<p>Cbreeze - it is “interesting” that you would suppose that I am Jewish, Israeli, or Zionist.</p>
<p>And I am very hopeful that Francis will serve the poor in a way his predecessors did not. </p>
<p>The question was whether the ceremonies did anything for me, and they didn’t, and I explained why. No need to get defensive. It doesn’t change history, and I am grateful that there are so many Catholics of good will.</p>
<p>Yes, I and other posters assume you are Jewish. And no, I don’t assume you are Israeli or Zionist.
Who are your ancestors?
Many here assume I am Catholic. No, I am not a practising Catholic. I sent my S (who is not a Catholic)to a Jesuit school because I knew he would get an excellent education and spiritual guidance and he did.</p>
<p>Well, regardless of the, shall I say, difficult relationship between the Catholic Church and the Jews for the last 1700 years or so, all the way back through the Fourth Lateran Council and the Crusades to St. John Chrysostom and even earlier, I do think that in terms of ecumenism the new Pope’s history in Argentina sounds promising. I liked John Paul II in that respect, but was not a fan of Benedict’s (because of certain actions he took during his papacy, having nothing to do with his youthful affiliation). </p>
<p>See this article about Francis in the current Haaretz:</p>
<p>[Argentinian</a> Jewish leaders have praise for new pope - Israel News | Haaretz Daily Newspaper](<a href=“New Pope Said to Have Good Ties With Argentinian Jews - Jewish World - Haaretz.com”>New Pope Said to Have Good Ties With Argentinian Jews - Jewish World - Haaretz.com)</p>
<p>I think the entire human race will never find peace if every single person bears a grudge on whatever horrors a country, race or group inflicted upon his or her ancestors.</p>
<p>I think the entire human race will never find peace until the institutions that promoted war and strife beg for forgiveness, and openly make reparations to those they have harmed. In the case of the Church, they would, in my judgment, do well to start with an open and honest appraisal of their complicity in sexual abuse and pedophilia, and ask whether their institutional attitudes toward women and gay people are made of the same cloth. (Do you really think I should feel good about the Church because U.S. taxpayers send money for the Israelis to buy U.S. weaponry?)</p>
<p>But I’m not a Catholic, and it’s really none of my business. I wish Catholics well (regardless of what I think of the Church), and I wish Francis well. And, no, the ceremonies didn’t do anything for me. The question wasn’t about what I “think”, but what I “feel”. Is there a reason why it should have?</p>
<p>Mini…who murdered the early Christians?</p>
<p>the human race is full of sinners. Are you surprised? Does any group escape the scandal of horrific behavior?</p>
<p>sorry that I have not read every post. I believe that the church needed to find a person younger that 76. In 10 years he will be 86.
I simply do not get why this world does not understand aging.</p>
<p>I went to 12 years of Catholic school–just a bit of " I walked the Talk"</p>
<p>I am 62 and cannot imagine that someone 76 is that capable for the next few generations. So while I love the Jesuits (both kids educated by them). I still cannot think that in 10-15 years this man is viable.</p>
<p>I ask this out of genuine curiosity and I hope I am being respectful with this question. </p>
<p>What kind of reform would practicing Catholics like to see with this new Pope?</p>
<p>
Now THIS Is an interesting question. What would practicing Catholics like to see. Not Catholic haters, not atheists, agnostics or people of other faiths. What would the people who will be led by Pope Francis like to see from him.</p>
<p>For those who mentioned the “other” Francises, apparently the vatican has issued a statement confirming that the new pope chose his name in honor of St. Francis of Assisi (not Xavier or De Sales).</p>
<p>Not a catholic, but I am a chemist - and how cool that this pope has a degree in chemistry!</p>
<p>EPTR- I am going to bump your question because I also would like to see what practicing Catholics would like to see from the new Pope.</p>
<p>I am very happy to see that this new Pope is conservative. I go to a very non conservative parish and I do not like the changes that have been made. </p>
<p>The social policy of the church does not need to be changed but in fact it needs to be enforced.</p>
<p>momof- by and on?</p>
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</p>
<p>[Prayer</a>, housekeeping fill first day for Pope Francis](<a href=“http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/03/14/pope-francis-day-one-job/1986853/]Prayer”>Day 1: Mass, housekeeping for Pope Francis)</p>
<p>Momof, did you not consider Benedict very conservative?</p>
<p>
Why only practicing Catholics? If anything, I wonder what it would take for those who have left the church to return.</p>
<p>For me: it would take the Church not considering themselves more important than their teachings. In other words: not protecting the church’s reputation over doing something about pedophile priests. </p>
<p>It would take the church not enriching themselves from the donations of their poor parishioners. Everytime I see the grandeur of the Vatican, I burn inside knowing what some of my poor clients donate to them every year.</p>
<p>It would take them taking seriously the health and welfare of poor people over some ridiculously arbitrary rule against birth control.</p>
<p>It would take the church taking seriously the “love thy neighbor” rule and not excluding those who choose to love someone of their own sex.</p>
<p>It would take them considering women not to be inferior and granting them equal status to men.</p>
<p>If the new pope could change all that I would consider returning.</p>
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<p>I am a practicing Catholic and there are many changes I would like to see that I am sure won’t happen in my lifetime under any Pope: ordination of women priests, acceptance of gay marriage, and official sanctioning of birth control, for starters.</p>
<p>So let’s start with one that is not impossible, and for which the precedent has already been set: I would like Catholic priests to be allowed to marry.</p>
<p>Another: I would like to see women appointed to upper level positions in the hierarchy that have been traditionally held by priests (i.e., administrative positions that do not require ordination).</p>
<p>And it goes without saying (but I’ll say it anyway) that I would like anyone who played a role in the perpetuation of child sexual abuse to be permanently ousted from any position of authority in the Church, and either imprisoned or defrocked, depending upon the nature of the crime.</p>
<p>
Because, presumably, practicing Catholics are committed and supportive of the Church. </p>
<p>In my church, if you don’t attend for a period of time, don’t receive Communion for a year and don’t contribute to the life of the church, you are eventually determined to be a non-member. </p>
<p>So from the perspective of the question asked here, I wonder if people who don’t practice Catholicism and don’t agree with many of its major points of principle actually are Catholic.</p>
<p>Is the Vatican still anti-condoms in regards to AIDS prevention? I ask because the new pope seems to tend to AIDS victims and I wonder if this policy could change. </p>
<p>Not saying it will or should. Just brainstorming.</p>