Another Perspective: Do we really need the Pope?
By: Ramin Gouhari
The recent politically charged issue of legally mandating Catholic
Health Services to provide employees with contraception shook up the never-ending
debate about separation of church and state.
Catholic women overwhelmingly came
down in favor of receiving birth control services. As the issue is about the
rights of women and their bodies, why do we care what an 84 year old German man
in a white robe thinks?
In 2009 the Pope made his first visit to Africa and instructed
the people not to use condoms. 17% of Africa’s population is Catholic. It is
more than conceivable that some of these devout Catholics took his instruction
and in doing so, contracted aids. If his instructions on sexuality could lead
to death, why would we listen to this conservative man that lives in a palace who’s
abstained from intimacy his entire life?
At age 14, Ratzinger enrolled as a
Hitler youth. 2 years later he was drafted into the German Army during the Second
World War. What divinity or higher wisdom exists in a former Hitler-youth that could
evade any normal human being with a working mind?
Many in the catholic faith have parted with the Pope’s views and stances over the years yet the Media continues to
follow his every move, tirelessly reporting his every statement and making
clear his every view. Questioning his relevance, influence or importance is a
discussion usually avoided by the mainstream media.
Perhaps when the media no longer fears reporting the negative implications to some of his stances, we may
begin a serious dialogue about whether or not society should vest so much in
the words of one human being.
28. February 2012 at 7:17 am
Not to mention that the pope himself was personally responsible for obstructing justice when he was a cardinal, by sending out memos that threatened excommunication for any priest who talked to the police or the media in the event of a child-rape situation.
28. February 2012 at 9:52 am
The news media are only partially to blame here. More Catholics need to step up and take some personal responsibility for the Pope’s and the Church’s teachings. If you don’t think there’s anything wrong with using contraception, with homosexuality, with stem cell research, if you want child molesters to be prosecuted, and if you want women to have full reproductive rights (as men already do), then you have a bone to pick with the Catholic Church. Demand accountability from your clergy or find a less destructive way to have a relationship with your god.
1. March 2012 at 10:20 pm
I would like to know where you did your research for this article. And also why this article was not posted in the paper, but only on the website. Are you an expert on the Roman Catholic Pope?
1. March 2012 at 11:03 pm
Ok, first of all if you’re insulting the Pope and Catholics please be respectful and use correct capitalization. Second, it is not only Catholics but any religion that follows the teachings of the Bible that should be Pro-Life and against contraception. (http://www.ukapologetics.net/abortion2.htm) great link to read! Have you ever witnessed an abortion or been personally affected by one? If no, then maybe you should check out some pictures of what really happens behind the close OR doors. As for the Pope forbidding the use of contraception I totally agree. It’s as simple as 1 + 1 that if you don’t want to get pregnant don’t have sex. If you don’t want to contract AIDS or any other STDs from your partner, don’t have sex. It’s not that difficult. God’s purpose for sex was to create new life, period. Life that would be cherished and nurtured. Not brutally taken away because the parents weren’t willing to take responsibility for their actions. If they chose to follow the Pope’s orders and refrain from using contraception and still were infected with AIDS and later die then that is their own responsibility. They had sex knowing the possible consequences. Don’t blame that on the Pope or the church.
Regarding the Pope’s background, who are we to throw the stones of accusation? Unless you are admitting blasphemy and saying you are perfect, we should not be judging someone by their past. Look at St. Paul for example, when he was Saul he was persecuting the Christians and destroying churches. God transformed him and he became a witness to Christ and also a prominent leader in the church. If we wanted to do a background check on all important figures of society none of them would pass the bar of acceptance! Pope Benedict XVI is a leader to the Catholics as President Obama is a leader to Americans. Yes, people bash Obama everyday and are never satisfied with his decisions but we treat him with the same respect as we would to anyone of higher authority or wisdom. (I know for sure that I would not stand up to take the position and full responsibility of a country as its president!) So treat you’re authoritative leaders with respect because they are doing the job that we have no desire to do.
2. March 2012 at 1:15 pm
I think there are a lot of good points here. Are we asking if there should be “a pope” or are we just looking at the current pope? I think the Catholic Church needs a Pope, but I don’t think they need him to have that much power and to make all the decisions. I know its an accurate statement, but I saw the paragraph about the pope being a Hitler youth as a cheap shot just kind of thrown into the mix.
2. March 2012 at 1:28 pm
haha wow.
3. March 2012 at 1:34 am
I think we also need to realize the great difference between forcing someone to use contraception, and simply requiring they provide contraception to their employees like everyone else. If you do not believe in contraception, that is up to you, but expecting an exemption from law because of your religion seems silly to me. If the law exists, it should pertain to everyone, regardless of their religious beliefs or non-beliefs.
I would partially-agree that the media has failed to publisize unpopular decisions by Pope John Paul II, Benedict VII, as well as several cardinals who have outright lied to tribes in the horn of Africa regarding AIDs prevention.
4. March 2012 at 1:26 pm
I think what some of you have forgotten is that for people who still believe in religion, our beliefs are important to us. We have reasons why we believe what we believe, and maybe you should respect them just like we respect those who do not chose to believe.
The separation of church and state is an important factor here. If this is true then the gov’t shouldn’t force religious groups to do abortions or give out contraception. Plain and simple. If the gov’t requires that Catholic hospitals do so, then they aren’t really separating the two things are they?
7. March 2012 at 12:35 pm
“This Guy,” I do not know you but I thank you for stating that the Pope being a former nazi youth is a “cheap shot.” Ratzinger was a child, and like other German and Austrian youth, did not know the extent of Hitler’s agenda. Please read “The Hitler Myth,” to enlighten yourself (I know the title sounds daunting, but it is truly academic and is a great read). You did not write about how Ratzinger ran away from being in the Hitler Youth either–surely a brave and commendable move. And one more thing, the former Pope, John Paul II was a Pole who was directly affected by both German and Russian occupation of his beloved country. If he could see past Ratzinger’s past, how can you, or anyone else not?
Now to address the rest of the article:
I am a Catholic, and I personally do not believe in contraception–I do, however, support universal health care. I believe that part of being pro-life means supporting life at every stage, so I think all Americans should be covered.
*Personally, I am for a single-payer health care system like in Canada, so then we would not have to force any religious institution to provide contraceptives.
Also, here is a source, I don’t think you used:
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2010/11/20/pope-says-condoms-may-be-ok-in-some-circumstances/
People like to misquote the Pope when he said: “You can’t resolve it with the distribution of condoms,” the pope told reporters. “On the contrary, it increases the problem.” What he meant was condoms are not 100%, abstinence is. You are not resolving the true issue through handing out a bunch of rubbers–the true problem is a lack of love and respect people have for one another. To not get tested. To have multiple partners.
I think cnn is a bit more veritable than the flyer. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to respond to this post.