03.13.2013 02:51 PM

Jebs

I was taught by Jesuits. So was my Dad.

Jesuits taught me about social justice, trade unionism, liberation theology, the power of words, fighting intolerance, and real liberalism.

The new pope being a Jesuit?

That’s a big, big deal.

29 Comments

  1. David RHIND says:

    He has already spoken out against gay marriage.And denying communion to pro-abortion politicians.And I agree it is a big deal.

  2. M-J says:

    From Facebook from an Argentinean acquaintance who was imprisoned during the dictatorship: “With Bergoglio, they couldn’t have chosen anyone more fascist. He was the biggest defender of the military dictatorship and always justified its torture and forced disappearances. He even said a few years ago that if the minister of public health in Argentina was pro-abortion, he should be drowned.”

  3. James Smith says:

    Right on!
    Jesus’ Intellectual Marines.

  4. Mulletaur says:

    It is a big deal, but those who are hoping that his papacy will mark a departure from the conservative politics of the last two popes are likely to be disappointed. ‘Liberation theology’ will not be on the agenda.

  5. Carole says:

    Agreed!

  6. Balconies says:

    According to Wikipedia, the the holy father thinks that economic inequality is a violation of human rights. That’s great. But it also says that he thinks that gay rights are the work of the devil. That’s not so great. Ya win some, ya lose some.

  7. G. Babbitt says:

    Yeah he did a great job during the dirty war never raising his voice above a muffled whisper.

  8. I haven`t met a Jesuit that doesn`t have a good sense of humour. So far, so good.

  9. Ian says:

    The church is incapable of meaningful change because God made it that way.

    Why devote yourself to an institution that is bound in tradition and defends antiquated values at the expense of progress? Just join the conservatives if that is what you want.

    Devotion to faith ends change. Stop believing and start thinking.

  10. James Bow says:

    I think the name he picked is significant. It makes me think poverty issues will be addressed.

    Look at it this way: if he’s theologically conservative, then he’s no worse than the past two popes we’ve dealt with. The same workaround still apply. But if he brings a social justice aspect to the papacy, we’ll all be better off.

    • MCBellecourt says:

      To truly address poverty, he will need to address the current inequality of women in the Church. Poverty is most felt by women and children. Through the lack of access to birth control, women in the Third World give birth to children only to watch them die of starvation when the milk dries up. There are too many instances where, since the Church and other religions say that, since women are not fit to lead, they are also not fit to control their own lives, and because of that, the abuse of women will continue, because poverty is a form of abuse, often implimented as a form of oppression and control.

      Ever seen an innocent child starve to death? The suffering endured by that sentient being is unimaginable. Yet it happens every damn day on this planet, because women are still denied control over their own bodies, and the Church does nothing to help the situation by keeping the status quo.

      If the Pope were serious about fighting poverty, he would advocate ready access to the tools that would go a long way to address that poverty, and recognizing women as equals within the Church would open the door to a new cycle of recognition outside of it. Recognizing the science that goes along with Christ’s spiritual teachings about knowledge, tempered with compassion, will eradicate poverty faster than words and archaic dogma.

      I’ll be watching, but I won’t be holding my breath. In the meantime, I will continue to donate to the charities that help the homeless and hungry in my city directly, as Christ would have me do–and I don’t need any organized religion to tell me that it *is* the right thing to do.

  11. Black Robe says:

    Rock on me Black Robes …

    In England, Henry Garnet, one of the leading English J E S U I T S, was hanged for misprision of treason, because of his knowledge of the Gunpowder Plot (1605). The Plot was the attempted assassination of King James I of England and VI of Scotland, his family, and most of the Protestant aristocracy in a single attack, by exploding the Houses of Parliament. Another Jesuit, Oswald Tesimond, managed to escape arrest for his involvement in the Gunpowder Plot (Wiki).

    “Lies, cunning [and] entanglement [are] a necessary and marvelous means for demoralising and destroying the enemy, though certainly not a useful means of obtaining and attracting new friends”. Bakunin continued to defend the young radical he called “my tiger cub,” and even advised Nechayev to form a secret society which used “J E S U I T methods or even entanglement” against enemy societies and the government. As Bakunin wrote, “Societies whose aims are near to ours must be forced to merge with our society or, at least, must be subordinated to it without their knowledge, while harmful people must be removed from them. Societies which are inimical or positively harmful must be dissolved, and finally the government must be destroyed. All this cannot be achieved only by propagating the truth; cunning, diplomacy, deceit are necessary” (Wiki).

  12. Brad Young says:

    I am pretty sure Pierre Trudeau was educated by Jesuits.

  13. Sean says:

    The man is a bigot, end of story.

  14. !o! says:

    oh wow, this is absolutely huuuge.

  15. deb s says:

    im still confused about why people arent protesting the reason for the pope stepping down. sheep! all catholics should be walking away from this BS until they stop abusing children and covering it up:P
    But there they all are…cheering in the streets…its chilling really!

  16. Bruce A says:

    The more things change, the more they stay the same. Perhaps he takes up the plight of the poor but crony capitialism won’t change one iota and the Church will shrug and say nothing more.

    The biggest issue the Church faces is the sexual abuse of it’s own children and they’re going to do everything possible to avoid taking responsibilty for it.

    It leaves me utterly flabbergasted that the faithful stand for it. Doesn’t this stain matter to any of these Cardinals? How can the tenets of this or any other church allow it to pass?

  17. Michael Bussiere says:

    I’ve read alot of hateful comments, here and elsewhere. I’ve had cruel, intolerant, hurtful things said to my face because of the faith my father gave me. It seems to me The Roman Church and its adherents are the last acceptable target for unbridled prejudice based on the actions of a few. It breaks my heart.

    • Derek Pearce says:

      Then maybe the damn Church hierarchy should start acting like it truly understands the gravity of its sins. People’s faith in the institution is what has been shaken, and perhaps that affects their faith, perhaps not, but don’t cry for an organization that has been too much about saving it’s own skin rather than the souls of it’s followers.

      • Sean says:

        Exactly.

        • Michael Bussiere says:

          Here’s a basic lesson: The church IS the laity, the people, as much as it is the hierarchy. I’m not crying for an organization, I’m hurt to be subject to insults and barbs because I belong to something that is broken at the top. A corrupt government does not mean that citizens of a state deserve to be subjected to hateful comments in person and in comment boards. Can you comprehend the difference?

          • George says:

            Michael, consider it the cross you must bear. No pun intended. Faith isn’t meant to be easy (I personally find it ridiculously difficult since it flies in the face of reason…but that’s another discussion.)

          • Derek Pearce says:

            Well, I for one would not make fun of someone for being Catholic, or Hindu, or animist for that matter. My perception, and perhaps I’m wrong, is that you are taking attacks on the hierarchy of the Church as a personal attack on your own faith. Of course any religion “is” it’s adherents– but it’s fair to say that the way abuse and money scandals have been handled by Church officiants (not members) is open to justified criticism, regardless of what one thinks of the supernatural.

          • Michael Bussiere says:

            I appreciate your responses, all of you. Perhaps it is because of a trend towards rational, secular meaning, which is brilliant, but I have seen and been told pointblank a lot of unkind things that any politically-correct hipster would never utter about another faith.

            May I respectfully suggest that critiques be directed at “The Vatican” and not “the church” which is all of us poor SOBs who, like the rest of the world, are just using what we know to figure out the whole goddamned beautiful mess. Thank you.

          • Michael Bussiere says:

            Sorry, what does Rio and Brazil have to do with this?

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