Is the pope even ethical ?

Question

Yesterday tens of thousands of people marched through Madrid to demonstrate "for family values".

Were they marching against domestic violence or abuse of women, huge in this country ? Or against the fact there are hundreds of thousands of children of broken families ?

No, just against gay marriage.

Then there was a video connection with that man in a robe sharing his life with those other male pensioners that between them have decided that euthanasia is forbidden and people should die as painfully as possible, people should not use condoms, etc.

He happily told the crowd in Madrid, against our own government, to be behind them.

This person is an example for a huge part of humanity.

I think he is going against everything ethical and good.

What do you think ?

Hey Mr Rational, no, you were not offensive, thanks for your reply :)

Answer 1

If we take 'ethical' to mean subscribing to agreed principles of human rights ... and look to the United Nations 'Universal Declaration of Human Rights' in particular article 19 Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers... then NO.

As Cardinal Ratzinger, the pope was responsible for silencing and discriminating against many, many Liberation Theologians within the Catholic Church for daring to speak their truth of the experience of a God of Liberation. eg Karl Rahner, Gutierrez etc).

Incidentally, the same argument could be made against the Pope as an ethical person (and head of the State of the Vatican) in regards to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people on articles 1-7, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20-23, 25-30 of the Declaration of Human Rights

Answer 2

I disagree with you.

The Pope is not perfect but neither is he evil.

+ Euthanasia and Pain +

As Christians, we believe that human life is a sacred gift from God to be cherished and respected because every human being is created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26).

In heeding God’s command, "Thou shall not kill" (Exodus 20:13), we recognize that we cannot end of our lives or the lives of others as we please. We must respect and protect the dignity of human from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death.

Both euthanasia and assisted suicide violate God's commandment not to kill.

Euthanasia occurs when a doctor or medical staff person administers a lethal dose of medication with the intention of killing the patient with or without the patient's knowledge.

Assisted suicide occurs when a doctor or medical staff person prescribes a lethal amount of medication with the intent of helping a person commit suicide. The patient then takes the dose or turns the switch.

We also recognize the need for the proper management of pain. Modern medicine provides effective treatments for pain that guarantees that no one will suffer a painful death. No one needs to escape pain by seeking death.

Suicidal wishes among the terminally ill are due to treatable depression similar to that of other suicidal people. If we address their pain, depression and other problems, then there is generally no more talk of suicide.

Repercussions of Assisted Suicide
+ The patient seriously, possibly completely, damages his or her relationship with God.
+ Anyone assisting a suicide gravely endangers his or her spiritual, psychological, and emotional well-being including family members and medical professionals.
+ Corruption of the medical profession: whose ethical code calls on physicians to serve life and never to kill. The American Medical Association, the American Nurses Association, the American Psychiatric Association, and dozens of other medical groups argue that the power to assist in taking patients’ lives is "a power that most health-care professionals do not want and could not control.”
+ Society will more and more disregards the dignity of human life.

Possible Corruptions
+ Exploitation of the marginalized: The poor, the elderly, minorities, those who lack health insurance would be the first to feel pressure to die.
+ Cost control: Patients with long term or expensive illnesses and considered economic liabilities would be encouraged die.
+ Rebirth of historical prejudices: Many able-bodied people, including some physicians, say they would "rather be dead than disabled." Such prejudices could easily lead families, physicians, and society to encourage death for people who are depressed and emotionally vulnerable as they adjust to life with a serious illness or disability.

Jesus uttered the words of faith that continue to inspire and to guide the Church’s teaching in this mystery of Christian death: "This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again" (John 10:17).

For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, sections 2270 and following: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt3sect2chpt2art5.htm#2270
http://www.americancatholic.org/Newsletters/CU/ac0897.asp

+ Condoms +

Judeo-Christian tradition has taught for thousands of years:
1. Single people should be celibate.
2. Married people should be faithful to each other (adultery is wrong).
3. Married couples should welcome God's gift of children and, therefore, artificial birth control is against the will of God.

If the world is going to ignore teachings about chastity (1 & 2), then why is the world so upset about teaching artificial birth control (3)?

People who are already ignoring the more important teachings about chastity (1 and 2) should have no problem ignoring the less important teaching of artificial birth control (3).

Even if a person infected with AIDS was to use a condom to help protect his or her spouse, condoms are not 100% effective (read the box) and the spouse may be infected and die anyway. A person who truly loves their spouse would not endanger them in this way.

In regards to sex outside of marriage, the Church makes it a practice not to tell people how to sin. With or without a condom:
+ Fornication is still fornication
+ Adultery is still adultery

+ With love in Christ.

Answer 3

What always astounds me is how ethics and beliefs so often get confused yet people still believe they can be 'cut and dry' about complicated issues, just because the Bible (itself a flawed series of translations of dubious athenticity) appears to say. A person may believe that homosexuality (for example) is wrong, but that does not make it ethical (again for example) for a doctor to refuse to operate on a patient on the basis of their sexuality. It is a strange and complicated minefield of emotions, beliefs, cultures and straight forward corruption.
It was known that the Pope when he came into power was going to be contraversial in his beliefs, but always hypocritical. Organised religion regardless of it's name and leaders has always been unethical and not afraid to use issues to provide a smokescreen for unethical and deeper corruption to drive motives.
I find it interesting that some people in answering your question make assumptions about who you are, what your sexuality is, why you are asking (or daring to) the question. Just because you are trying to make sense of something and someone that appears to make no sense.
The short of it all is organised religion is unethical and dictorial. Anyone who professes to be a leader God given or otherwise is going to be tainted by the centuries of corruption that has led them to that place and position. Therefore the Pope is just an embodiment of that and the reality is that is where the fact of the matter lies. Anything else is based on flawed logic and no one can say any different, because it is just a fact - not based on ambigious and dubious texts, just fact that centuries of blood, destruction and greed has created.

Answer 4

I know, I know! Why doesn't the Pope bother the Vatican City. Then he can bother Italy. Besides, even with the cardinals in Spain, the Pope needs to stay out of the buisness of Spain. I don't like Socialists, but he shouldn't be messing with Spain or Zapatero.

Answer 5

The pope just said that the world's problems are a direct result in more demon possessions on Earth. And said we need to fight a war with the Devil. So not so much no. The bottom line is more demons, more exorcisms, more priests are needed. Oh my.

Answer 6

Tipping the velvet makes an excellent point
The popehas no ethics to be respected and he's a very good christian example now as many want to agree with him and sacrafice respect and equality due to thier bigotry

Answer 7

The pope is ethical but you have to remember that ethics is subjective (I feel like i say that word way too much on these boards).

e.g.

Your ethics dictate that it is better to use condoms to prevent disease and unwanted pregnancy.

The popes ethics dictate that is it better not to use condoms because we shouldnt deny the possibility of life.

So asking if he is going against everything ethical and good is a mute point.

(and before you ask i am not in the slightest bit religous and disagree with some christian ethics but i also agree with other christian ethics - its dangerous to look at things at face value and say you disagree with everything a group of people have said just because you may not have the same faith as them)

Answer 8

Stop and consider, he heads up the worlds largest known
organization of mysoginistic, pedophiles in the world, while preaching support the poor, they have become immensly
wealthy, and while they never raise a family they claim that
they have expertise in all matters of family relationships.
And none of it is any more rational then their stupid religion
and the B.S. they want you to swallow about it, on faith.
Is the Pope ethical? If he truly believes the bible he is not even rational, if he doesn't believe in the bible then he is a rational, hypocrite taking advantage of fools who do, not very ethical?hmmmm.

Answer 9

Often times people ask me why I care so much about religion is I'm atheist. THIS IS WHY. Ignorant and backwards stories should not be affecting peoples lives in a negative way. This is a perfect of example of why religion is bad for society.

Answer 10

"pensioners". LOL