Will the Pope's Encyclical Scare Protestants?

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ibetrippin07 said:
some do view that, i don’t know why however…
The pope can declare one world gov all day and it doesn’t really scare me…however that is kinda strange because he of all people should know that is a prerequisite to the Antichrist…
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Well, if the end is such that there will be one world government, and an anti-christ in charge, then the pope may not be able to resist what he is doing…
 
Analysts say the document places the usually conservative pontiff on the left as to economic issues. But the document also gives a nod to the more conservative wing of the Catholic Church, maintaining that birth control, for example, is not only immoral but also poor economic policy because it narrows the “brain pool” of qualified labor. He makes comparable arguments about abortion and gay marriage.
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In all, though, “Benedict is significantly to the left of any major political position in the United States,” said Vincent J. Miller, a professor of Catholic theology and culture at the University of Dayton. “You don’t have anything like this kind of trenchant critique of capitalism.”

Benedict again urged that people show more respect toward the environment. But this time he added specific prescriptions – more research into alternative energy, worldwide redistribution of energy resources and pushing more advanced countries to lower their energy consumption, either through technology or through greater “ecological sensitivity” among residents

The timing of the encyclical is unusual because it addresses a current crisis, said Maryann Cusimano Love of Catholic University’s Life Cycle Institute. Normally, “the emergence of major Catholic teachings are often quite slow.”
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the question is …IS the Pope calling for a one world government??? or is this a misunderstanding of the encyclical?
 
Monica4316 said:
the question is …IS the Pope calling for a one world government??? or is this a misunderstanding of the encyclical?
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I personally think it is a misunderstanding.

I would like to read this encyclical in depth later, I am quite intrigued by it all. 🙂
 
I can’t imagine most Protestants first of all care much what the pope has said, but much more importantly, most Protestants aren’t fundamentalists and don’t believe in end time rhetoric preached by the likes of Jack van Impe. I for one, found a good deal he said quite hopeful and progressive in outlook.

What I found most fascinating reading around the internet today is how may progressive Catholic groups and individuals are so very happy with the encyclical, especially its call for a strong UN, continued environmental work and strong support of unions.

I assume this will not sit well with conservative Catholics who tend to be conservative poltically and against all the above named.

Should be interesting!
 
SpiritMeadow said:
I assume this will not sit well with conservative Catholics who tend to be conservative poltically and against all the above named.
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Which seems to be the dominant type of Catholic participant at CAF, but a clearly smaller minority of Roman Catholics around the world.
 
After a bit of thought and research… I think that the Pope is NOT calling for a one world government, I think that’s a misunderstanding.
 
SpiritMeadow said:
What I found most fascinating reading around the internet today is how may progressive Catholic groups and individuals are so very happy with the encyclical, especially its call for a strong UN, continued environmental work and strong support of unions.

I assume this will not sit well with **conservative Catholics who tend to be conservative politically and against all the above named. **
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Hesychios said:
Which seems to be the dominant type of Catholic participant at CAF, but a clearly smaller minority of Roman Catholics around the world.
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pnewton said:
Clearly? :confused:

Have you a survey on this?
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No.

Do you deny it?

Have a look around the world and what exactly do you see?
 
SpiritMeadow said:
What I found most fascinating reading around the internet today is how may progressive Catholic groups and individuals are so very happy with the encyclical, especially its call for a strong UN, continued environmental work and strong support of unions.

I assume this will not sit well with **conservative Catholics who tend to be conservative politically and against all the above named. **
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Hesychios said:
Which seems to be the dominant type of Catholic participant at CAF, but a clearly smaller minority of Roman Catholics around the world.
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pnewton said:
Clearly?

Have you a survey on this?
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No.

Do you deny it?

Have a look around the world and what exactly do you see?

http://www.day.kiev.ua/img/254691/30-5-5.jpg
Not a typical American Catholic

http://images.businessweek.com/ss/08/05/0501_apple/image/3_web_computing.jpg
American Catholic typical CAF member in his working environment
(just joking, it isn’t that nice for all of us, I never got a window myself :o )


Not a typical American Catholic working environment,
but seen around the Catholic world

http://www.fandbinsurance.com/images/family in front of house.jpg
Typical for American Catholic CAF member family in front of suburban home


Not typical for an American Catholic family in front of suburban home

The three biggest countries in terms of Catholic population are Brasil, Mexico and the Philipines amounting to about 338 million people. All of these have serious class and wealth gaps with large segments of the Catholic population in poverty. This is far more than the number of people registered at CAF, who tend to be North Americans with 401k plans worried about the stock markets and “One World” government scares.

The number of Catholics around the world who still have to carry water (and that often polluted) for their basic daily needs is alarming. These are the types of people that are the bulk of the Catholic population, and most sincerely devout at that, around the world.



The number of Catholic priests around the world who have gone into politics, not without good reason, as social activists is striking. I can think of several who have risen to become presidents in their countries on a populist agenda.

I am not referring to your Father Charles Coughlin types.

The number of American Catholics who adhere to Catholic Social Teaching is disappointingly small, and smaller yet the number who have studied the documents.

usccbpublishing.org/client/products/ProdimageLg/5-692.jpg

I am not doing this to knock CAF, which I regard as a fine vehicle for Christian dialog, catechesis and devotion practices. But I am doing this to remind people that the world vision we have here is skewed, we are a self-selected bunch and we will see the world through a lens of our own design.

We have the up to date computers and connections, the funds to keep them, the education to be literate enough in at least one language and enough leisure time to be posting here (at least occasionally). In terms of the world as a whole we are rather elite.

We cannot see the world as the Holy Father and the Patriarchs see it, and we cannot carry their burden. It is a thankless and lonely position to be in, to have to say the things that need to be heard to a people who will not listen. But if they do not say it, who else will?
 
Hesychios said:
No.

Do you deny it?
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I denied nothing, but then I’m not the one who made the overly generalized statement about political persuasion of most Catholics. I personally consider your statement ridicuolously unknowable and would never venture such an opinion when I know it probably should not be give one way or the other. BTW- what did those pictures have to do with you statement? Not one person wore an Obama button. Nothing after the word "No: seemed to have any bearing on the political leanings of the average Catholic.
 
pnewton said:
I denied nothing, but then I’m not the one who made the overly generalized statement about political persuasion of most Catholics. I personally consider your statement ridicuolously unknowable and would never venture such an opinion when I know it probably should not be give one way or the other. BTW- what did those pictures have to do with you statement? Not one person wore an Obama button. Nothing after the word "No: seemed to have any bearing on the political leanings of the average Catholic.
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Are you referring to the average Catholic, or the average Catholic on CAF?

You asked “do you have a survey on this?” and I said “no”. But that does nothing to deflect my opinion. Who conducts those types of surveys? …you threw out a red herring.

It is pretty obvious that the average Catholic on CAF is not in sync with the rest of the Catholic world in the realm of social consciousness.

The best and most truly wonderful thing one can say about the CAF membership is a widespread rejection of abortion. After that though, this is pretty much Reaganomics territory and to a large degree that is not in sync with Catholic social teaching.

Which is why, I suppose, the new encyclical is so alarming at first glance.
 
Hesychios said:
You asked “do you have a survey on this?” and I said “no”. But that does nothing to deflect my opinion.

Which is why, I suppose, the new encyclical is so alarming at first glance.
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I misunderstood. You did not make it clear this was just an opinion. You stated it like an axiom. I did not try to deflect your opinion because I see it as merely speculative, unknowable.

And no, I do not see anything in the encyclical “alarming”, but then I am only about two thirds through it.
 
Hesychios said:
Which seems to be the dominant type of Catholic participant at CAF, but a clearly smaller minority of Roman Catholics around the world.
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Certainly they are a minority in the US, across the world, I’d not make the claim without ome numbers, but you might be right.
 
The Pope is ALWAYS going to tick people off, pure and simple, because what he has to say is not endorsing either political party and he doesn’t tow any political agenda.

The Catholic Church is completely anti-abortion which angers liberals yet the Church is liberal on border policies, which angers conservatives. The Church in the last century has come down on the side of sympathizing with unions and worker’s rights which ticks off Republicans but then again the Church has fought communism and collectiviization (especially John Paul II). The Church is against unethical scientific practices like embryonic stem cell research which frazzles the Left, but they’re against the death penalty and torture which can upset Right-wingers. Benedict has been against the Iraq War for the most part and that can draw conservative ire but he’s also against moral relativism which sends hippy liberals into a tailspin.

I tend to trust neither hardcore conservatives or liberals. I like what GK Chesterton said about these polarizing philosophies:

"The whole modern world has divided itself into Conservatives and Progressives. The business of Progressives is to go on making mistakes. The business of the Conservatives is to prevent the mistakes from being corrected."

I don’t think this encyclical will have much effect on anybody. It’s far less controversial than Benedict’s Muhammad comments or his reinstating an excommunicated Jew-hating bishop or his term “ecclesiastical communities” for Protestants or saying that Orthodox Christians are “defective” because they aren’t in union with the Pope. This encyclical is actually low-key compared to the other comments/encyclicals lol…
 
Hesychios said:
I agree. I did not properly qualify my statement, you were right to call me on it :o

Mea Culpa
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Let me add that we must not be too quick to assume that Catholics will put politics above the faith. I too believe that supply side, profit motive economics worked pretty well. However, I take seriously the point the Holy Father makes. Things have changed. A lot. Even what worked for Ronald Reagan may not work today. Also, the Holy Father made it clear he was proposing none of the economic mechanics that should be in place, only the princilples that individuals, governments and businesses should live by. I do not see how a good Catholic can argue with the level of Charity he calls us to.
 
gurneyhalleck1 said:
**“The whole modern world has divided itself into Conservatives and Progressives. The business of Progressives is to go on making mistakes. The business of the Conservatives is to prevent the mistakes from being corrected.”
**GK Chesterton
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That’s a keeper! 🙂
 
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