> She told me that she’s excited about Pope Leo XIV’s selection not because he is progressive, but because it was a clear slap on the wrist to the conservative Catholics who hijack biblical teachings for their own political prerogatives.
As SNL Weekend Update anchor Colin Jost recently said, if you're really "woke," you're not Catholic anymore. 😆 He jests but only a little. Still, I will take "progressive for Catholics" over "white supremacist," you know? I can't imagine a pope ever NOT being anti-abortion, but at least Leo is consistent with being anti-gun and anti-death penalty too.
Loomer is only in it for the clicks. However, this has been in my head so now you have to hear it too. "WOKE MARXIST POPE" happens to have the same syllables as "Pink Pony Club"....
I was raised Catholic and I'm still surprised when people are surprised that the Pope is Catholic. We are 60 years out from only saying mass in Latin. Abortion rights are not on the table.
I am optimistic that Leo will follow Francis in caring for and spotlighting our treatment of the least of these, like migrants and Palestinians. I have plenty of stones to throw at the church but I believe that due to the size and global nature of the church, the Pope can do a lot to guide international conversations.
Honestly I'm just glad it's not someone who wants to jail LGBTQ+ people or someone who supports Christian Nationalism.
None of these points surprises me greatly and I'm frankly relieved we haven't swung back after Pope Francis. (I say "we" having been raised Catholic, but not having been to church with any regularity in the last decade.)
The environmental stuff seems so obvious to me, given the whole "stewards of the earth" thing! Let's go all in on this, Catholic church!
When I was denomination shopping, it blew my mind how many conservative denominations are like "well we'll be raptured away from here so fuck the earth."
Yup, raised Evangelical by parents who were raised Assembly of God...so that side of the family is as far off the right deepend as you can imagine. Their disregard for the earth PAINS me. It wasn't that way growing up, my Dad used to wash his ziploc baggies, and save bugs he found in the house and couldn't even bring himself to go fishing. Now he's been ruined by right-wing media and is very much like the earth? whatever. (amongst other nonsense).
Ooof, I'm sorry there has been a turn-around thanks to right wing media. Every time I see stuff like this, I send my pretty-liberal parents a silent thanks for not being sucked in at any point. <3 That must be so painful to watch happen, my heart goes out to you.
What I think we are seeing here with JD Vance is a pretty classic clash in what is given more weight - the church or the Bible. Most Christian denominations place the Bible over the Church and focus on the personal relationship with Jesus. The Catholic Church emphatically does NOT. What the Church says is the fonal say. They interpret scripture - it's why there wasn't a "read the Bible in a year" program specifically for Catholics until Fr. Whatawaste started doing it during COVID. If you want to know what the Bible says, come to church for 3 years.
It's going to cause some issues as folks come over from more evangelical denominations, but I don't think that basic tenent of the Catholic Church is going to change. It's why Pope Leo felt comfortable calling JD Vance wrong even before Pope Francis pushed back.
But just an example of how deep this clash runs - Baptists seem to have a personal mission to convert Catholics to the "right God" and will frequently say that Catholics are not Christian because we say we aren't.
Not all cookies are oatmeal raisin cookies, but oatmeal raisin, chocolate chip, and oreos are all cookies. Just like not all Christians are Catholic, but all Catholics are Christian.
I attended high school in Lynchburg, VA and regularly encountered Liberty University students who didn't think Catholics were Christians. As someone who grew up around a lot of Catholics, but few, if any, Evangelicals/Baptists, etc., I was horrified.
There is also a huge divide between cradle Catholics and convert Catholics. I don't know a single person I was raised with who thinks we should undo Vatican 2, while they seem to be actively recruiting super conservative converts, and I think it's really changed the flavor of the American church. I do super agree that there is minimal emphasis on personal experience with the Bible in Catholicism and I'd extend that to discouraging a personal relationship with God in general, because there's always intermediaries. It really made for a wild de/reconstruction experience for me.
To be fair, I'm now a heretic who wandered off to a denomination where women are people too and LGBTQ+ people are fully affirmed, so take my options with a grain (or entire shaker) of salt.
I am Episcopalian (so among the most progressive of the Protestant denominations and also part of a larger Anglican Communion led by the Archbishop of Canterbury), but married into an Irish Catholic family and nothing that you wrote surprises me at all, mostly because it all seems very aligned with Catholicism. I can say that I'm relieved there didn't appear to be a reactionary swing back to the hard conservatives with this election, and with many in the faith concerned about schism, the moderate choice makes perfect sense.
What I'm most intrigued about, honestly, is that he is American, for I had always heard that the Conclave wouldn't elect a Pope from the U.S. until it was no longer a superpower, so I've been trying to read the tea leaves about whether this is a sign that the larger communion of 1.4 billion Catholics no longer sees the United States as the world leader it once was.
Thank you for talking about this - the oldest institution in the world with 1.4 billion members definitely has more influence than J.D. dismissed in the recent podcast interview.
I don't know.... These don't seem like good people to me... I'm not sure I care what their stance is on gun rights when they protect child abusers so openly.
"The Catholic Church has vowed to excommunicate any priest who follows a new Washington state law requiring clergy to report child abuse to law enforcement – even in the privacy of a confession booth. Priests in Washington have always had something similar to attorney-client privilege when hearing confessions, but the new law — which Gov. Bob Ferguson signed on Friday — revokes that protection for talk of child abuse or neglect." https://www.kptv.com/2025/05/09/catholic-church-excommunicate-priests-who-follow-new-washington-state-law/
I understand that he's the Pope and he represents the Catholic faith, so him holding to the standards of that faith makes sense. But what I hope we will continue to see is someone who isn't forcing it on people who don't share those beliefs and isn't there to condemn but to show what being someone of faith is about. Or simply maybe I'm don't want to make my religion the policy. Also that JD quote made me roll my eyes so hard I thought they'd get stuck. Sure buddy, sure. LOL
I'm going to also add that I'm not Catholic. I grew up in an American Baptist church (and yes I am qualifying that because IYKYK), but my faith views have nothing to do with subscribing to a particular religion. It's not about religion to me and I'm just glad I somehow escaped being harmed by a church.
> She told me that she’s excited about Pope Leo XIV’s selection not because he is progressive, but because it was a clear slap on the wrist to the conservative Catholics who hijack biblical teachings for their own political prerogatives.
As SNL Weekend Update anchor Colin Jost recently said, if you're really "woke," you're not Catholic anymore. 😆 He jests but only a little. Still, I will take "progressive for Catholics" over "white supremacist," you know? I can't imagine a pope ever NOT being anti-abortion, but at least Leo is consistent with being anti-gun and anti-death penalty too.
Loomer is only in it for the clicks. However, this has been in my head so now you have to hear it too. "WOKE MARXIST POPE" happens to have the same syllables as "Pink Pony Club"....
A pope that hates JD Vance... I'll take it. I mean, you can't have very high expectations here.
I was raised Catholic and I'm still surprised when people are surprised that the Pope is Catholic. We are 60 years out from only saying mass in Latin. Abortion rights are not on the table.
I am optimistic that Leo will follow Francis in caring for and spotlighting our treatment of the least of these, like migrants and Palestinians. I have plenty of stones to throw at the church but I believe that due to the size and global nature of the church, the Pope can do a lot to guide international conversations.
Honestly I'm just glad it's not someone who wants to jail LGBTQ+ people or someone who supports Christian Nationalism.
None of these points surprises me greatly and I'm frankly relieved we haven't swung back after Pope Francis. (I say "we" having been raised Catholic, but not having been to church with any regularity in the last decade.)
The environmental stuff seems so obvious to me, given the whole "stewards of the earth" thing! Let's go all in on this, Catholic church!
When I was denomination shopping, it blew my mind how many conservative denominations are like "well we'll be raptured away from here so fuck the earth."
Yup, raised Evangelical by parents who were raised Assembly of God...so that side of the family is as far off the right deepend as you can imagine. Their disregard for the earth PAINS me. It wasn't that way growing up, my Dad used to wash his ziploc baggies, and save bugs he found in the house and couldn't even bring himself to go fishing. Now he's been ruined by right-wing media and is very much like the earth? whatever. (amongst other nonsense).
Ooof, I'm sorry there has been a turn-around thanks to right wing media. Every time I see stuff like this, I send my pretty-liberal parents a silent thanks for not being sucked in at any point. <3 That must be so painful to watch happen, my heart goes out to you.
YIKES on bikes, I have thankfully never heard that take, cool cool cool
Just a casual vote here to bring back 'yikes on bikes' as a phrase...
This gave me a giggle, thanks!
Well, since our society feels like it’s regressing everywhere else, a pope that’s not a giant step backward is a relief.
What I think we are seeing here with JD Vance is a pretty classic clash in what is given more weight - the church or the Bible. Most Christian denominations place the Bible over the Church and focus on the personal relationship with Jesus. The Catholic Church emphatically does NOT. What the Church says is the fonal say. They interpret scripture - it's why there wasn't a "read the Bible in a year" program specifically for Catholics until Fr. Whatawaste started doing it during COVID. If you want to know what the Bible says, come to church for 3 years.
It's going to cause some issues as folks come over from more evangelical denominations, but I don't think that basic tenent of the Catholic Church is going to change. It's why Pope Leo felt comfortable calling JD Vance wrong even before Pope Francis pushed back.
Cool very excited that I can't edit that typo 🤣
But just an example of how deep this clash runs - Baptists seem to have a personal mission to convert Catholics to the "right God" and will frequently say that Catholics are not Christian because we say we aren't.
Not all cookies are oatmeal raisin cookies, but oatmeal raisin, chocolate chip, and oreos are all cookies. Just like not all Christians are Catholic, but all Catholics are Christian.
I attended high school in Lynchburg, VA and regularly encountered Liberty University students who didn't think Catholics were Christians. As someone who grew up around a lot of Catholics, but few, if any, Evangelicals/Baptists, etc., I was horrified.
There is also a huge divide between cradle Catholics and convert Catholics. I don't know a single person I was raised with who thinks we should undo Vatican 2, while they seem to be actively recruiting super conservative converts, and I think it's really changed the flavor of the American church. I do super agree that there is minimal emphasis on personal experience with the Bible in Catholicism and I'd extend that to discouraging a personal relationship with God in general, because there's always intermediaries. It really made for a wild de/reconstruction experience for me.
To be fair, I'm now a heretic who wandered off to a denomination where women are people too and LGBTQ+ people are fully affirmed, so take my options with a grain (or entire shaker) of salt.
I am Episcopalian (so among the most progressive of the Protestant denominations and also part of a larger Anglican Communion led by the Archbishop of Canterbury), but married into an Irish Catholic family and nothing that you wrote surprises me at all, mostly because it all seems very aligned with Catholicism. I can say that I'm relieved there didn't appear to be a reactionary swing back to the hard conservatives with this election, and with many in the faith concerned about schism, the moderate choice makes perfect sense.
What I'm most intrigued about, honestly, is that he is American, for I had always heard that the Conclave wouldn't elect a Pope from the U.S. until it was no longer a superpower, so I've been trying to read the tea leaves about whether this is a sign that the larger communion of 1.4 billion Catholics no longer sees the United States as the world leader it once was.
Thank you for talking about this - the oldest institution in the world with 1.4 billion members definitely has more influence than J.D. dismissed in the recent podcast interview.
I don't know.... These don't seem like good people to me... I'm not sure I care what their stance is on gun rights when they protect child abusers so openly.
"The Catholic Church has vowed to excommunicate any priest who follows a new Washington state law requiring clergy to report child abuse to law enforcement – even in the privacy of a confession booth. Priests in Washington have always had something similar to attorney-client privilege when hearing confessions, but the new law — which Gov. Bob Ferguson signed on Friday — revokes that protection for talk of child abuse or neglect." https://www.kptv.com/2025/05/09/catholic-church-excommunicate-priests-who-follow-new-washington-state-law/
I understand that he's the Pope and he represents the Catholic faith, so him holding to the standards of that faith makes sense. But what I hope we will continue to see is someone who isn't forcing it on people who don't share those beliefs and isn't there to condemn but to show what being someone of faith is about. Or simply maybe I'm don't want to make my religion the policy. Also that JD quote made me roll my eyes so hard I thought they'd get stuck. Sure buddy, sure. LOL
I'm going to also add that I'm not Catholic. I grew up in an American Baptist church (and yes I am qualifying that because IYKYK), but my faith views have nothing to do with subscribing to a particular religion. It's not about religion to me and I'm just glad I somehow escaped being harmed by a church.