https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 05 Apr 2026 17:16:46 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/popr-francis-encourages-church-to-look-beyond#post-1099271 Thu, 19 Sep 2013 18:47:23 +0000 pastemoo 1099271@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>&lt;3 I love this. A large part of my family is Catholic and I was a Catholic school teacher for a minute and I just love this. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/popr-francis-encourages-church-to-look-beyond#post-1099264 Thu, 19 Sep 2013 18:44:14 +0000 LovelyPlum 1099264@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love this Pope. This interview was amazing, and I think it's a great step forward. But what a lot of people may not realize is that he didn't say anything in that interview that the Church doesn't already profess somewhere in its doctrine. It's just that sometimes, these doctrines are so squeezed in favor of the "hot button" political issues that they get completely overlooked. I agree with him that the Church *has* to find more balance. It's just nice to see that coming from the curia as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/popr-francis-encourages-church-to-look-beyond#post-1099248 Thu, 19 Sep 2013 18:40:52 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 1099248@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are in the process of doing classes to get the girls baptized so I'm very pleased! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/popr-francis-encourages-church-to-look-beyond#post-1099241 Thu, 19 Sep 2013 18:39:02 +0000 meredithNYC 1099241@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm super excited about it! I have chosen to stick with the church because I feel a deep spiritual connection with it, even though, as a liberal, I have struggled in that "relationship" at times. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/popr-francis-encourages-church-to-look-beyond#post-1098978 Thu, 19 Sep 2013 17:22:38 +0000 AmandaB8 1098978@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I grew up Catholic, but I grew up in a very liberal Catholic area. It took a lot of work to find a church we loved in our new city, but I love the one we're going to. We have a couple of gay couples, and our priest prays for acceptance for all at the end of every mass. </p> <p>I think it's super important to get the church into the modern world - its silly to lose followers over hatred, when we're called to be a loving, caring people. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/popr-francis-encourages-church-to-look-beyond#post-1098972 Thu, 19 Sep 2013 17:20:17 +0000 runsyellowlites 1098972@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not Catholic, but there are definitely some aspects I can agree with... </p> <p><i>...must be like a "field hospital after battle," healing the wounds of its faithful and going out to find those who have been hurt, excluded or have fallen away.<br /> "It is useless to ask a seriously injured person if he has high cholesterol and about the level of his blood sugars!" Francis said. "You have to heal his wounds. Then we can talk about everything else."</i></p> <p>That is so very very true &amp; when we (the church) lose that then not only do we turn off others to Christ's teachings, but we have a bunch of broken followers that miss the freedoms/point/call of Christs sacrifice.</p> <p>I don't agree with/think that this is the "problem" with the Church (Catholic) though...... that's a completely different topic that has more to do with doctrine &amp; not attitude of the Church's purpose. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/popr-francis-encourages-church-to-look-beyond#post-1098956 Thu, 19 Sep 2013 17:12:54 +0000 erinpye 1098956@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love it! I'm not Catholic, grew up Protestant, however my husband and daughter are, and I attend mass with them. I might convert someday, and this makes me really happy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/popr-francis-encourages-church-to-look-beyond#post-1098942 Thu, 19 Sep 2013 17:08:28 +0000 MapleMoose 1098942@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The think it's a great step to "update" the Catholic Church. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/popr-francis-encourages-church-to-look-beyond#post-1098907 Thu, 19 Sep 2013 16:55:20 +0000 looch 1098907@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@deerylou: exactly the same for me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/popr-francis-encourages-church-to-look-beyond#post-1098899 Thu, 19 Sep 2013 16:52:49 +0000 Mae 1098899@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not Catholic but I was happy to hear the news above. I still respect Pope Francis as a religious leader and someone who can help instill more peace and harmony in the world (or who alternatively can continue to drive a wedge between varying groups of people). From what I've seen so far I've been impressed with the way he has conducted himself. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/popr-francis-encourages-church-to-look-beyond#post-1098869 Thu, 19 Sep 2013 16:38:51 +0000 deerylou 1098869@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cole: I feel the same re: cultural Catholicism. To me, my Italian heritage so often goes hand in hand with certain rituals and traditions, so I can relate to the comfort associated with them.</p> <p>I am unsure I could ever return to the Church for the same reasons. For me, it would take actual advocacy and a true, open-door policy to really get my butt in the pews. I'm just glad that Church my extended family and in-laws are so passionate about is now being led by a relatively admirable man. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/popr-francis-encourages-church-to-look-beyond#post-1098853 Thu, 19 Sep 2013 16:33:45 +0000 Cole 1098853@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I consider myself a "cultural Catholic"-- I was brought up by parents who were raised in very Catholic households but neither one was particularly taken with the details. The traditions and rituals are comforting to me and feel homey. </p> <p>The flip side is I have had a hard time finding peace with a lot of the issues that Pope Francis is helping to address. I don't know that I will ever find myself being a full fledged Catholic but I am happy he is setting such a loving example. I really admire him and I hope he is able to continue to be a positive influence. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/popr-francis-encourages-church-to-look-beyond#post-1098828 Thu, 19 Sep 2013 16:24:14 +0000 deerylou 1098828@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In an interview posted today, Pope Francis declared that the Church must "focus beyond small-minded rules", speaking directly to the issues of contraception, abortion, and homosexuality. He warned that the Church's moral structure may fall "like a house of cards", if Catholics don't relax on some of their more decisive rules, and make the Church a more welcoming place, for all.</p> <p>What are your thoughts? I, for one, am very pleased with this interview, and feel that it offers actual hope for change within a very conservative Church - a church that DH and I strayed from for the aforementioned reasons. I look forward to more from Pope Francis. </p> <p><a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57603671/pope-francis-catholic-church-must-focus-beyond-small-minded-rules/" rel="nofollow">http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57603671/pope-francis-catholic-church-must-focus-beyond-small-minded-rules/</a> </p>