Have children, not pets

MRads · June 2014

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/03/pope-tells-couples-have-children-not-pets

Have we talked about this? Can we discuss how ironic it is, coming from an unmarried, childless man?

lfk2013 · June 2014

Holy crap. Why is fertility considered a tenant of any religion? My worth as a woman is not my womb or whom I marry. Telling married couples that they are going to be bitter and lonely when they get older is a bad idea. I know several couples who have decided to remain human childless and have only furry children and they are the happiest, most well-balanced and interesting people I know.

When people say things like what the Pope said, it doesn't surprise me that organized religion is having a problem staying current and attracting "younger" members.

botanicalbliss · June 2014

I read this, and I thought it was ridiculous. Yes, please have babies so you aren't lonely and so you have someone to care for you when you are old. Those are definitely GREAT reasons to have kids. 8-|

LuckyAngel07 · June 2014

This pisses me off.

What the hell is his message to IF couples? They're going to be bitter and lonely because they couldn't have children (not because they chose not to like others)? Or will they be okay because at least they tried? If fertility is supposed to be a major support of marriage, does he think every IF couple should get divorced/be single for the rest of their lives? I think that spells more of a disaster for loneliness in old age than not having children would!

lilliesandvino · June 2014

Oh bummer. And I thought the pope was doing so well to this point. Old habits (and tenants) die hard.

DangerMuffin23 · June 2014

Mmm Kay. Nope

seahorse01 · June 2014

It is a shame that I won't have anybody to love or take care of me when I am old. Sucks to be me.

BruinsBabe33 · June 2014

Yeah, I was really surprised to hear about this coming from him. He's been so good until now.

KonaCoffeeBean · June 2014

Wait a minute, where the hell is my country home?

amandaf6383 · June 2014

seahorse01 said:

It is a shame that I won't have anybody to love or take care of me when I am old. Sucks to be me.

I will love you and take care of you. I will remind you to put in your teeth and you remind me to change my Depends. THAT'S romance!

seahorse01 · June 2014

amandaf6383 said:

seahorse01 said:

It is a shame that I won't have anybody to love or take care of me when I am old. Sucks to be me.

I will love you and take care of you. I will remind you to put in your teeth and you remind me to change my Depends. THAT'S romance!

I hoped I could count on you!

nfp147 · June 2014

MRads · June 2014

So if you're over 30 and childless, is it better to risk it and be an old mother or play it safe and grow old and miserable? Im so confused.

poppies717 · June 2014

To be honest, I haven't even read much into this yet. I know it will piss me off. It's no secret around here that I have really struggled with my faith since 3T. I had hope for this pope, but it's fleeting now that I've seen these headlines.

nfp147 · June 2014

MRads said:

So if you're over 30 and childless, is it better to risk it and be an old mother or play it safe and grow old and miserable? Im so confused.

You can still have babies at 30, as long as they graduate by the time they are 35.

MRads · June 2014

I'm sorry @poppies717

Mustard76 · June 2014

I guess at least the message is consistent...? We tried to get married in the Catholic Church to keep peace in the family. Well, they refused to marry us because I couldn't say that I was certain that I wanted to be a mother. I was in my early 20's, give me a minute! But we were told that according to the church, the purpose of marriage is to procreate and if I couldn't say 100% that's what I wanted, we weren't welcome to get married there. I still haven't let it go, clearly.

DJCole42P3 · June 2014

I can't honestly post my opinion on this or I'm going to go all ragey. But more generally...I constantly need to remind myself the tenets, values, and underpinnings of religion/spirituality are separate from the political institutions that "lead" them. During 12 years of Catholic I had an amazing teacher. A priest who approached things by asking us to question man's word including the papacy's. Always consider the source and historical context. I wouldn't say it shook my faith, but I very much questioned the Catholic institution. For me it is a kin to the idea I can wear the uniform of my country proudly every day, but that doesn't mean I have to be onboard with every political decision our leaders make. My oath isn't made to defend the president it' is to defend my country and it's constitution, just as my faith is bound to loving my fellow man and treating them well, not tied to the pope.

sgautschi · June 2014

BruinsBabe33 said:
Yeah, I was really surprised to hear about this coming from him. He's been so good until now.

This exactly. How ridiculous...

Flamingo86 · June 2014

This sort of ridiculousness is a large part of why we left our (not catholic) church. They made me feel worthless for not being a mother but at the same time told me that my bitterness/sadness over IF was a sin.

I also don't have pets. I'm really screwed.

poppies717 · June 2014

Flamingo86 said:

This sort of ridiculousness is a large part of why we left our (not catholic) church. They made me feel worthless for not being a mother but at the same time told me that my bitterness/sadness over IF was a sin. I also don't have pets. I'm really screwed.

Yes. This is exactly how I feel. Spot on, Flamingo.

islandmonkey8 · June 2014

I think this is a bunch of crap. I don't know if the Catholic church will ever really be something I could fully support. This Pope may have given me hope, but then he says shit like this.

Have children, not pets

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