God bless the new Pope!

[hrmjustin]

May God bless him in his new ministry and give him the strength so that he may carry out his ministry.

[gcomeau]

1. Just like the last infallible representative of the all powerful master of the universe...

Right?

[hrmjustin]

4. I am just wishing him well.

[gcomeau]

5. Technically no, that's not just what you were doing.

You were calling for an all powerful superbeing to imbue him with with the ability to perform his duties as that supebeing's infallible spokesman on earth.

Think that through for a minute in the historical context of the Catholic church and consider why it generated my response.

[hrmjustin]

8. Ok Well my post stands.

[gcomeau]

9. As does mine. -nt

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. Would that ministry include the continued exclusion of women

and the denial of basic civil rights to the LGBT community that seems to be the new Pope's and the RCC's position? If so, then I hope "God," assuming there is such a thing, enlightens him rather than blesses his lack of enlightenment.

[hrmjustin]

3. As a gay Episcopalian I hope the church takes a turn to the left.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

7. Don't hold your breath.

Be glad Henry VIII founded the Church of England (though for some pretty bad reasons); enjoy the fact that the Episcopal Church has managed to see the light that the RCC so far has managed to ignore. That crowd is stuck in the Middle Ages and I don't see them moving forward any time soon.

[JuniperLea]

6. I think you may be asking for too much too soon

The Catholic church moves at a snails pace. It took decades to be allowed to eat meat on Fridays. And meat was never seen as an abomination, so this is going to be a very long uphill battle. Best to pace yourself methinks.

[dballance]

10. I Wish the New Pope to go pound sand. Just I've wished for every Pope

Once the RCC stops being a child-abusing organization that people like Benny the Rat no longer defend and do not protect from prosecution I will be okay with it.

That you call yourselves "men of the cloth" is disgusting. How you can look yourselves in the mirror and feel good about yourselves is an abomination. Yep, keep those vestments close to you. Your vestments are a testament to how despicable you are.

[backscatter712]

11. Maybe he'll actually bring the RCC to the 21st century...

Maybe he'll get past his homophobia and misogyny, pull his head out of his rear, lead the church to a new era of tolerance, and spend his papacy promoting peace and justice.

Yeah, I know, that's about as likely as seeing a Vorlon do a strip-tease...

[cbayer]

12. I hope he has the strength and courage to challenge others and

shine sunlight into every corner.

He's got some positives and the choice was unanticipated. That could be good.

[Goblinmonger]

19. He came in 2nd when they picked the last pope

How is that "unanticipated"?

His positives are minimal compared to the conservative stances he has.

[hrmjustin]

21. The media was not focused on him. That is why it was unanticipated.

[goldent]

13. I wish him the best also, and look forward to his reign. nt

[trotsky]

14. His "ministry" includes the goals of...

- Viewing women as the inferior sex
- Keeping Catholics (and non-Catholics) from having full control over their reproductive choices
- Portaying homosexuality as unnatural and sinful

I sincerely hope that he is wholly ineffective at carrying out his ministry, because it means progressive goals and ideals will suffer.

[hrmjustin]

15. We can only hope that the Holy Spirit moves him to be more progressive.

[trotsky]

16. Then you DON'T hope he's successful in his ministry.

You need to figure out what it is you want.

[hrmjustin]

17. I know what I want him to do in his ministry.

To be progressive and yes i wish him the best. I will speak out where i think hew is wrong and I will praise him when correct IMO.

[trotsky]

20. Then it isn't *his* ministry you're hoping he is successful with.

Because his includes every anti-progressive issue I listed above. I hope he fails miserably at that ministry, and that the Catholic church is an even weaker and more irrelevant institution in everyone's life when he's done.

[hrmjustin]

22. I hope the Holy Ghost moves him to be progressive.

[struggle4progress]

18. I will join you in wishing him well: he faces some real challenges