument here was about Catholics taking popes words as gospel.
Keep up Cherie :hee:

Originally Posted by Cherie (Post 10562153)

I haven't been following the thread, doubt there is anything here that hasn't been said before on one of the many Christian bashing threads so I just skim and don't read most of it