Setback for Pope Francis as synod fails to agree on gays, divorcees

I'm not religious, but this just doesn't make sense to me. Didn't Jesus hang out with, like, prostitutes and tax collectors (what could be worse than a tax collector?), and tell that thief who got crucified next to him that he could go to heaven, and say something about not coming to call the righteous, but rather sinners to repentance? What, Jesus's standards weren't high enough?

Bahahaha. As Bill Maher has said, they are preparing the poison as we speak at the Vatican.

'I'm not religious, but this just doesn't make sense to me. Didn't Jesus hang out with, like, prostitutes and tax collectors (what could be worse than a tax collector?), and tell that thief who got crucified next to him that he could go to heaven, and say something about not coming to call the righteous, but rather sinners to repentance? What, Jesus's standards weren't high enough?'

I've seen the message of Jesus interpreted as justifying homophobia, capitalism, owning weapons, pacifism, communism, violent revolution etc...I like to see him as a hippie socialist. The conservatives point out the fact that he didn't mention homosexuality and so they refer to the barbarism of the Hebrew bible ( which advises execution of homosexuals ) to justify their bigotry. The progressives point out that he didn't mention homosexuality and assume that he didn't see it as important. The common sense approach would be to understand that we shouldn't look to the moral outlook of a first century Jewish preacher to decide moral issues in 2014 and geriatric virgins(?) are not the best people to approach on sexual matters.

@Jimizo

Where did you see Jesus's message as justifying homophobia?

He said a kinds of stuff (I'm a Christian), but I've never heard that one.

@Luca Sorry, careless phrasing. I should have said 'I've heard the message' not 'I've seen the message'. I've heard many, particularly those on the US right, pointing out that Jesus didn't repudiate the Hebrew Bible's murderous hatred of homosexuals and this showed his approval of this attitude. The same people tend to overlook his attitude towards money and forgiveness of course.....

@Jimizo

Sure. Got you (^_^)

Outspoken American cardinal Raymond Leo Burke, currently head of the Vatican’s top canon law court, confirmed to Buzzfeed late on Friday that he is being removed from the job to be made patron to the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, an honorary post.

Makes me sick that American bishops are among Francis' most vocal critics. Fact of the matter is, is that if it were not for the influx of Catholics to the states from Latin countries, the Catholic Church here would be showing huge declines in membership. As it is, parishes are closing all over the country, and they cannot find enough priests. Sad that we are being led by the guys who tried to sweep the sexual exploitation by priests under the carpet here, and can do nothing but preach to the grey hairs.

Well put, Jerseyboy.

Celibacy's to blame for many ills. It didn't exist in the early church, is found in few other creeds, is arguably responsible for the abuse that has so damaged Catholicism, and the freefall in vocations over the past few decades.

It's too much to ask of the individual, and robs them of credibility in being able to counsel parishioners.

'...the guys who tried to sweep the sexual exploitation by priests under the carpet here'

Call it the sexual abuse and rape of children rather than 'exploitation'. I also prefer the word 'criminals' to 'guys'. Anybody who attempted to cover up one of the worst crimes imaginable ( including the disgusting violation of deaf children ) and in some cases shifting them to another area where they continued to prey on the defenseless should be serving a life sentence.

Jimizo and SenseNotSoCommon -- completely agree with both of you. A "sin" that the Church here is being held hostage by these kinds of men. I often critisize Japan for allowing the same kind of backward thinking and willingness to look the other way at obviously criminal acts be accepted. Well the Catholic Church, at least the bishops in the states, has nothing on Japan in this regards. At least we can be encouraged by the fact that the Pope demoted that clown, Cardinal Burke, and that the Pope's official statement on the synod was not accepting of this point-of-view at all.

It didn't exist in the early church, is found in few other creeds,

I don't know about the early church, but it is found among Buddhist monks and nuns. Perhaps it is too much to expect of every priest, though. Just saying, don't go after the people who need the refuge of the monastery.

The Pope said that "God is not afraid of new things" reported by a news article! Theological doctrine indicates that God is omniscience (all knowing, all knowledge old and new are included), almighty ( powerful), omnipotent (unlimited power), love..and within God are everything. If there is, God is beyond our science and emotions. Downgrading God is a new thing to fit the necessity of modernity? Religious wars and schisms are parts of history till today. Nothing new, so to speak.