Pope urges catholic bishops to fight against Equality Bill

hood1971 said:
Until the catholic church starts accepting that their contreception policy in Africa is aiding in the deaths of millions, they should not be allowed a platform to speak on.
Click to expand...

They recommend abstinence... not having sex without a condom. If people did what they said, AIDS wouldn't be as much of a problem. I think more the issue is that the people in Africa (not all obviously) choose not to use condoms for other reasons - not that they believe that it is better to have sex with someone you aren't married to without a condom, as it would be deemed wrong either way by the Catholic Church

I'm not a Catholic btw
 
It is a difficult situation but if the religion is entirely incompatible with the person e.g. can't be gay/female/male/non-believer or whatever then surely it doesn't make much sense to attempt to force employment. I know that I wouldn't want to work for an organisation that believed I was an abomination and I'm not entirely certain why some people would wish to work for any organisation that holds similar views about them.

For what it matters it seems an archaic and stupid rule but I'm willing to accept that it is genuinely believed - I don't feel I'm in a position to say that beliefs are wrong just because I disagree with them.
 
It's a tough decision. I'm also an atheist, so I am swayed by my feeling that this highlights how the catholic church, at least, are not really "at one" with modern thinking and tolerance of others. It's an example of a negative effect of religion.
 
PMKeates said:
It's a tough decision. I'm also an atheist, so I am swayed by my feeling that this highlights how the catholic church, at least, are not really "at one" with modern thinking and tolerance of others. It's an example of a negative effect of religion.
Click to expand...

Religion isn't expected to be "at one" with modern thinking, nor should it be compelled to be. In many ways, quite the reverse is true.
 
Burnsy2023 said:
I think people should respect the wishes of the catholic church and their right to have religious freedom. If you strongly believe in something which is integral to your faith, then you should have the right to set that policy.
Click to expand...
Why should faith be afforded that unique privilege? If a company/organisation decides it doesn't want foreign people or homosexuals in its ranks then shouldn't they be allowed the same status?

Why should religion be allowed to be bigoted in its "religious freedom", when the same does not apply elsewhere?
 
Last edited:
platypus said:
Why should faith be afforded that unique privilege? If a company/organisation decides it doesn't want foreign people or homosexuals in its ranks then shouldn't they be allowed the same status?

Why should religion be allowed to be bigoted in its "religious freedom", when the same does not apply elsewhere?
Click to expand...

Because an organised religion is different to a company.
 
vonhelmet said:
Religion isn't expected to be "at one" with modern thinking, nor should it be compelled to be. In many ways, quite the reverse is true.
Click to expand...
The trouble is, that's sort of the thing that makes them so outdated. In certain ways they act to restrict change and improvement to within the confines of thinking at the time the religious texts were created. Today, the concept of stoning someone is abhorrent. Years ago it was common and because we were a fairly brutal people, it was accepted as quite normal.

Time will erase many of the restrictions and prejudices that religion holds, and the religions that refuse to evolve with the times or "reinterpret" their texts, will be forced by society to change or go away.
 
Last edited:
Halfmad said:
They still operate within the country and should be bound by the countries various laws.
Click to expand...

And indeed for the most part (i.e. excluding extremist elements of Islam) they do. Doesn't mean they shouldn't make their feelings known when a law they disagree with is proposed.
 
wordy said:
Good.

However I can see this being quietly be overlooked for some other religions.
Click to expand...

This.

Casdawer said:
The Catholic Church won't change it's mind on this as long as Mr Benedict is Pope, he is a Nazi after all ;)
Click to expand...

That is just offensive to be honest. Regardless of your stance on religion its a little harsh to say such cutting words, even if only in jest.

Burnsy2023 said:
I think people should respect the wishes of the catholic church and their right to have religious freedom. If you strongly believe in something which is integral to your faith, then you should have the right to set that policy. Obviously this raises other issues such as women's rights etc. I believe although the law should dictate what people can do to an extent, but it should not intervene in who the church can choose to appoint in senior positions. It should take the principle of disabilities - that being if reasonable changes can be made to accommodate someone then they should be made, however I don't think this is reasonable.

I will make this point though, I think this exemption should be for the church (and other religions) alone and should not apply to Christian organisations where their primary activity is not preaching -Christian Aid for example.
Click to expand...

The Church has issues, I agree entirely, however I would challenge the opinion that it's anti woman. The whole theme of the New Testament is very pro woman and equality.

Change IS coming in the Catholic church, we all know it is. It's a bunch of old men at the moment who haven't realised their time is over.

The message of the Gospels is still as fresh as it ever was however. :)
 
ac1d1ty said:
The Church has issues, I agree entirely, however I would challenge the opinion that it's anti woman. The whole theme of the New Testament is very pro woman and equality.

Change IS coming in the Catholic church, we all know it is. It's a bunch of old men at the moment who haven't realised their time is over.

The message of the Gospels is still as fresh as it ever was however. :)
Click to expand...

I wasn't saying they were anti-women, I was just saying it's the same principle :)
 
scorza said:
And indeed for the most part (i.e. excluding extremist elements of Islam) they do. Doesn't mean they shouldn't make their feelings known when a law they disagree with is proposed.
Click to expand...

Not at all, but there's a difference between making your views known and being exempt from the law, which lets face it is exactly what's happened in the past for religions.
 
scorza said:
Because an organised religion is different to a company.
Click to expand...
How so?

You have a large organisation, headed by a CEO/Chairman, with lots of investments and interests around the world, employing hundreds of thousands worldwide. The only difference here is that the product they're selling is religion.
 
Westyfield2 said:
Then are they really Christians? Or just 'meh that's the closest box on the Census'?
Click to expand...
Er, no not quite. You are aware of the different denominations within Christianity yes? There are obviously those who would rather take the Old testament as gospel rather then the New, if you pardon the pun.

Indeed I thought that this was part of the beauty of being a Christian. You can choose which parts you take literally, take to have further meaning, or take everything simply as an interpretation and story on how to live your life, provided you are content with your faith. You essentially have a huge and often comforting manual to help guide you through life; or at least that is my take on the Bible - I'm very probably wrong.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom