What Would Happen If Catholics Started Wearing Pink Triangles To Church?

[ruggerson]

To protest the rabid bigotry of this Nazi pope.

Sound like something we might try to encourage?

It might even get a lot of folks back to church.

[Rowdyboy]

1. I don't think anything would help....this new pope has written off the

American and the European church. He knows he can't win in America or Europe-both areas are too diverse for his rigidity to tolerate. I think he intends to focus on South America, Africa and Asia because the lack of education and poverty there make these prime areas for rigid fundamentalism.

Benedict's only interest in the American or European church is as a cash-cow.

[FreedomAngel82]

2. Seems like it

This is one reason why I'm glad I'm not a Catholic cause of the authority-type figure such as the Pope. My pope is Christ.

[ruggerson]

3. you're probably right

But why then is he doing this Hitlerian purge in America?

[Rowdyboy]

4. Because American Catholics are smart enough to think for themselves...

That threatens him. I'm not Roman Catholic so this is very presumptuous on my part but, hell, its just my opinion. I think Benedict knows that American Catholics are simply unwilling the give up birth control, stop divorcing and remarrying, and stop being gay. They simply won't march in lockstep behind him and no amount of papal fury will change their minds.

Same with Europe. Sure the kids come out for "Youth Festivals" but they really don't accept his moralistic worldview and they're not going to change their behaviors to satisfy him. They're young and they want to have fun.

He's nearly as old as God and I don't think he cares enough to fight contemporary Western society. Its so much easier to intimidate Africans, South Americans and Asians.

[ruggerson]

5. So he's just doing the gay witch-hunt in the priesthood for show?

n/t

[Rowdyboy]

6. Just my opinion-I really don't think he gives a damn about gays in the

American priesthood. Certainly, he'd rather have them out, and he's going to make it as uncomfortable for them as possible to remain, but its no big thing. He's just flexing his muscle and letting people know he's in charge.

Yes, I think it is entirely for show. In my opinion, this is a very sad time in the history of the Catholic church. Benedict is going to damage Western Catholicism seriously.

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

7. I think he's doing it to link homosexuality and pedophilia

in people's minds. It's a deliberate attempt to smear gays.

I too believe that the majority of American Catholics will not give up secular freedoms and adhere more closely to Rome's directives. But there is a market share still available to Benedict of very conservative Catholics with more in common with fundamentalism than post-Vatican II Catholicism (despite the former's hatred of Catholics). I can guess that this niche is made up of more involved churchgoers who tithe more heavily, so it promises a greater return on investment. Meanwhile, Western money will fund missionary work in third world countries where Christian sects of all stripes are having great success selling unevolved doctrine.

I also think that this new policy is another step the Church is taking towards exerting its political influence. Emboldened by (and probably envious of) the emergence of the religious right, last year many bishops took the unprecedented step of forbidding members of their dioceses to vote for pro-choice candidates. It appears the Church is attempting to establish its place among the religious right and it will continue to steer in that direction.

[ruggerson]

9. Wasn't he the titular head of opus dei?

which has long advocated extremist positions similar to the U.S. religious right

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

11. Only in this regard:

Opus Dei is part of the formal hierarchical structure of the church of which the Pope is leader. OD isn't a club like Knights of Columbus. It's more like (but not exactly like) a religious order like the Jesuits. Its head is Javier Echevarria Rodriguez.

John Paul II elevated Opus Dei to this formal position and canonized its founder, Josemaria Escrivá; Benedict blessed a statue of Escrivá that was placed in the wall outside St. Peter's. The relationship between RC and OD could not be any closer.

[DanCa]

8. I started wearring my donkey pin to episcopal mass

I have only gotten two dirty looks at the coffee hour both from older ladies. Next time I go to catholic mass i think am going to go in my wheel chair that has my kerry edwards sticker on it and my al sharpton the christian right arent the right christian sticker on it. I also saw one the other day that had a picture of jesus saying I never told anyone to vote for george w bush.

[CatholicEdHead]

10. Probably eventually denied communion in most parishes

There would be some exceptions. I say this because of the Rainbow Sash wearers in the spring at Pentacost Sunday. As of this year, the across the board policy is to deny EVERYONE who has any type of rainbow on their clothes that Sunday communion. It does not matter if you or gay or just sympathize with them.

[dickthegrouch]

12. Well no-one's given the correct answer yet...

God would have to send a few more hurricanes/floods/earthquakes etc to the churches and we *know* he doesn't want to do that
:evilfrown:

[seabeyond]

13. i think that is EXCELLENT and would love for catholics to take

back THEIR religion the religion the love so. that has been a generational thing in families. yes. you are the only ones that can heal your religion and it is solely yours to do. yes yes yes.

i know they did paperclips in what wwII. something. very significant. you guys gotta do something. it is take religion back, of our of our christianity we will all have to walk away from religion, cause religion has walked away from christs words. and that would make you a hypocrite. a greater sin

[Celeborn Skywalker]

14. I think it's a good idea.

Parishes aren't as lock step with the pope as one might believe. I've been to several extremely liberal parishes and I've been to parishes that are to the right of Mussolini. Although this action might cause some Catholic parishes to deny communion to the one wearing the triangle, many others would welcome it, IMHO.