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Is Pope Francis Liberal or Conservative?
American Thinker ^ | 03/18/2013 | Selwyn Duke

Posted on 03/18/2013 7:09:04 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

With the election of Pope Francis, there has been an almost "catholic" attempt to determine if he is liberal or conservative. CBS claims he is a "staunch conservative" based on the fact that, as correspondent Allen Pizzey put it, he "opposes abortion, supports celibacy, and called gay adoption discrimination against children," not to mention his opposition to faux marriage.

Tingle Central's Chris Matthews said that the new pontiff is economically "progressive," which, if we were to be informed by actual statistics, should mean he wouldn't give one red cent to anybody. But none of these analysts will peg the pope because they're using the provisional to understand a man defined by an institution based in the perpetual. And the reality is this: the terms "liberal," "conservative," and "moderate" are, in the truest sense, meaningless in Catholic circles. And understanding why holds a lesson for all of us.

Republican Ohio senator Rob Portman recently announced that he now supports faux marriage, and other self-proclaimed conservatives, such as CNN News' Margaret Hoover, have long done so. On the other hand, conservative Cliff Kincaid was recently scored by Michelle Malkin's site Twitchy for writing, "There is no such thing as a 'gay conservative,' unless the term 'conservative' has lost all meaning," prompting Renew America's Bryan Fischer to accuse the Malkinites of "trying to redefine conservatism." But Kincaid gets it close to right and Fischer is wrong.

Conservatism never had enduring meaning because it was never truly defined in the first place.

Understand that all places and times -- that is, all modern times -- have had their conservatives. Europe has its conservatives, but their general attitude toward faux marriage ranges from support to blithe indifference, and they don't trouble much over abortion.

(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: catholic; conservative; liberal; popefrancis; religiousleft
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To: stanne

Thank you for the suggestions. I know very little of the history of the Church other than New Testament and first century teachings. Because the Protestant Faith doesn’t concern itself with church history a lot of us are ignorant of it. I personally think our history as Christians is important. I also feel that somehow us protestants have lost the art of worship. This is something that my Catholic brothers just do better. Of course this is my opinion and I am not in anyway speaking for anyone.


61 posted on 03/18/2013 9:47:31 AM PDT by PJammers (Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?)
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To: Paladins Prayer
The Church hierarchy does not consider them to be in good standing.

And yet very rarely are they denied communion.

Doesn't "not in good standing" demand this?

62 posted on 03/18/2013 9:48:37 AM PDT by fwdude ( You cannot compromise with that which you must defeat.)
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To: wardaddy

I’m hip!

Do you speak of the charming Cardinal Dolan, who spends much time pushing for the favor of illegals, and the rest of the Latinos who went for BO by 76%?

Can a whip cracker be someone who acts with a single purpose with the rule of law, or truth, in mind, a la Ted Cruz vs. Feinstein, Clinton, Leahy?

Then this might be our man.

Not that Cruz is Catholic, and I’ve read he is not, but humility, not to be confused with wimpiness is the Catholic version of whippin; as you call it.

We shall see.


63 posted on 03/18/2013 9:51:15 AM PDT by stanne
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To: ScubieNuc

It sounds to me that you think your truth is The Truth. Look closer at the Church, you will see Truth’s that will change your life, for the better.


64 posted on 03/18/2013 9:51:30 AM PDT by BarbM (Portuguese Dog--Kenyan president)
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To: PJammers

Then Scott Hahn is good. “Rome Sweet Home” is the go to book.


65 posted on 03/18/2013 9:54:13 AM PDT by stanne
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To: SeekAndFind
The MSM are trying to evaluate the Pope as if he is a minor player in the Washington political struggles.

Nothing could be further from the truth. The political agenda and disinformation from the MSM can not define any man of faith, virtue and spirituality. It most certainly can not define the Pope.

The world today is in the midst of a battle between good and evil in which the Washington insiders and MSM are low ranking foot soldiers on the side of evil. To be successful a Pope, and any Christian for that matter, must be far above them.

66 posted on 03/18/2013 9:57:38 AM PDT by detective
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To: wardaddy

What is a Peckerwood Catholic?


67 posted on 03/18/2013 9:57:51 AM PDT by Last Dakotan
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To: FewsOrange

Agreed. Hopefully he’s working for God.


68 posted on 03/18/2013 10:01:22 AM PDT by Vanders9
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To: stanne
“there is no such thing as a militant Catholic”

A militant is a person engaged in aggressive verbal or physical combat. It has come to define leftists, communists and others living in free societies who try to profit from aggressive political behavior. There are no militants in totalitarian states.

You are correct that there is no such thing as a militant Catholic. The thing to understand about leftists and evil doers in general, they never show what they truly are. They always lie. Someone who calls themselves a militant Catholic, a liberal Catholic, a Progressive Catholic or a Catholic for “choice” is in reality nothing but a liar.

69 posted on 03/18/2013 10:12:34 AM PDT by detective
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To: Last Dakotan

A white one

Peckerwood is slang for white

In prison flicks the white prisoners always say if it ain’t wood it’s no damn good

And so forth


70 posted on 03/18/2013 10:23:25 AM PDT by wardaddy (wanna know how my kin felt during Reconstruction in Mississippi, you fixin to find out firsthand)
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To: SatinDoll

It is possible that he is unable to genuflect, we do not know the state of his joints, he is 76. At the St Anne’s Mass yesterday, his bow was profound after the Consecration. It behooves us always to exercise Christian charity in thought, word and deed.


71 posted on 03/18/2013 10:27:23 AM PDT by pbear8 (the Lord is my light and my salvation)
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To: BarbM

Nope, you are wrong. The Bible holds the truths that we need. There is nothing in me that makes anything a truth.

The foundation of Christianity is Christ because he is “the way, the Truth, and the life.” John 14:6

I don’t need the Catholic Church to be in fellowship with God through Jesus. Jesus is the hope of all mankinds souls, not any church/organization of men.


72 posted on 03/18/2013 10:27:26 AM PDT by ScubieNuc (When there is no justice in the laws, justice is left to the outlaws.)
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To: wardaddy

Not a fan of prison flicks I guess.


73 posted on 03/18/2013 10:40:41 AM PDT by Last Dakotan
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To: PJammers
Actually there is no such thing as a Roman Catholic, that was a divisive label made up be the Anglicans to belittle those Christians who were still loyal to the Roman Pontiff (the Pope). It has, of course, entered common usage, but the Church never calls itself that. The correct term is the Holy Catholic Church and you will see documents referencing the Universal Church, since catholic means 'universal'.

That said, there are 26 rites within the Church that have developed since Apostolic times, the largest of these is the Roman Rite, which you are, no doubt, most familiar with. These rites all believe the same Creed, but the expressions and chant style, etc., differ somewhat. No matter the rite, the Church believes and follows the teachings of Jesus.

The Jesuit (The Society of Jesus, to give it its formal name) order was founded by St Ignatius Loyola to teach the Gospel and bring Jesus to the far reaches of the globe. Many places in this country are named for the Jesuit missionaries who preached to the Native Americans. St Francis Xavier, a Jesuit, was the first Christian missionary in Japan, along the way he preached in India as well. Of course, there was already some Catholics there as St Thomas the Apostle went there after the death and resurrection of Our Lord.

The Jesuits are all highly educated men. My teacher had 7 languages and 2 doctorates. When the Jesuits are good, they are very good, but sadly, in the 60's and 70's many were sucked into Liberation theology, which is actually just warmed over Marxism. This was rife in South America. The current Pope was against this and so he was treated badly by many of the other members in Argentina. He was sent off to the hinterlands to teach and was very happy there until Pope Benedict called upon him to become a Bishop and ultimately, a Cardinal.

I hope this answer is helpful to you.

74 posted on 03/18/2013 10:51:10 AM PDT by pbear8 (the Lord is my light and my salvation)
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To: wolfman23601

The ONE in charge of Christianity is Jesus, HE is the Rock that the church (world wide body of believers) is built on. You are correct that the Pope is the administrative head of the Catholic Church, but he is not necessary for believers to be in communion/relationship with Jesus.

I hope your pope serves the Catholic Church well, but to me, it doesn’t matter one iota who the Pope is or what his personal beliefs are.


75 posted on 03/18/2013 11:09:01 AM PDT by ScubieNuc (When there is no justice in the laws, justice is left to the outlaws.)
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To: PJammers
I appreciate the good will in your comments.
76 posted on 03/18/2013 11:18:26 AM PDT by Mrs. Don-o (May the Lod bless you and keep you. May He turn to you His countenance and give you peace.)
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To: pbear8

Yes. Very helpful. Thank you. I don’t know if this is true, but I have also read that Pope Francis had previously ministered in an Episcopal church. This could be why his mannerisms are familiar to me.

As Christians our differences in faith are more doctrinal. We all believe the same thing. Its a shame that we can’t have common ground. Anyone who can bring us closer as a united faith is a good thing, in my humble, not so well informed opinion that is.

Thanks again brother!


77 posted on 03/18/2013 11:30:27 AM PDT by PJammers (Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?)
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To: Mrs. Don-o
Thank you. You speak to my heart sister.
78 posted on 03/18/2013 11:44:50 AM PDT by PJammers (Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?)
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To: ScubieNuc

I am a protestant, however, like it or not the Pope is the earthly representative of the Christian faith. The Pope is a Christian and as a Christian he is our brother. When our Catholic brothers are attacked, infiltrated, or asked to capitulate it should be our duty to defend them.

We really need to try and put our differences behind. Its been almost a thousand years.


79 posted on 03/18/2013 12:07:42 PM PDT by PJammers (Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?)
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To: ScubieNuc

Please allow me to add that I meant this as a respectful disagreement and not a personal attack.


80 posted on 03/18/2013 12:14:33 PM PDT by PJammers (Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?)
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