Personally, I hope the next pope begins the house cleaning process by affirming the Church's positions on theological issues regarding matters such as homosexual marriage and female priests.
We are so afraid that the actions of the Church will alienate Catholics, pushing them out of the Church, that our leaders don't act. This is said to be in emulation of Christ, yet it is far from it.
Christ was not afraid to alienate people who put the concerns of men before the concerns of God. He was not afraid to take stands that pushed people away from his message and made people dislike him. Not all people love the Truth. The Church has every bit as much an obligation to proclaim the Truth as Christ proclaimed the Truth during His time here on earth. The weakening of the Church throughout the world can be attributed in part to the Church's hesitancy to carry out this vital part of its mission.
As Catholics, we are not called to be friends of the world. Christ said that the world will hate us just as it hated Him. The Early Christians were not afraid to alienate the pagan world by refusing to bow before the emperor or his gods, or to even make excuses for the false worship of pagans. Our mission is to proclaim the Truth, no matter how unpopular it may be, and face persecution if necessary.
I hope that the next pope is willing to be unpopular to the world through an unfearing proclamation of the Truth. That is what the Church needs in this new century, not a pope that will make the Church more palpable to the ways of the world.
Well said. I don't want to belong to a popular church. I want to belong to a church that is not afraid of the teachings of Christ.
Exactly. The truth does not change because so many people find it is easier to turn a blind eye towards it. Catholicism is not an a-la-carte menu.
Just out curiosity what do you against female priests other than it not being tradition.
BTW non-practicing catholic moved very much by recent events and will actually be going to Mass today