https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 25 Apr 2026 19:29:28 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pope-says-spanking-is-ok#post-2057807 Fri, 06 Feb 2015 14:54:40 +0000 keepcalmcarrie 2057807@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with him. I was spanked once as a child - not hard, it wasn't demeaning, and it was effective. I would spank as a last resort, and I think thoughtful, patient discipline is what he's advocating and what is most effective no matter what specific strategies a parent chooses to use. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pope-says-spanking-is-ok#post-2057784 Fri, 06 Feb 2015 14:45:36 +0000 mediagirl 2057784@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm pretty happy with this Pope. I have nothing bad to say about his feelings on spanking. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pope-says-spanking-is-ok#post-2057778 Fri, 06 Feb 2015 14:43:18 +0000 Torchwood 2057778@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Maybe I just don't know enough about Catholics, but it would never be shocking to me that a (Christian) religious figure would endorse spanking. It would surprise me more if he were against it. (For what it's worth, 100% anti-spanking under any circumstances here. But also 100% non-religious.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pope-says-spanking-is-ok#post-2057773 Fri, 06 Feb 2015 14:40:41 +0000 meredithNYC 2057773@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yeah, sorry, not going to trash the pope. I'm Catholic and have a lot of respect for him. I also am not totally against spanking, as I have done it myself on the rare occasion I thought it necessary. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pope-says-spanking-is-ok#post-2057714 Fri, 06 Feb 2015 14:19:17 +0000 BSB 2057714@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm catholic, so I'm very surprised all the other things that he's been saying. It's great that he said "If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?" Huge step for a catholic pope!</p> <p>So it's definitely a step in the right direction, though, I'm sure some hard core catholics aren't too happy with him. </p> <p>As for this spanking, it doesn't bother me. I was spanked as a kid but my parents are asian and their spanking was more like abuse. So because of my experience, I couldn't and don't want to spank my kids. But I can see ways spanking might be okay, as long as it doesn't hurt and there is no anger involved. </p> <p>So his spanking quote doesn't bother. He's not perfect but he's much more progressive (?) than a lot of the past popes... and I'll take it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pope-says-spanking-is-ok#post-2057696 Fri, 06 Feb 2015 14:10:07 +0000 Mae 2057696@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't agree with him. </p> <p>Also his opinion on parenting doesn't really affect me. </p> <p>I guess if I force myself to have an opinion on it, I think that it's unfortunate because his opinion does matter to a lot of people. And it's unfortunate because I think he's been pretty good about moving the church away from some of it's more archaic beliefs. But I also can't keep him in context as a person, being someone who was born and raised in south america (I think???)-- I believe spanking is a lot more common there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pope-says-spanking-is-ok#post-2057673 Fri, 06 Feb 2015 13:58:39 +0000 pui 2057673@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Actually reading the first part again it does sound sarcastic. Like he's saying "How <i>nice</i>. What a <i>good</i> father, doesn't hit his kids <i>in the face</i>." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pope-says-spanking-is-ok#post-2057620 Fri, 06 Feb 2015 13:34:14 +0000 jedeve 2057620@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>From reading his quote it seemed like he was focusing on that a parent should focus on disciplining without demeaning and that's what he was supporting. </p> <p>I do agree hitting is demeaning, but it doesn't sound like he was actually talking about whether or not spanking was good or bad. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pope-says-spanking-is-ok#post-2057588 Fri, 06 Feb 2015 13:19:22 +0000 blackbird 2057588@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lawbee11: yeah I never felt demeaned when I was being hit anywhere but the face :bummed: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pope-says-spanking-is-ok#post-2057552 Fri, 06 Feb 2015 13:09:05 +0000 twodoghouse 2057552@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsSCB: 100% agree with your whole comment. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pope-says-spanking-is-ok#post-2057456 Fri, 06 Feb 2015 12:26:26 +0000 MaryM 2057456@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm also not pro-spanking. But, I think it's also important (when interpreting his remarks on anything) that he's not just the pope of the first world, but of all Catholics from all cultures around the world. </p> <p>Sure, we (here and now) can see that there are better alternatives to spanking, but many cultures aren't there yet. So for those that do still see it as a normal thing, I think there's a lot of effect in his comments on discipline vs. punishment and restraint and waiting. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pope-says-spanking-is-ok#post-2057437 Fri, 06 Feb 2015 12:16:36 +0000 Mrs. J 2057437@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think the true content of his comments comes not from the wedding anecdote, but this part: "A good father knows how to wait and knows how to forgive from the bottom of his heart. Of course he can also discipline with a firm hand: he's not weak, submissive, sentimental," he said.<br /> "This father knows how to discipline without demeaning; he knows how to protect without restraint." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pope-says-spanking-is-ok#post-2057429 Fri, 06 Feb 2015 12:11:59 +0000 dc yoga bee 2057429@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not catholic, but there are bible verses about spanking so I don't think its that much of a stretch for a religious figure to be talking about it. * I'm not a spanker, so please no one jump on me :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pope-says-spanking-is-ok#post-2057409 Fri, 06 Feb 2015 11:57:28 +0000 lawbee11 2057409@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MaryM: It was more than just one line. </p> <p>"I once heard at a wedding a father say, 'I sometimes have to hit my children a little but never in the face, so as to not demean them.' How nice, I thought, he has a sense of dignity," the Pope said.</p> <p>"When he punishes, he does it right and moves on."</p> <p>"A good father knows how to wait and knows how to forgive from the bottom of his heart. Of course he can also discipline with a firm hand: he's not weak, submissive, sentimental," he said.</p> <p>"This father knows how to discipline without demeaning; he knows how to protect without restraint." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pope-says-spanking-is-ok#post-2057396 Fri, 06 Feb 2015 11:54:07 +0000 .twist. 2057396@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MaryM: He's a sarcastic pope? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pope-says-spanking-is-ok#post-2057388 Fri, 06 Feb 2015 11:44:18 +0000 MaryM 2057388@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The comments were part of a talk he was giving on the role of fathers (he's been talking about parents a lot lately). </p> <p>And the secular media loves to pull one-liners that might spark debate :)</p> <p>He also recently said if someone insulted his mother, he would slap them across the face. </p> <p>I'm not sure his comments are always meant to be taken literally. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pope-says-spanking-is-ok#post-2057379 Fri, 06 Feb 2015 11:39:49 +0000 MrsSCB 2057379@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hmm, personally I fail to see how it's possible to hit someone without demeaning them. But this is definitely not the only opinion the pope and I don't share! lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pope-says-spanking-is-ok#post-2057378 Fri, 06 Feb 2015 11:39:37 +0000 .twist. 2057378@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Don't know why he's commenting on disciplining children when he has none. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pope-says-spanking-is-ok#post-2057375 Fri, 06 Feb 2015 11:35:33 +0000 pui 2057375@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Eh well I disagree. I don't care what the Pope says anyway. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pope-says-spanking-is-ok#post-2057372 Fri, 06 Feb 2015 11:34:10 +0000 lawbee11 2057372@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm a little confused as to why the Pope is commenting on spanking. </p> <p>Anyways....thoughts?</p> <p><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/02/06/europe/vatican-pope-spanking-children/" rel="nofollow">http://www.cnn.com/2015/02/06/europe/vatican-pope-spanking-children/</a> </p>