Do you have any respect for the office of the Papacy?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Duh. Option 4.

I'm curious how many will choose Option 3 with the extreme political correctness toward the Pope on this forum.

[JSojourner]

Duh. Option 4.

I'm curious how many will choose Option 3 with the extreme political correctness toward the Pope on this forum.

I chose option three.  There have been many Popes I respect and many I do not respect.  The jury is still out with me on Benedict.  But my affection for John Paul the second was felt in a major way, despite the fact that I disagreed with him on several issues.

[Keystone Phil]

Yes (Mature human)

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Yes (Mature human)

What's immature about not respecting the leaders of religions other than your own? I doubt you have any respect for Church of Scientology leaders or "Rev." Moon.

[Keystone Phil]

Yes (Mature human)

What's immature about not respecting the leaders of religions other than your own? I doubt you have any respect for Church of Scientology leaders or "Rev." Moon.

Because my religion is respectable and so is the office that you speak of. I find it hilarious that  so many Protestants still have a huge, pointy stick up their ass about the Pope.

[Alcon]

There are few things I don't have respect for, and there have been a lot of wonderfully kind-hearted Popes.

Option 3.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

There are few things I don't have respect for, and there have been a lot of wonderfully kind-hearted Popes.

Including the current one?

[Alcon]

Including the current one?

He doesn't seem like a bad man, even if he's too conservative for my tastes and is maintaining several misguided Church positions (like on condom use in Africa).  I'm not totally up on my Pope news though, educate me!

[Keystone Phil]

  I'm not totally up on my Pope news though, educate me!

He's the head of the Roman Catholic Church here on Earth, therefore, BRTD hates him.

There you go. All updated.

[Alcon]

  I'm not totally up on my Pope news though, educate me!

He's the head of the Roman Catholic Church here on Earth, therefore, BRTD hates him.

There you go. All updated.

I know that BRTD is going to be looking for a reason to hate him, but that doesn't invalidate any complaints he has automatically.  We have to be at least somewhat fair to him.

[Torie]

Number 3. Of course I have respect for the office. Why not?

As to the current Pope, his billing when he was elected that he was going to be some Savnarolian martinet, turned out to be way over done. His statements about the nexus of science and faith have quite good I think.

So far, I prefer him to his predecessor.

[tik 🪀✨]

I voted for option 4, but not because I hate the Pope or Catholics, but because I like to think that I give respect to someone because of who they are as a person, not because of or simply to the office they hold. Certainly high positions of authority widely recognized in society hold a great deal of potential for respect, but a position is only as good as the person holding it.

[Person Man]

Option 4, I just don't like Benedict. I mean, it's not that he's any more conservative than JPII, but he treats Moderate and Liberal Catholics in the Americas like crap. You don't see him or his High Priesthood whining about support of abortion rights by Catholic politicians in Europe, do you? Or does he?

[Albus Dumbledore]

Where's the option for where it's a decent office as far as religious institutions go but Benedict is a dick?

[J. J.]

I certainly have some respect for a see that has been in existence for nearly 2000 years.

[Flying Dog]

Option one.

[Хahar 🤔]

3 for the abovementioned reasons. Though I certainly preferred JPII to Benedict.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Yes.

I don't really have an opinion on B16, but JP2 was a great man, who coupled anti-Communism with a great love for all people, and was truly a Saint.

[JohnFKennedy]

The office itself? Yes. I have disagreements with some Papal positions - I am perfectly happy with the missionary position though - but that doesn't mean I don't respect the institution or those that hold it. I would like to think I have at least some respect for all human beings.

Incidentally, the only way that the current Pope has really impacted upon my life directly thusfar was just the other day. I've just begun to do research for a paper on sixteenth-century Catholicism in England and an article I was perusing gave thanks to numerous people (including a former supervisor of mine) and 'Special thanks to Cardinal Josef Ratzinger and Monsig. Alberto Bovone for granting access to the ACDFSO [Archivio della Congregazione per la Dottrina della], and to Monsig . Alejandro Cifres for his assistance in using it.'

Funny old world.

[Person Man]

Where's the option for where it's a decent office as far as religious institutions go but Benedict is a dick?

I guess I would go for that. He is a dick.

[bullmoose88]

Yes. Option 3.

[Flying Dog]

Where's the option for where it's a decent office as far as religious institutions go but Benedict is a dick?

I guess I would go for that. He is a dick.

How so? I'm not trying to be confrontational or anything but, as a liberal Catholic, I would like to know what makes him "a dick."

[Keystone Phil]

Where's the option for where it's a decent office as far as religious institutions go but Benedict is a dick?

I guess I would go for that. He is a dick.

How so? I'm not trying to be confrontational or anything but, as a liberal Catholic, I would like to know what makes him "a dick."

Yeah, same. I was not exactly a fan early on. I was very skeptical. This is coming from a conservative Catholic, too. However, he has proven to be a good leader. Is he a John Paul II? No but neither will anyone else. That doesn't make him bad.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

LOL@the political correctness and moderate heroism in this poll.

I wonder how a companion poll about the LDS Presidency would fare.