Any other atheists out there siding with the Pope over the President, VP, and House Speaker?

[Towlie]

Johnson backs Trump, Vance in criticism of pope

House Speaker Mike Johnson said he was “taken a little bit aback” by recent comments from the pope...

[rzemanfl]

1. Me.

I can't imagine being on the side of any of those three about anything.

[charliea]

40. Reformed Agnostic here.

That is I don't believe in an all powerful entity, but I'm willing to listen if She talks to me directly, right after a clean MRI anyway.
That being said there is no question that Pope Leo is the one with the ethically and morally correct stance.
Moses Johnson, a Baptist "bible-thumper", should open that thing he's thumping. No where in it is praise for war-mongers. He's said something about a 'war doctrine', without stating what he means. The Catholics have defined a 'just war', with a list of specific conditions to start one, and actions that can be taken in one. None of them are met in this war of Trump's choosing. The Catholic Church believes the Pope is infallible when pronouncing doctrine and Trump's error is believing he can successfully criticize the Pope without political cost, but why interrupt him when he's doing it?

[erronis]

47. I'd be on the devil's side if he was against those magats -- but he's part of them.

(I use "he" quite on purpose. Quite aware that there are some she-devils out there.)

[Srkdqltr]

2. Religion or not, the pope always has the high ground on moral issues.

[Towlie]

6. Maybe they expect the same treatment from the Catholic Church that Hitler got back in the 1930s...

But the current pope appears to have higher moral standards.

[Srkdqltr]

8. I never understood that.

[flashman13]

13. Racism

[GiqueCee]

22. I'm pretty sure...

... that 93 years ago, the Catholic hierarchy still had its bloomers in a bunch over "Give us Barrabas!"

[ok_cpu]

9. There was a moment in 2020

where he was allowed to use the shrine of St. John Paul II for a photo op, but that was the work of the Knights of Columbus. Many of my fellow Catholics have discarded everything else and cozied up to the regime over abortion.

[pnwmom]

14. And even the Knights of Columbus has sided with the Pope on this.

In recent days, many Catholics and other people of goodwill have been deeply disappointed by the disparaging comments directed at Pope Leo XIV by the President of the United States. The Successor of Saint Peter is not a politician — he is the Vicar of Christ, entrusted with proclaiming the Gospel and shepherding souls.

The Knights of Columbus has always stood in solidarity with the Holy Father, recognizing in him a spiritual father who calls the world not to division, but to unity, not to conflict, but to peace. In this moment, we reaffirm that commitment with clarity and conviction.

https://www.kofc.org/resources/news/latest-news/statement-from-supreme-knight-patrick-kelly/

[GiqueCee]

25. Ah, but what about...

... Opus Dei? Those boys went over the high side and into the rhubarb a LONG time ago!

[pnwmom]

38. They are a cult on the far right edge. Hopefully Pope Leo will eventually let them go. nt

[Laffy Kat]

42. I kind of doubt that.

Many of them are quite wealthy and give loads of $$$$ to the church.

[TommyT139]

81. See comment 80.

[TommyT139]

80. Looks like it's already underway

Pope Leo has asked Gareth Gore (investigative reporter who wrote Opus, about OD) to meet with him, and last year he began replacing some of the hard-liners in the American Roman Catholic Church leadership. Many of the replacements have been the sort of people Rethugs are locking up in ICE camps.

More in this thread:
https://democraticunderground.com/100221175179

[ok_cpu]

44. Thank you. I hadn't seen that.

I was a Knight prior to 2020 but not since. This was encouraging to read.

[TheProle]

15. Having the moral highground over Trump is a given for just about anyone, but

"the pope always has the high ground on moral issues" is a bit of a stretch if you're pro-choice and pro-gay marriage.

[MLWR]

18. I don't consider either abortion or birth control to be immoral; I believe the Pope does.

[progressoid]

23. Well...not always.

[erronis]

50. Thanks for the link! I'll watch someday when I have the stomach for it.

[Abolishinist]

66. Thanks for posting!

Hard to determine my 'favorite' out of this list, although Pope Stephen VI was a fun read. (:45)

... a man so twisted and vengeful that he put his predecessor on trial, cut off the three fingers he used for blessing, and then threw him into the Tiber river. But here’s the real kicker… his predecessor had been dead the whole time.

In what has to be the craziest act of a despot in history, Stephen had Pope Formosus dug up seven months after he had been buried, dressed in papal clothes, sat on the throne, and put through a trial. Formosus was accused of perjury and gaining the papacy illegally.

[Gore1FL]

60. When compared to Trump, maybe.

It's hard to call the Catholic Church as moral leaders given the long history of them failing in that regard.

[angrychair]

73. Unless its about molesting children

Maybe not so much.

[MustLoveBeagles]

3. This agnostic is on the Popes side

[maddiemom]

35. Another agnostic here (because how can you really KNOW?)...

with a a half Protestant/half Catholic family. I'm with the Pope all the way on this. Trump is so obviously completely batshit that it's getting scary.

[allegorical oracle]

4. Was baptized Lutheran, but agree with this Pope. nt

[Solly Mack]

5. Yes. My money is on Pope Bob from Chicago.

I don't have to be a believer to see that Pope Bob is not going to be bullied by Trump. That puts him head and shoulders above millions.

I like a good scrap.

[modrepub]

7. Ascension of Pope Francis

enabled a Pope of similar sentiments (Leo) IMHO. I had hope based the papal name relating to Francis of Assisi (and that he was the first Pope from the New World) that the Vatican would veer away from the conservative bent of its European predecessors (John-Paul and Benedict). The selection of an American was probably strategic given how American politics has drifted over the last decade. And this Pope's name, Leo, harkens a strong determined person, but who still seems to firmly champion the poor and powerless. It wasn't a surprise to me how many Republican politicians have done a 180 degree turnfrom supporting the previously conservative Popes, who had aligned with their "pro life" message.

In the end, all the Republicans care about is having and exercising power. Their religious convictions, if you actually consider that they have any, only serve these purposes, Gospel be damned.

[Yoyoyo77]

62. His title is a salute to LeoX the Pope who who backed the social gospel that-

supported the struggling Catholic immigrants during the 1890s through the early 20th century. You could say he was a social justice Pope.

[eppur_se_muova]

10. Of course ! He's a loyal American, unlike Trmp. nt

[sinkingfeeling]

11. Sure am.

[GB_RN]

12. Yup.

N/T

[Susan Calvin]

16. Me. nt

[yardwork]

17. I have a lot more respect for the pope than I do for MAGA.

[1WorldHope]

19. Oh, hell yeah!

[Blue Owl]

20. If tRump ends up dying as a result of the Pope's righteous opposition

I might just convert to Catholicism!

[bsiebs]

21. Atheist here... but today we're all Catholics!

[TheProle]

26. speak for yourself.

[bsiebs]

45. Peace.

[TheProle]

49. That I can get on board with

back at ya.

[lanlady]

24. As an ex-Catholic and a proud atheist

I stand with the Pope! And while I obviously don’t believe in papal infallibility, every faithful Catholic is supposed to believe the pope is never wrong. Has no one in the media asked JD about that? Also, whatever happened to Thou shalt have no other gods before me?

My very Catholic, pro -Trump cousin posted the infamous Trump-as-Jesus image on her FB page, only it depicted the actual Jesus and the guy lying in bed with his eyes closed was Trump. I asked her, “Does this mean he’s dead? Good! “

She did not take it well.

They’re so deep in the cult they’ve lost all critical thinking and all their religious instruction goes straight out the window too.

[harumph]

43. I believe he is only supposed to be considered "infallible" when speaking ex cathedra.

That is very rare however.

[llmart]

27. Add me to the list of atheists siding with the Pope.

Wow! I can't believe I said that, but this Pope is different.

[RetiredParatrooper]

28. Me.

I probably understand their religion better than they do.

[no_hypocrisy]

29. To me, Pole Leo is a humanist who cares

about humanity

That’s enough for me.
.

[chouchou]

30. Yes, Pope is Kind. Trump is 4 million mosquitoes.

[Raine]

31. This agnostic can't stand the pope

and will never side with him. I can't forget his stands on everything else which doesn't make up for his feelings on Trump.

[maddiemom]

65. His feelings on Trump are a BAD thing? Just asking.

[Raine]

72. No that's not a bad thing but l can't put aside

his church's stand on freedom of choice etc just because he has a disagreement with Trump. Its not enough to like him or his church.

[SamuelAdams]

32. Me

[walkingman]

33. Anyone with morals would be against Trump. He is the most corrupt person ever in the WH.

[GiqueCee]

34. I'm a devout atheist...

... but I don't begrudge anyone their beliefs until they try to impose them on the rest of us, but especially on me. That has a tendency to bring my blood lust to a boil in a remarkably short time.
That said, I'm giving this round to Pope Bob on points. May his God give him the strength and the left hook to put this imposter down for the count.

[Bayard]

82. I'm with you

Although I haven't really decided yet whether I'm an all-in atheist, or a Pagan. I've always had a problem with other people telling me what I should, or must, believe, since I was a kid.

I am tickled that this Pope is getting under trump's thin skin.

[rationalcalgarian]

36. Winston Churchill quote

“If Hitler invaded hell, I would at least find something favourable to say about the devil in the House of Commons”.
Not forming an alliance, but recognizing who is the more evil one. I am an atheist, but I side with the pope.

[barbtries]

37. emphatically yes.

as an atheist, i've had plenty of times to reflect that i'm a better christian than those so-called christians known as republicans.
in this case, the pope is echoing my values.

[Collimator]

58. Yes. Ultimately, it is about the values and not about any supernatural claims.

I strive towards a rational materialist view of the universe. That being said, there are a great many values/tenets/beliefs that are preached by any number of religions that I embrace as worthy and moral.

I don't have to believe that a divine being sent his son to earth to live as a human in order to accept some of the teachings attributed to Christ. I no longer believe in the notion of American Exceptionalism, but I still embrace the ideals expressed in the Declaration of Independence that all people are created equal and have the intrinsic right to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.

This current Pope espouses ideas that I agree with; Popes of the past have been horrible people. Many of the Founding Fathers were hypocrites who held their fellow human beings in bondage while waxing poetic about freedom. (And aren't we all still paying for that Original Sin.)

We are constantly failing and falling short of our lofty principles. And we are continually refining those principles and expanding upon them. I believe that redemption is a possibility; but I define it differently than many religions do.

[Drum]

39. Yes

[BeneteauBum]

41. These people use religion as a facade

If they truly believed, their actions would be must more benevolent. It’s all about deceiving easily led voters.

Peace ☮️

[Greybnk48]

46. Me too. I really liked Pope Francis as well, even though we disagreed on several issues

such as abortion and marriage rights for all.

[GreenWave]

48. As an atheist who called T the Anti-Christ many moons ago, I feel vindicated.

Many flocks have drifted toward insane babbling, money worshiping, thou shalt kill, vote for pigs and some are finally coming to their senses.

[Bev54]

51. Count me as another.

[MayReasonRule]

52. Yep!

Fuck Trump, Fuck Johnson, Fuck Vance, Fuck the GOP!

[NNadir]

53. I'm an atheist. I obviously prefer the Pope.

[usonian]

54. As a Buddhist, I am against greed, intolerance and lies. (among other things)

You've got three guesses where I stand.

[SunImp]

55. Pope Francis & Leo were morally correct about ongoing atrocities

[IbogaProject]

56. Yes

But I still remember the Catholic Clergy right up to the Popes have been backers of the "pro life" movement. I see this as quibbling over the facade around the system over an actual move for productive change.

[highplainsdem]

57. Ex-Catholic (a priest and a nun in my extended family) and now spiritual but not religious, but very much a fan of

this pope.

I'll never return to the church or follow any other religion, but I have to applaud a religious leader standing up for essential Christian teachings that too many self-professed Christians - like the three you named - apparently never understood.

[purr-rat beauty]

59. Well, i think the Pope means well

And I'd side with peace, compassion, fairness, kindness, love, inclusion, forgiv....eh, any time.

But the dogma, coverups, greed, judgment, hypocrisy, and silence time and time again from many religious leaders is why I lost faith in organized religion.

Ultimately, the President's behavior is unbecoming, devisive, immature, and disrespectful to both Christians and Muslims.

I do believe (sic) that the Pope means well where trump and his minions do not.

[TalenaGor]

61. yep...feels weird but I'm ethically aligned w/new pope

[Prairie_Seagull]

63. I am in. nt

[chowder66]

64. Here!

[Aussie105]

67. Idiots, bullies and cultists always have the same response when you disagree with them.

Complete surprise!

Which are you, Mike?

Bit of this and a bit of that, from what I see.

Mike, a hint: God isn't on your side.

[wolfie001]

68. I guess I'm agnostic, but I think this Pope is wonderful!

💯👍

[BidenRocks]

69. Atheist siding with the Pope.

Decency, courtesy and The Golden Rule.
That is never chump!

[twodogsbarking]

70. It is amusing I will say that. I cannot endors either. Peace.

[Pototan]

71. Me.

I have trouble accepting a higher being. Although I don't take Jesus or anyone else as my savior, I have always considered Jesus a great philosopher.

I am a devoted fan of Mathew 25 and the Sermon on the Mount.

[Retrograde]

75. Same here

When Mikey starts following the actual teachings of Jesus, especially the corporal works of mercy outlined in Matthew (feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, shelter the homeless, etc) maybe I’ll consider his opinion on matters religious. Until then he’s just another hypocrite.

[duckworth969]

74. Nope

The pope don’t need this atheist’s help.

His church is one of the richest organizations on the planet.

He’ll manage.

[True Dough]

76. Easily!

I'd side with almost anybody against that evil trio.

[Deuxcents]

77. I am not religious nor do I have anything good to say about organized religion, but on this issue, I agree with Pope Leo

[Metaphorical]

78. I like Pope Bob

I'm a fairly ardent agnostic, although I'm really partial to Asherah and Atargatis.

Pope Leo and Pope Francis to me both embody what the Catholic Church could be, and the fact that Pope Leo is taking the fight to Trump is great, not only because I think he is forcing Trump to acknowledge he's lost the moral high ground (not that he ever had it) , but also because he is forcing a lot of Trump's Catholic supporters to really re-examine what they believe in.

I think there is a subsection of MAGAs that are Christian in name only, but that have gone all in for the antiChrist.

[mwmisses4289]

79. Recovering catholic here. In this case, siding with the pope.

Jd is a cino (catholic in name only), T is definetly the anti christ, and who knows what the hell mj is. Not even sure they are human, and they are definitely not humane!