Believe it or not, the Pope is still a force for good (McElvoy | Evening Standard)|

[struggle4progress]

Anne McElvoy
15.09.10

... At the time of my own deepest dislike of anything to do with the Catholic Church I visited one of the poorest and more violent communities in Jamaica. By chance, I met a Columban Father who lived in a community of inbred, alcoholic, impoverished people. His predecessor had been hacked to death in a random attack: he was quite calmly accepting that the same thing might befall him, but he felt his mission was to be present for people who have been abandoned by everyone else ...

If I could choose one aspect of Catholicism to export beyond its followers, it would be the belief that every human life has value. That is something societies bent on technological advance too easily neglect. If the Church stands up for that dignity, then it fulfils a role too many other interests choose to ignore or downgrade.

It's odd that a faith derided as anti-progress by the Left is also a severe critic of the economic Right, when it sees humans as mere means to ends. More often than not, Rome is the ally of protesters against military undertakings — as in the war in Iraq. As one (secular) Foreign Office figure says: “When the Pope puts his weight behind campaigns like opposition to cluster munitions, there is no better ally to have.”

The Church has high ideals. It often fails to live up to them — which isn't the same as saying we'd be better off without them. That's the tension a lot of us recognise in ourselves ...

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23878242-believe-it-or-not-the-pope-is-still-a-force-for-good.do

[laconicsax]

1. So...he's doing good in between covering up child rape and helping spread AIDS?

:shrug:

[struggle4progress]

2. So...you have a serious reading comprehension problem?

:shrug:

[laconicsax]

5. Nope, just trying to put this article into the proper context. n/t

[skepticscott]

3. Every life has value?

Except of course the lives of the people who will die of AIDS because the RCC has prevented access to condoms (because every sperm has value). Or all of the witches they had tortured and burned. Or all of the indigenous people around the world who were converted so forcibly (guess a life spent worshipping other gods ain't so valuable after all). Or the children in schools and orphanages who were beaten and raped regularly. Was that dignity? Well, I guess as long as the RCC can say that they were ALIVE, they can pretty much not give a shit what KIND of life they had. And I'm sure the pope is deeply sorry for (having gotten caught at) all that as well.

And please...is the notion that every life has value something that requires a religion as evil and corrupt as the RCC to tell us?

[baldguy]

4. So is Bill Gates.

Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. And since Benny thinks he's God's mouthpiece...

[Goblinmonger]

6. BS

This is a church that very clearly said that the life of the priest who was diddling little kids was of more worth than the life of the new victims that church sent that priest to.

Thanks for posting even more Catholic apologist literature rather than stand up for your fellow progressives that happen to be atheists.

[ZombieHorde]

7. Articles such as this one expose bigotry.

If the Pope's stance on women or gay people was transferred to black people, far fewer people would be defending him.

[trotsky]

8. Fuck Pope Rat and fuck the Catholic Church.

In 2004, I don't recall the candidate who was refused communion being pro-war and economically "Right." Oh gee, from time to time he manages to do something not QUITE as evil as covering up pedophiles. Hooray, all is forgiven.

[rug]

9. Good post, good article.

[Jim__]

10. Interesting thread.

It should cause people to think a little beyond the current conventional simplistic thinking. Should.

[dimbear]

11. Looking out over sprawling slums, he

feels that tiny twinge of guilt and responsibility. Fine chap.

[trotsky]

12. Interesting to identify the pope's apologists, sure.

But the OP is simply a wordier version of "Hitler loved dogs."

Pope Rat smears non-believers and what's the reaction of so-called progressives? A knee-jerk defense of a man who heads what could easily be described as the largest pedophile network in the world.

[Cleobulus]

13. The Church has shown a callous disregard for life...

"every life has value"?!?! Since when? Apparently the Church is more interested in spreading FUD about condoms than preventing the spread of HIV, more interested in protecting its assets than being held accountable for pedophilia, and this just because the church sometimes helps some people, that makes it all OK? Fuck no!

[LAGC]

14. Sorry, I think we'd be better off without the Church.

Whatever "moral" vacuum exists after it is gone can be filled by secular forces instead.