This just in: Pope still hopelessly out of touch with reality.

[trotsky]

Pope praises big families after breeding 'like rabbits' remark made headlines
http://www.startribune.com/world/289267241.html

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis is praising big families after saying Catholics don't have to breed "like rabbits."

He says big families are a gift and don't cause poverty in the developing world, and that the real cause of poverty is an unjust economic system that idolizes money over people.

Francis reviewed his recent trip to Sri Lanka and the Philippines during his general audience Wednesday. During the trip, Francis strongly defended the church ban on artificial contraception, but also said Catholics needn't breed "like rabbits" and should practice "responsible parenthood" through church-approved birth control methods.

[Warren Stupidity]

1. I'm so confused.

Can anyone reconcile this nonsense?

[trotsky]

2. I'm sure there are several who would give it the old college try.

But most of them aren't allowed to post in this group, thankfully.

You'll note the same straw man arguing that is common on DU, just like we saw with Charlie Hebdo.

Person A: "Religion clearly played a role in the attack."
Person B: "OMFG you racist bigoted religion hater! Religion wasn't the sole cause of this!!!"
Person A: "???"

---

Reasonable person: "Lack of reproductive choice is clearly a significant factor keeping women and families in poverty."
Pope: "Big families aren't the sole cause of poverty in the developing world!"
Reasonable person: "???"

[JDDavis]

3. But he washes the feet of the poor!

So he must be a good guy, a breath of fresh air.

Millions and millions of Catholics love him, so he must be a good guy.

[AlbertCat]

4. But he washes the feet of the poor!

I hear he'll even touch someone with coodies!

[Curmudgeoness]

5. Ooh, I love to dance the little sidestep

Now they see me, now they don't / I've come and gone / And ooh, I love to sweep around a wide step / Cut a little swath / And lead the people on!

Forgive me for using lyrics from The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, but it seemed so appropriate. He had to backtrack on his comments about breeding like rabbits.

I don't think that this Pope is all that smart, or at least he has no filter on his comments.

[trotsky]

7. It's the best of both worlds.

He throws something out there for the liberals to lap up - and boy do they.

Later, he or someone else at the Vatican walks it back to placate the conservatives.

Win-win because both sides don't realize they're being played. Man was that former FOX News dude a great investment for them.

[onager]

6. "When food is especially scarce, only the children eat."

Article from 2012, so Ancient History. But I betcha the new Wonderpope can fix this!

Philippines birth control: Filipinos want it, priests don't

By Kenneth R. Weiss, Los Angeles Times - July 22, 2012, 7:00 AM

...This was not the life Naz wanted. She and her husband, who sells coconut drinks from a pushcart, agreed early in their marriage to stop at three children. Though a devout Catholic, she took birth control pills in defiance of priests' instructions at Sunday Mass.

But after her third child was born, the mayor of Manila — with the blessing of Roman Catholic bishops — halted the distribution of contraceptives at public clinics to promote "a culture of life." The order put birth control pills and other contraceptives out of reach for millions of poor Filipinos, who could not afford to buy them at private pharmacies.

"For us, the banning of the pills was ugly," Naz said. "We were the ones who suffered."

At 36, she had more children than teeth, common for poor women after repeated pregnancies and breast-feeding.

Undernourished and living in close quarters, her children were often sick. Measles was sweeping through the shantytown, afflicting two of Naz's sons and her 3-year-old daughter, Jasmine, who hung like a rag doll from her mother's arms.

"I pray to God. I pray really, really hard," she said. "Should God decide to take my kids, just don't let them suffer."

http://www.latimes.com/world/population/la-fg-population-matters5-20120729-html-htmlstory.html

[trotsky]

8. But... but... it can't be due to too many children.

The pope said so! No, clearly the world has INFINITE resources and the only problem is that we aren't distributing them correctly.

[Curmudgeoness]

9. That is heartbreaking.

I will never understand, in this day and age, why the Catholic Church is so worried about contraception. It seems like the only humane thing to do is to help the poor by allowing for fewer children. You would think that they would be the ones helping these families to stay small by furnishing birth control instead of banning them.

Interesting to note that the woman was using birth control, even though she was going against the church doctrine....as are so many Catholics.

[defacto7]

18. This is a picture

that would make Mother Theresa sing for joy seeing the suffering that they are offering Christ. More suffering, more gifts to Jesus.

Damn that's sick. That whole death and pain cult is beyond believing.

[mr blur]

10. Look, if you see Blank Frank around here, let me know -

I understand that he calls in to DU daily to find out what direction he should be going in, and I'd like a word.

[trotsky]

11. I'm pretty sure there is only one person important and self-aware enough...

to make posts that he would read. And perhaps be nudged by.

[onager]

12. Believe he's negotiating with ISIS and Boko Haram right now.

Backed up by his mighty army of liberal Catholics, supportive Protestants and the Swiss Guards, he should convince those well-meaning but misguided Muslims to lay down their arms and surrender soon.

And anyone criticizing anyone's religion will be severely chastised. Then beheaded.

[JDDavis]

13. Trying to figure out what Pope Frank means ..

from one day to the next.

It's sort of like nailing Jello to the wall.

Very slippery.

[AlbertCat]

23. Trying to figure out what Religion means ..

from one day to the next.

It's sort of like nailing Jello to the wall.

Very slippery.

[JDDavis]

24. True dat! n/t

[AtheistCrusader]

14. In fairness, being clueless about reality is in the job description.

[defacto7]

19. Sounds like Bush Jr.

Sorry off topic...

[AtheistCrusader]

22. Oh shit yes.

He would have made an EXCELLENT pope.

[Arugula Latte]

15. He strikes me as someone who just spouts whatever pops into his head.

e.g. Do pets go to Heaven? Sure! Why not?!

People shouldn't breed like rabbits -- well, duh! ... Oh, wait ... Let me clarify ...

[LiberalAndProud]

16. Say the thing. Walk it back.

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

Curmudgeoness posted the lyrics, but they just don't do justice to the visual.

[deucemagnet]

17. This guy needs small print disclaimers whenever he speaks.

Or maybe that guy who talks really fast about adverse side effects during drug commercials.

“If someone is gay, who searches for the Lord and has goodwill, who am I to judge?”

[font size = 1](The Catholic church condemns both gay marriage and sex outside of wedlock.)[/font]

"Some people think that - excuse my expression here - that in order to be good Catholics we have to be like rabbits. No. Parenthood is about being responsible. This is clear."

[font size = 1](The Catholic church does not condone the use of artificial contraception.) [/font]

"It is true that you must not react violently, but... if [somebody] says a curse word against my mother, he can expect a punch, it's normal," he said. "You can't provoke, you can't insult the faith of others, you can't make fun of faith... in freedom of expression there are limits."

[font size = 1](Do not taunt Happy Fun Ball.) [/font]

[defacto7]

20. This little thought comes to mind....

no organizational names....

Praises death
Seeks pain
Loves false information
Hates reality
Loathes sex in general
Hates unapproved sexuality
Seeks abusive sex is private
Speaks for nature's revival
Speaks against plans that promote nature's revival
Loves Amway religion of the pyramid
Teaches suffering as the way to God
Lives the Lives of Princes, Earls, Dukes, Kings and Demigods
Serve the poor by offering them poverty

Is this irony or just plain idiocy?

[trotsky]

21. So many fucked up items on that list - but possibly the worst one:

Teaches suffering as the way to God

So very very wrong.

[PeaceNikki]

25. And in other breaking news: Water is Wet!

[Act_of_Reparation]

26. And here's what the local Francophiles will do:

"HE SPOKE OUT AGAINST THE IDOLIZATION OF MONEY!!!! HE'S TEH BEST POPE EVAR!!!1!1!!1!1!:"