Raised as a mid-20th century Catholic I once ardently believed thar it was to support my personal salvation.
Decades later I appreciate that it can help human beings cope with the psychological anxieties inherent in our being conscious and mortal.
However, I am profoundly cynical about politicians in general and hope Pope Leo will not wander into the pig stye of politics but will focus on supporting the spiritual needs of his Church's faithful.
I felt that what was the underlying motivation for the cheering by the throngs in St. Peter's square yesterday.
As Jesus Himself preached, "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's." Mark 12:17
Replies to: "As I listen to the pundits babble about the new Pope I wonder what is the purpose of religion?"
- As I listen to the pundits babble about the new Pope I wonder what is the purpose of religion? - Curly1918 - 9:45am 5/9/25
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- Our new Pope chose the name Leo for a reason... - TyroneIrish - 11:49am 5/9/25
- Leo XIII also cautioned against valuing an active apostolate more than a contemplative one. [LINK] - Curly1918 - 3:28pm 5/9/25
- You have the purpose right. Some will always seek to use it to control others, though. - NedoftheHill - 10:24am 5/9/25
- Hmm, seems to me on his twitter page, he had no issues with taking on a variety of social issues. - Frank L - 3:47pm 5/9/25
- Sorry I offended you by leaving you off the "religion to politically control others" list. [NT]
- NedoftheHill - 4:40pm 5/9/25
- You are offending the new pontiff not me. He has taken on all of these issues with Mango. - Frank L - 5:35pm 5/9/25
- I make no judgments on Leo. His papacy is his to shape. - NedoftheHill - 7:03pm 5/9/25
- You are offending the new pontiff not me. He has taken on all of these issues with Mango. - Frank L - 5:35pm 5/9/25
- Sorry I offended you by leaving you off the "religion to politically control others" list. [NT]
- NedoftheHill - 4:40pm 5/9/25
- Great post Ned. I thought this person summarized the papal election for catholics the best. - BaronVonZemo - 12:55pm 5/9/25
- Would that Baron practiced what he posts... [LINK] - TyroneIrish - 6:18pm 5/9/25
- Right back at ya. Good post. [NT] - NedoftheHill - 3:00pm 5/9/25
- An Open Forum is a place for Dialogue...it's not a Graffiti Wall. Again I invite you to engage - TyroneIrish - 12:01pm 5/9/25
- Christ believed in religion. - Hensou - 10:36am 5/9/25
- Hmm, seems to me on his twitter page, he had no issues with taking on a variety of social issues. - Frank L - 3:47pm 5/9/25
- Would be interesting to see - WoodstockIrish - 10:14am 5/9/25
- I gave up on the Catholic Church long ago. Way too many things I witnessed that pushed me away. - TampaIrish - 10:28am 5/9/25
- Judas' betrayal? Peter, the 1st pope, denying Christ 3 times? - NedoftheHill - 3:08pm 5/9/25
- Witness everything. - Hensou - 11:03am 5/9/25
- Yes, of course Good and Evil coexist but when the evil wears a black outfit with a white collar, - TampaIrish - 11:13am 5/9/25
- Satan has many disguises. Their actions were not Catholic. - Hensou - 11:22am 5/9/25
- And I don’t. I have met and dealt with many priests who are awesome. - TampaIrish - 11:51am 5/9/25
- The Church has made great strides in identifying cover-ups and preventing abuse. - Hensou - 12:23pm 5/9/25
- I'm not sure why public schools are being brought up here. I went 12 years of Catholic school and - TampaIrish - 12:59pm 5/9/25
- Public schools are a hotbed of sexual abuse. - Hensou - 1:20pm 5/9/25
- I'm not sure why public schools are being brought up here. I went 12 years of Catholic school and - TampaIrish - 12:59pm 5/9/25
- The Church has made great strides in identifying cover-ups and preventing abuse. - Hensou - 12:23pm 5/9/25
- And I don’t. I have met and dealt with many priests who are awesome. - TampaIrish - 11:51am 5/9/25
- Satan has many disguises. Their actions were not Catholic. - Hensou - 11:22am 5/9/25
- Yes, of course Good and Evil coexist but when the evil wears a black outfit with a white collar, - TampaIrish - 11:13am 5/9/25
- I gave up on the Catholic Church long ago. Way too many things I witnessed that pushed me away. - TampaIrish - 10:28am 5/9/25
- The Church will be here long after we have all died. - Hensou - 10:05am 5/9/25
- Control! [NT]
- jimbasil - 9:47am 5/9/25
- So the DNC must be your religion [NT]
- holybull101 - 10:46am 5/9/25
- Be careful, your MAGA might come through in your post as well as your - jimbasil - 11:35am 5/9/25
- I think for many posters that is absolutely true. [NT] - Hensou - 10:49am 5/9/25
- So the DNC must be your religion [NT]
- holybull101 - 10:46am 5/9/25
- Our new Pope chose the name Leo for a reason... - TyroneIrish - 11:49am 5/9/25