Better an Atheist than a hypocritical Catholic.
What is this? I heard myself saying.... A little respect! A bit of logic. Some caring words, some humility from this man of god. A nod of admiration from a committed Atheist as this man is actually preaching forgiveness, Compassion and Understanding. Actually doing the Jesus thing. Is it possible that the Vatican is mellowing after more than 2000 years of hard line doctrine and moving into the 21st century? |
Then :- On 26th February 2017 the world headlines from the likes of Reuters, CNN, The Guardian, and many other tabloids and web sites quoted pope Francis as saying,
"that it’s better to be an Atheist than a hypocritical Catholic"
His words were flashed round the globe to be read by countless millions. To the world and his followers the popes words and deeds are pure, they are law, they are the word of god; to be adhered to and are held in high regard with reverence and obedience.
The pope, like any world leader celebrity, prominent politician or member of royalty is followed closely by the worlds press. TV cameras, digital recorders, photographers, pen and paper are all at the ready. They jostle and push for position listening to his profound words of wisdom, his teachings, his prayers on how humanity should be practicing and living their lives.
The press report what the pope does, where he goes and of course what he says. There is very little "editorial comment" to what the Pope says, You may read something like His holiness raised a few eyebrows, or he put to shame this or that. Even when he says outlandish or wild things he is not put in the spotlight, questioned or brought to account with demanding searching questions or even ridiculed for them. The norm in the main stream press is just to report with little or no investigative journalism that the world leaders, celebrities, politicians and royalty are subjected to.
He is treated with a reverence and respect that virtually no one else on the planet is afforded save maybe the deli llama.
Vatican radio together with a few religious websites have been at pains to point out that the pope was not saying it is better to be an atheist than a bad Catholic, and stressed that the quote is being used out of context or misrepresented. This is often followed with an added a link to the full transcript of the interview.
The original interview is a long one but here is the wording as said by the Pope.
"But what is scandal? Scandal is saying one thing and doing another; it is a double life, a double life. A totally double life: ‘I am very Catholic, I always go to Mass, I belong to this association and that one; but my life is not Christian, I don’t pay my workers a just wage, I exploit people, I am dirty in my business, I launder money…’ A double life. And so many Christians are like this, and these people scandalize others. How many times have we heard – all of us, around the neighbourhood and elsewhere – ‘but to be a Catholic like that, it’s better to be an atheist.’ It is that, scandal. You destroy. You beat down. And this happens every day, it’s enough to see the news on TV, or to read the papers. In the papers there are so many scandals, and there is also the great publicity of the scandals. And with the scandals there is destruction.”
The context of the interview is that the pope was explaining to his audience and the world that all to often ( how many times) all of us have heard ... around the neighbourhood and elsewhere.... That it is better to be an Atheist than be a Catholic that live and act like this.
He is scorning these Catholics that do not do good, live a lavish lifestyle and take advantage of their fellow man., A double life as he calls it. He is not praising them. He is talking of destruction, scandal, beating your fellow man down. Saying one thing and doing another. These are sins, plain and simple. And in the mist of all this scorn, disdain and contempt for his fellow man, his fellow Catholics he attributes it to being like an Atheist.... As the saying goes.
"that it’s better to be an Atheist than a hypocritical Catholic"
His words were flashed round the globe to be read by countless millions. To the world and his followers the popes words and deeds are pure, they are law, they are the word of god; to be adhered to and are held in high regard with reverence and obedience.
The pope, like any world leader celebrity, prominent politician or member of royalty is followed closely by the worlds press. TV cameras, digital recorders, photographers, pen and paper are all at the ready. They jostle and push for position listening to his profound words of wisdom, his teachings, his prayers on how humanity should be practicing and living their lives.
The press report what the pope does, where he goes and of course what he says. There is very little "editorial comment" to what the Pope says, You may read something like His holiness raised a few eyebrows, or he put to shame this or that. Even when he says outlandish or wild things he is not put in the spotlight, questioned or brought to account with demanding searching questions or even ridiculed for them. The norm in the main stream press is just to report with little or no investigative journalism that the world leaders, celebrities, politicians and royalty are subjected to.
He is treated with a reverence and respect that virtually no one else on the planet is afforded save maybe the deli llama.
Vatican radio together with a few religious websites have been at pains to point out that the pope was not saying it is better to be an atheist than a bad Catholic, and stressed that the quote is being used out of context or misrepresented. This is often followed with an added a link to the full transcript of the interview.
The original interview is a long one but here is the wording as said by the Pope.
"But what is scandal? Scandal is saying one thing and doing another; it is a double life, a double life. A totally double life: ‘I am very Catholic, I always go to Mass, I belong to this association and that one; but my life is not Christian, I don’t pay my workers a just wage, I exploit people, I am dirty in my business, I launder money…’ A double life. And so many Christians are like this, and these people scandalize others. How many times have we heard – all of us, around the neighbourhood and elsewhere – ‘but to be a Catholic like that, it’s better to be an atheist.’ It is that, scandal. You destroy. You beat down. And this happens every day, it’s enough to see the news on TV, or to read the papers. In the papers there are so many scandals, and there is also the great publicity of the scandals. And with the scandals there is destruction.”
The context of the interview is that the pope was explaining to his audience and the world that all to often ( how many times) all of us have heard ... around the neighbourhood and elsewhere.... That it is better to be an Atheist than be a Catholic that live and act like this.
He is scorning these Catholics that do not do good, live a lavish lifestyle and take advantage of their fellow man., A double life as he calls it. He is not praising them. He is talking of destruction, scandal, beating your fellow man down. Saying one thing and doing another. These are sins, plain and simple. And in the mist of all this scorn, disdain and contempt for his fellow man, his fellow Catholics he attributes it to being like an Atheist.... As the saying goes.
"That it’s better to be an atheist than a hypocritical Catholic" So many clear, meaningful heartfelt words over the years since his election that appear to show a pope genuinely wanting to welcome and not judge other. But still deep within his soul are the teachings of the bible and the indoctrination of so many years of being in the clergy where with the simple Freudian slip of the tongue the true colours of the man and his establishment are exposed.
What does the pope mean by "better to be an Atheist than an a hypocritical Catholic" ? The pope's words are meant to chastise the christian follower, to explain they are hypocrites for not following the doctrines of the faith. If his words were just that then he is to be applauded that he tells his followers to be good, upstanding and righteous.
BUT then in the next breath the pope states these Christians that carry out these hypocritical deeds might as well be Atheists. THAT is despicable judgmental contemptible bigotry. It clearly says it all. Atheists are second class citizen not worthy of the church. To be looked down on with contempt. The pope has spoken. You bad Catholics are like Atheists for not paying workers a just wage, for being dirty in your business, for laundering money. This is what he believes an Atheist does in his or her life and promotes this to the world.
An Atheist is a very simple Unambiguous clear definition. it is the rejection of your claim that there is a god, because you cannot provide any proof or evidence of your claim. THAT IS IT. Nothing more nothing less.
Because we do not believe your claim to your god we are untrustworthy, dirty and low.
What does the pope mean by "better to be an Atheist than an a hypocritical Catholic" ? The pope's words are meant to chastise the christian follower, to explain they are hypocrites for not following the doctrines of the faith. If his words were just that then he is to be applauded that he tells his followers to be good, upstanding and righteous.
BUT then in the next breath the pope states these Christians that carry out these hypocritical deeds might as well be Atheists. THAT is despicable judgmental contemptible bigotry. It clearly says it all. Atheists are second class citizen not worthy of the church. To be looked down on with contempt. The pope has spoken. You bad Catholics are like Atheists for not paying workers a just wage, for being dirty in your business, for laundering money. This is what he believes an Atheist does in his or her life and promotes this to the world.
An Atheist is a very simple Unambiguous clear definition. it is the rejection of your claim that there is a god, because you cannot provide any proof or evidence of your claim. THAT IS IT. Nothing more nothing less.
Because we do not believe your claim to your god we are untrustworthy, dirty and low.
Christians are always Christians. No matter what crime or deed they commit. Murder, rape, arson, torture, theft, sex crimes etc, The caveat being that as a Christian they can confess their sins to a member of the clergy they will be given some penance to do, absolved of their sins blessed and sent on their way in the world.. to do it all again. It is then covered by the seal of the confessional so the priest is forbidden to discuss what was said in the confessional to any living soul. The penitant then believes they are totally forgiven and will go to heaven when they die and not to hell. |
Atheists will NEVER be forgiven or respected by the church or by many of it's followers no matter HOW much good they do in the world or how they conduct themselves or what selfless deeds they do in life. Atheists are not worthy, we are second class citizens in the eyes of the church.
The pope condemns and categorizes those Christians that " don’t pay my workers a just wage, exploit people, I am dirty in my business, I launder money…’ A double life..... and aligns labels them to being just like an Atheist.
Well Mr Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Just because 115 cardinals voted you to be their leader and then you change your name to Pope Francis, wear a white robe with a cross on it does NOT give you special privilege to preside over those who give you no credence. Atheists and non believers do not need your forgiveness, your prayers or your judgmental hypocritical words. Atheists have our own standards to live by which does not include hiding bishops and priests behind an organisation that subverts the law when people are wanted by various police forces for pedophilia or removing children from parents you deem unfit for not to be bring them up in Christian manner or threats of ex communication if anyone in your flock tell the authorities of the deeds and actions of the clergy, and failing to condemn those that use religion to voice prejudice and hate. We do not claim to lead a simple life asking followers to donate their hard earned money to help the poor and sick around the world while living in the lap of luxury that 99% of the world would never be able to afford. We do not interfere in government or tell the world they must not wear condoms that would stop the spread of HIV and other diseases We do not tell woman what their place is in society or tell people what they should and should not do with their own bodies. WE keep our noses out of others lives, unless they interfere in our lives as religion does with a passion and drive that is judgmental controlling and demeaning to others.
The church should be begging for forgiveness from the whole world for their actions and deeds to humanity throughout the last 2000+ years. These actions and deeds just keep going on and on and on. BUT that will never happen... They are the religious and they are in a position of power deluded by their own self importance.
The pope condemns and categorizes those Christians that " don’t pay my workers a just wage, exploit people, I am dirty in my business, I launder money…’ A double life..... and aligns labels them to being just like an Atheist.
Well Mr Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Just because 115 cardinals voted you to be their leader and then you change your name to Pope Francis, wear a white robe with a cross on it does NOT give you special privilege to preside over those who give you no credence. Atheists and non believers do not need your forgiveness, your prayers or your judgmental hypocritical words. Atheists have our own standards to live by which does not include hiding bishops and priests behind an organisation that subverts the law when people are wanted by various police forces for pedophilia or removing children from parents you deem unfit for not to be bring them up in Christian manner or threats of ex communication if anyone in your flock tell the authorities of the deeds and actions of the clergy, and failing to condemn those that use religion to voice prejudice and hate. We do not claim to lead a simple life asking followers to donate their hard earned money to help the poor and sick around the world while living in the lap of luxury that 99% of the world would never be able to afford. We do not interfere in government or tell the world they must not wear condoms that would stop the spread of HIV and other diseases We do not tell woman what their place is in society or tell people what they should and should not do with their own bodies. WE keep our noses out of others lives, unless they interfere in our lives as religion does with a passion and drive that is judgmental controlling and demeaning to others.
The church should be begging for forgiveness from the whole world for their actions and deeds to humanity throughout the last 2000+ years. These actions and deeds just keep going on and on and on. BUT that will never happen... They are the religious and they are in a position of power deluded by their own self importance.