Pope assails Canada's laws allowing same-sex marriage and abortion

[Buttons 0]

One of Canada's strengths is that it places the values of compassion and tolerance above the traits of bigotry and intolerance. Canada has always (almost) accepted people for who they are as individuals rather than labeling them all the same and denigrating them under one ill-fitting description. A Member of Parliament is elected as a representative of his constituents - not to vote his own beliefs. If he is not able to represent honestly the majority wishes of his constituents then he is misrepresenting himself to the electorate and makes a mockery of the democratic process of the country. I worked for An MP and I know that many times he had to vote according to the wishes of the people he was elected to represent rather than as his own heart desired - that was his job and he took it seriously. At times it made him unpopular with his own Party but that is what a represntative democracy means. The Pope is out of line to state that Catholic MPs must ignore the wishes of their constituents and vote the way the Pope says because they follow a specific religious belief. There is separation of Church and State in Canada - in deed and not just a token word. If a religious individual cannot honestly represent the electorate, he should not run for office. He represents the people, not himself.

Great Reply !!!!!!!!!!!

Oh and I am a practicing Catholic and BELIEVE. But some of the teachings are just to stict and to old.

Edited September 8, 2006 by Buttons

[Karen_L 1]

I was born and raised Catholic and I went to Catholic school my whole life (a wonderful experience, actually, as I have had some marvelous Catholic religion/world religion classes) . I personally disagree with A LOT of Church policy regarding social issues, but The Church is what it is and I think it has a responsibility to remain consistent in what it teaches and with its policies. I once heard it said that The Church will always "side with life" meaning that in any given issue, regardless of practicality or modernity, The Church HAS TO always promote life i.e. being anti-abortion, anti-death penalty, anti-birthcontrol, etc. because life = potential for goodness and/or positive change. God works in/inhabits this potential. In regard to euthinasia, (pracitcing) Catholics are obliged to pursue all normal/mainstream means to battle a fatal illness and to seek treatment for non-fatal illnesses, if possible. And etc.

Gay Marriage is a whole other issue, of course, as the Church views homosexuality kind of as a birth defect (please excuse the terminology here, I'm trying my best lol). According to The Church, it's a challenge certain people are born with. So, the Church doesn't view being gay or having gay feelings as a sin; the SIN (according to the Church) is acting on those feelings. Therefore, gay people have to live with their "handicap" by not acting on their inclinations. For The Church, permitting gay marriage is like sanctioning the "sin" of gay sex.

Of course, clearly, The Catholic Church is FAAAAAAAR from perfect, both now and centuries ago, but the Pope isn't just some silly old man spouting conservative nonsense just for the he!! of it; there's a great deal of philosophy behind these opinions and although I disagree with Church stance in these matters (partially or completely), I *DON'T* think any good could come, ideologically speaking, from okay-ing abortion, birthcontrol, capital punishment and the like since The Church, as the spiritual leader of millions of people, cannot be in favor of death. Of course, The Church hasn't always upheld this in their own actions but ideology is just that -- the theory.

[Welshcookie 17]

Who cares? Believers care. He is the leader of the Church, God's Church here on earth. I listen to what he has to say and BELIEVE.

He is just a bloke. If you want to have 'faith' in a God then go for it....but a pope? a man? only other mortals give him the right to your above statement.

[Cristy 4]

Pope Benedict should keep his nose out of other people's business. The vatican does not have rule over us anymore.

One of Canada's strengths is that it places the values of compassion and tolerance above the traits of bigotry and intolerance. Canada has always (almost) accepted people for who they are as individuals rather than labeling them all the same and denigrating them under one ill-fitting description. A Member of Parliament is elected as a representative of his constituents - not to vote his own beliefs. If he is not able to represent honestly the majority wishes of his constituents then he is misrepresenting himself to the electorate and makes a mockery of the democratic process of the country. I worked for An MP and I know that many times he had to vote according to the wishes of the people he was elected to represent rather than as his own heart desired - that was his job and he took it seriously. At times it made him unpopular with his own Party but that is what a represntative democracy means. The Pope is out of line to state that Catholic MPs must ignore the wishes of their constituents and vote the way the Pope says because they follow a specific religious belief. There is separation of Church and State in Canada - in deed and not just a token word. If a religious individual cannot honestly represent the electorate, he should not run for office. He represents the people, not himself.

[incanada1234 0]

One of Canada's strengths is that it places the values of compassion and tolerance above the traits of bigotry and intolerance.

She's right, Canada is compassionate and tolerant. If you're not a white Christian male, that is.

[Ban Hammer 13,677]

One of Canada's strengths is that it places the values of compassion and tolerance above the traits of bigotry and intolerance.

She's right, Canada is compassionate and tolerant. If you're not a white Christian male, that is.

how's utah?

[incanada1234 0]

One of Canada's strengths is that it places the values of compassion and tolerance above the traits of bigotry and intolerance.

She's right, Canada is compassionate and tolerant. If you're not a white Christian male, that is.

how's utah?

Full of white Christian males, thanks. Just kiddin'.

It's been crazy actually, I'm not too impressed so far. I mean, I know I grew up here but lots has changed in 4 years. I miss Ontario.

Oh, and sorry for not replying to your PM. I've had NO internet time until today. Don't worry, you're still one of my 3 favorite.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

how's utah?

I'm not too impressed so far. I mean, I know I grew up here but lots has changed in 4 years. I miss Ontario.

What has changed?

[incanada1234 0]

how's utah?

I'm not too impressed so far. I mean, I know I grew up here but lots has changed in 4 years. I miss Ontario.

What has changed?

The population. I remember a time when you could actually drive on the freeway without slowing to a crawl every two miles. This state is completely PACKED now, even in cities that used to be nice and quiet and small. It's crazy.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Who cares? Believers care. He is the leader of the Church, God's Church here on earth. I listen to what he has to say and BELIEVE. Flame me all you want. Jesus Christ is our Risen Lord and he created the Church with Peter being the first Pope. The Bible speaks again and again that it is wrong to divorce and remarry and that sodomy is wrong. But I understand that unless you are a believer and seen God's good works, you would never follow the Lord. The law of Lord doesn't change. What what truth then is truth now! It is each and everyone of our rights to choose to believe or choose not to believe, but if a politician states he is a practicing Catholic, he can't have his cake and eat it too. No Catholic can say that they are pro-choice or pro-samesex marriage. The Bible has taught us those things are wrong and it would be a misrepresentation to the Church if someone identified themselves as Catholic and then blatently went against one of the principle foundations of the Church.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Who cares? Believers care. He is the leader of the Church, God's Church here on earth. I listen to what he has to say and BELIEVE. Flame me all you want. Jesus Christ is our Risen Lord and he created the Church with Peter being the first Pope. The Bible speaks again and again that it is wrong to divorce and remarry and that sodomy is wrong. But I understand that unless you are a believer and seen God's good works, you would never follow the Lord. The law of Lord doesn't change. What what truth then is truth now! It is each and everyone of our rights to choose to believe or choose not to believe, but if a politician states he is a practicing Catholic, he can't have his cake and eat it too. No Catholic can say that they are pro-choice or pro-samesex marriage. The Bible has taught us those things are wrong and it would be a misrepresentation to the Church if someone identified themselves as Catholic and then blatently went against one of the principle foundations of the Church.

Believers apparently listen to a group of men who can no more have a normal sexual/intimate relationship than I am allowed to ** a chicken in public.

Homosexuality maybe immoral but celibacy is unnatural and unsustainable (considering the child abuse scandals of the last few years).

Edited September 9, 2006 by erekose

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

how's utah?

I'm not too impressed so far. I mean, I know I grew up here but lots has changed in 4 years. I miss Ontario.

What has changed?

The population. I remember a time when you could actually drive on the freeway without slowing to a crawl every two miles. This state is completely PACKED now, even in cities that used to be nice and quiet and small. It's crazy.

Interesting. I've been reading about how those states have been experiencing record population growth at the expense of the states in the East and Midwest. Good to know the media didn't make that up. Living here in New Jersey it sure doesn't feel like our population is stagnant or decreasing, no matter how much the media assures me that is the case.

Maybe it's time to move a few more miles out? That's what we do out East. Keep moving further and further away (suburban sprawl is only bad when people are moving into the areas you live in, not when you are the sprawl).

[Mirorgate 0]

Believers apparently listen to a group of men who can no more have a normal sexual/intimate relationship than I am allowed to ** a chicken in public.

Homosexuality maybe immoral but celibacy is unnatural and unsustainable (considering the child abuse scandals of the last few years).

No doubt... but it isn't biblical to forbid the priests to not marry. That is Catholic tradition later put in place to keep the land in church hands, and not willed to eldest son when the father died.

paraphrasing Paul: if you can be celebate cause you have no sex drive as I do (paul here), then do not marry... but if you have one (sex drive) then by all means marry.

Cant even get their own law changed to correct their mistake. ah well... maybe one day.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I miss Ontario.

Oh man, this is scary. Incanada missed Ontario. This is bad!

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I miss Ontario.

Oh man, this is scary. Incanada missed Ontario. This is bad!

Next thing you know she'll have a Feingold 2008 bumper sticker. Night will be day and day will be night and George W Bush will start a universal healthcare program.

Edited September 9, 2006 by Gupt