Pope Francis: Atheists! Work With Us For Peace!

[Kromovaracun]

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2013/12/25/world/europe/25reuters-pope-christmas.html?_r=0

So it seems that the pope is willing (unlike a couple years ago) to encourage atheists to co-operate with the church in the interests of peace.

Haven't atheists been saying this for years? It's all very well of Francis to ask us to work for peace, when it's essentially his 'side' that seem so keen on persecuting people who disagree with them. Perhaps if he could actually get some of his supporters to stop beating everyone else over the head with the cross, his words might actually carry some weight.

[emmie]

ban him and all his religionistas, then we can all get on with our lives.

[Kromovaracun]

And as a recent meme pointed out, it would be a fantastic gesture of peace and goodwill if he could give the authorities a list of known child sex offenders within the catholic church and actually allow us mere mortals the chance to prosecute people who have been raping kids.

[jim360]

Credit where it's due for all the steps Pope Francis seems to be taking to pull the church back from such an aggressive stance. For now religion and the Catholic Church in particular are here to stay, so moves like this are welcome, no? Along with his "Who am I to condemn gay people?" and his moves towards making the office of pope far barer of trappings.

[Baldric]

Yeh right, I'm going to take a lot of notice of a man in a frock, Not!

[Kromovaracun]

Jim

I will welcome actions. Not words. Pope Francis is not the first Pope to say nice things without actually doing anything.

As I say, a magnificent start would be if he handed over some members of his church who have been caught in the act of child rape.

[emmie]

and hell will freeze over before that happens, not that i believe in these things....

[jim360]

Well, let's hope it is backed up with actions, then. Still, words are a promising start.

[beso]

However anyone looks at it the basis of all the Abrahamic faiths is the same. Each claims their particular version of the one true God and declares their formula for living is the only one to follow.

All eagerly await the fulfillment of the Armageddon prophecy when their followers are chosen while all others die at the hands of their deity.

These are fascist philosophies and there cannot be peace in the presence of fascism.

[naomi24]

I'm all for working with anyone for peace, but he's talking about peace on the church's terms. He says "Wars shatter and hurt so many lives!" - but the church's disapproval of the use of birth control destroys lives just as surely as war does. When the church gets its own house in order, then it will be qualified to preach to the rest of us.

[modeller]

Even if he was a genuine reformer he can't do much because ,apart from his blind faith, he is tied to the literal barbaric teachings of the bible.
He would have to first denounce and renounce all the violence ordered and condoned by his God which resulted in the deaths of millions in the first chapters of the bible alone.
As I was told recently by two Clerics that the killing of babies is justifed if they are members of a sinfull society and we shouldn't judge God by our values.
Most beievers try to ignore the OT violence whilst ignoring the fact the NT does not condemn it either.

[tamborine]

At least the pope said it. As for men frocks, open your eyes at national dress worldwide.

[modeller]

Theists don't know the meaning of the word co-operation. w

[jomifl]

"I invite even non-believers to desire peace."
Such a magnanimous gesture,
Why would he think they (atheists) don't desire peace. They don't need his invitation, after all atheist don't bless tanks and battleships.

[sandyRoe]

He's between the devil and the deep blue sea, damned if he does and damned if he doesn't apparently.

[modeller]

What they mean is : from the basis that the bible is correct what does that tell you ( athesists ) about the power of God and Jesus. ? There never is a question that it is a false basis. As Naomi said any co-operation is on their terms ( which are set solid ) . They can not admit they are wrong on even a small piece of doctrine because to do so would be admitting they have been wrong for two millenia and if they were wrong on that bit the rest
of their doctrine is suspect.

[albaqwerty]

Don't Popes who advocate peace and fellowship between all humans have an unhappy ending?

Why pick on atheists? Why not ask all humans to work for peace?

[modeller]

The Vatican never admit to being wrong . In 1992 th Pope did say there had been some errors 350 years ago when they found Gallileo guilty of heresy by saying the earth rotated around the sun. However in 2007 this was refuted by some Jesuits who said this imputed the good name of the church and it was the fault of some philosophers.
They never give up do they ? They still haven't admitted covering up the abuse of children. Maybe in 300 years time they will suggest there may have been some computer errors ?

[jim360]

Seems to me like for most people here it's all or nothing. Fair enough -- but then you are pretty much guaranteed nothing as long as the Church exists, which will surely be for a while yet. May as well take the signs of progress as positives, even if they aren't themselves enough then at least it's good signs, no?

[Kromovaracun]

Well, actually a lot of Francis' rhetoric doesn't differ significantly from that of previous Popes - Benedict was vocal enough against capitalism, and JPII was particularly influential in advocating for freedom in Poland. The fact that these Popes seem to say things in contrast to the ultra-conservative expectations we tend to have of them doesn't necessarily translate into anything.

For me, it's not all or nothing. I am not willing to trust the Catholic Church unless it actually proves itself worth trusting. Do not ever forget that the person who heads the Catholic Church at any one time is somebody who could, if they really tried, quash the world's biggest single international pedophile ring.

[birdie1971]

Naomi's comment reminds me of an episode of “8 Out Of 10 Cats” that was on TV a couple of years ago. The previous Pope was being discussed and Sean Lock said it's like Ratzinger leaning over his neighbour's fence:

Ratz: “Oy! You need to cut your grass mate. Your garden's looking a bit of a state”.
Neighbour: “But your house is on fire!”
Ratz: “Yeah, yeah... never mind about that...”

Better from the mouth of Sean I admit.