Hello. This is the first diary I have posted in 6 years. My previous experience on Daily Kos did not end well. I can say with complete honesty that it was mostly my own fault. However, I never stopped lurking, reading the recommended diaries and generally keeping an anonymous existence here. I received an (automated) e mail requesting that I try again, so here goes!
I am a pretty active Facebook user. You might even call it an addiction, but what the hell. I wrote a short essay the other day that received pretty good reaction from my FB friends, so I thought perhaps it would bear reposting here. Please keep in mind that I used some language from wiki to help me express myself. It follows:
Recently there have been a number of posts, both positive and negative, about Pope Francis and his visit to the U.S. His address to a joint session of Congress had a profound effect on a number of politicians, not the least of whom is John Boehner, who credited the Pope's address with his decision to retire from Congress early. Mr Boehner readily admitted that he was deeply affected by Pope Francis' words, and they were an impetus to his decision.
I am not a religious man. Indeed, there have been many things that bother me about religion. However, I was raised by a devout mom in the Catholic church, and there are some things that people who are not Catholic will probably never fully understand. And that's ok. I do not agree with the church on many things, so I would be considered a fallen Catholic.
One of the things is that in our earthly existence as Catholic Christians, the Pope is the Vicar of Christ. For a Catholic man like John Boehner, I am sure he felt an immense conflict within himself since his republican party does not follow in the words of their self professed Christian faith. Anyone who has read the bible understand that Jesus spoke of the neediest of people, spoke of throwing down the money changers, Jesus denied that wealth is a sign of God's favor or that poverty is God's punishment for sin, he was warning against becoming materialistic—letting things become more important than God. "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth" (Matthew 5.5)
When Pope Francis spoke of these things, we had republican politicians and pundits (like Rush) who said that the Pope is marxist or socialist, and we had one Fox person suggest that he is Satan. However, if you actually paid attention to what the Pope said, there is nothing there except clearly Catholic Christian thoughts and positions. Comments made by these people are repugnant, whether you are Catholic or not.
In virtue of the promise of Jesus to Peter, the Pope is preserved from the possibility of error "When, in the exercise of his office as shepherd and teacher of all Christians, in virtue of his supreme apostolic authority, he defines a doctrine concerning faith or morals to be held by the whole Church." Any Catholic who does not heed the words of the Pope puts his eternal soul at risk. I know people who left the church rather than accept this doctrine.
This is one of many things that non-Catholic's do not understand. Since I was raised in the Catholic church, I can understand the conflict that Mr. Boehner must have felt.
I wrote this little essay this evening not to make any specific point, or to point out any kind of superiority for the Catholic church. Indeed, I don't even self identify as Catholic anymore. I only wrote this so non-Catholic folks might come to some small understanding of what it means to be Catholic. If I would make one small request...please stop the demonization of this man. Whether you are Catholic or Christian or not, there is no reason to villify Pope Francis. It is clear. He is a man filled with compassion and love for the entire human race.
So there you go. I hope that this does not offend anyone. Even though I am no longer a religious person, I am a great admirer of Pope Francis. I also am only speculating on what conflict there may be within Mr. Boehner, it's just an (educated?) guess based on his statement and what I know about Catholic folk.