A message to the Pope

[Nicola]

I have a suggestion for his holiness. Sell a couple of those paintings of nude boys and use the money to buy and distribute condoms to the third world. Have your reps in those countries teach the correct use and application. As we can see, the threat of death from sex doesn't seem to reduce the numbers of victims. It reminds me of the effectiveness of the death penalty. And by the way don't get into religious discussions, they seem hopelessly silly and get you into such a jam.

[Roscoe_Beedle]

I know it is fashionable to make criticisms of the Cathloic Church. But keep in mind that Catholic Relief organizations exist Worldwide and distribute both aid and food to millions of people. Selling one or two paintings as you state would not do this.

The Catholic line on the death penalty is that they oppose it in every instance. Why bring this up?

Find another religious order that does a fraction of this good work Worldwide. Can I remind you of Mother Theresa and the poor of Calcutta?

I agree that birth control would be part of a humane approach to problems in poor countries. But this is more apt to be Governmental Policy of those Countries faced with under fed and clothed populations.

Scandals aside, we should all hope that this good work continues.

[Nicola]

I know it is fashionable to make criticisms of the Cathloic Church. But keep in mind that Catholic Relief organizations exist Worldwide and distribute both aid and food to millions of people. Selling one or two paintings as you state would not do this.

The Catholic line on the death penalty is that they oppose it in every instance. Why bring this up?

Find another religious order that does a fraction of this good work Worldwide. Can I remind you of Mother Theresa and the poor of Calcutta?

I agree that birth control would be part of a humane approach to problems in poor countries. But this is more apt to be Governmental Policy of those Countries faced with under fed and clothed populations.

Scandals aside, we should all hope that this good work continues.
I have never heard the church nor a Pope suggest birth control beyond abstention. Yes there are many who do great work in the church, but direction comes from the top. Mother Theresa was one person extraordinaire. Where is the rest of the church. How long has Africa battled with birth control and Aids? I agree that many of the afflicted countries have internal policies that discriminate against women, but the Pope has the figurative moral high ground and he could influence many of those backward-thinking countries. I kid the Pope. I am waiting for the Pope to do something for the people that need his blessing to use contraception. Demonstrate the rights of women to use 21st century technology to control births. Demonstrate that men do not have an intrinsic right to impregnate their wives. Two thousand years of the same policy. We need an update. All these archaic policies are man made, and can and should be revised.
I used the death penalty as an example to show that the threat of death is not sufficient to change a persons behavior.

[Roscoe_Beedle]

Mother Theresa was not "One Person". There are thousands like her. Look, I was raised a Catholic but I don't practice rreligion of any form. I was a street tough out of a very bad ward in Chicago. Till things got turned around. Yet I could see then and I can see now that the Church does very wonderful things. It is only the Pope that is seeking reconciliation between the World's faiths. Not the prostetants, the Muslims, the Jews. Only this one man. Pray he is succesful.

My brother and I actually beat the hell out of a Priest when I was only 9 years old. He struck my older Brother earlier that day for some infraction. In my neighborhood back then you had these things going on and no one could lay a hand on my brother.. I was rehabilitated very quickly, my brother took about ten more years. I always respected the good work of the Church though, just didn't go much for idolitry of some of those Nuns and Priests.

Thank God everyday for policeman Feener. A true unrecognized saint. Through this man I discovered the true compassion and gifts of the Lord.

[Nicola]

Mother Theresa was not "One Person". There are thousands like her. Look, I was raised a Catholic but I don't practice rreligion of any form. I was a street tough out of a very bad ward in Chicago. Till things got turned around. Yet I could see then and I can see now that the Church does very wonderful things. It is only the Pope that is seeking reconciliation between the World's faiths. Not the prostetants, the Muslims, the Jews. Only this one man. Pray he is succesful.

My brother and I actually beat the hell out of a Priest when I was only 9 years old. He struck my older Brother earlier that day for some infraction. In my neighborhood back then you had these things going on and no one could lay a hand on my brother.. I was rehabilitated very quickly, my brother took about ten more years. I always respected the good work of the Church though, just didn't go much for idolitry of some of those Nuns and Priests.

Thank God everyday for policeman Feener. A true unrecognized saint. Through this man I discovered the true compassion and gifts of the Lord.

I agree with you. There are many who do good work, and I don't argue that point. I too have anecdotal remembrances that support your position.
What I'm waiting for is an official policy by the Vatican or any other religious organization to take the bull by the horns. Overpopulation is a real life issue and I just wished the religious leaders to face that problem in a practical way. Not by ancient and restrictive thinking. Do you think the church will one day approve birth control? If not, what is it that stands in their way and how does the church reconcile the failure of it's policies on birth control?

[Roscoe_Beedle]

I would hope that the Catholic Church would one day recognize responsible family planning which would include contraceptives. But don't hold your breath. Yes, this is an example where religion just does not make good national policy. Yet we cannot allow these irresponsible governments off the hook. They are at fault directly. Not the Pope.