Tough Gig For Pope Francis?

[Khandro]

If you were he, which of the world's problems would you attempt to address first?

[Sharingan]

Who is Pope affects everyone, Catholic and non Catholic alike, because he wields vast power to change the way people think and act globally on a massive scale. That is the reason peole are talking about him. I'm very disappointed in their choice, he's too conservative and just a clone of all the bad things that have gone before. Someone who reforms the contraception problem and the issue with celibate priests as well as investigating how the church can unify their gay members to their docrine would have been far more welcome.Someone who also is not a paedophile apologist also. Nothing will change with this Pope, it's very sad.

[naomi24]

//If you were he, which of the world's problems would you attempt to address first? //

If the state of the church is any indication, for the benefit of the rest of the world this pope would be well advised to keep his nose out of global affairs.


Craft, why are you attempting to stifle free speech here?

[Khandro]

m.m.; A really sensible answer. I personally believe he should attempt to deal with the schism which exists between the world religions, and not just by paying lip-service to the idea as has happened in the past, which has been a sort of; 'Lets all get together and then you can start thinking like me', but trying to get all religious leaders to make fundamental adjustments to their outlook and that will be a painful process for Catholicism too. I admit to not being very optimistic, but every journey begins with one step. I would prioritise the setting up some form dialogue with the Islamic world as a beginning.

[mrs_overall]

Khandro - setting up some form of dialogue with the Islamic world - for what purpose?
Christianity is good at seeing the viewpoint of other religions. Islam is not. Don't you think any form of dialogue would be a one way street and pointless?

[naomi24]

Khandro, //trying to get all religious leaders to make fundamental adjustments to their outlook //

Interesting. What adjustments would you suggest they make?

[LazyGun]

I doubt that their policy of engagement with the outside world will change greatly. The same charitable functions and the same aims will continue.

What they do have is a serious image and relevance problem. and that is what they need to address, with some urgency I would have thought.

And, as part of that image and relevance issue, they really need some doctrinal reforms, and I see nothing to suggest that this pope is at all willing to engage in that exercise.

Changes in cultural acceptance of and demand for equality for all, regardless of gender or sexual orientation in particular are becoming increasingly difficult to deny if you wish to retain some relevance and not just be swept aside as a inflexible monolith, irrelevant, and worse, laughable.....

[RATTER15]

The guy is 76, its not exactly the ideal age for someone to start drastic reforms, he probably just wants a quite life and a few quire boys to keep him company!

[Baldric]

Goodlife @ 08:52, yet again, regardless of subject, you seem to have no opinion of your own, just the ability to cut and paste!

[Khandro]

Ratter; There have been a few stupid and some nasty posts put up here, but you get a the gold. naomi// read LG. Mrs O.; The Pope could attempt to approach liberal Muslim intellectuals to persuade them to be more effective in addressing the crisis of institutional authority in Islam; the interpretation of scripture that punishes blasphemy and apostasy in countries like Pakistan and Nigeria which leads to the belief that it is the truth. The could lead to wide consequences for today's world. I won't hold my breath though.

[jim360]

He's not in a position to sort out the World's problems until the Catholic Church becomes more respectable again. So he should start by trying to change the Church itself, clear out the serious issues of sex abuse and what have you. Only once that is sorted out will the Church be in a position to address the World's problems. And even then I think the Church is seriously wrong on AIDS, women, homosexuality etc.. But before modernisation the Church needs to fix itself.

[modeller]

To answer you question Khandro . The RC church is the first problem itself.
So he should shut up shop.

goodlife #Yes is is a very special kind of vision indeed that enables one to see things that are unseen! # Yes ! Have you tried Specsavers ?

[modeller]

Sorry jim we have cross posted !

[jim360]

No problem Modeller, it just means I'm not the only person who thinks that!

[Khandro]

jim/modeller; I agree, I'm' hoping he has been brought in to address those domestic problems anyway.

[jake-the-peg]

I think you may be taking a rather narrow view of the Pope's concerns.

There are 190 Million Catholics in Brazil

- I suspect that the priest sex scandals that are hitting the headlines in the west are not high up the agenda there!

I suspect you'll find that issues like world poerty will be of greater concern to him

[mrs_overall]

I didn't know the Pope was interested in world poetry?

[RATTER15]

Khandro, I know, the truth hurts some times, and for a self confessed Buddhist, you dont do so bad yourself!!

I wont be losing any sleep lol.

[ChillDoubt]

If world poverty IS of greater concern to him he needs to address much brought up in this thread:

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/ChatterBank/Question1224922.html

[Khandro]

RATTER: I don't know how old you are, but 76 doesn't exactly signify decrepitude to me. There are many artists and jazz musicians who are still pretty cool guys much older than that. Jazz guitarist Jim Hall played to an ecstatic crowd last year at the Barbican aged 83.

[naomi24]

Khandro, //naomi// read LG.//

I’ve read LG. I’ll ask again. What adjustments would you suggest they make?