Sir, I tip my hat in your general direction. That was, as they say, a cracking joke.

I think the leadership is less socially conservative compared to the past, but they represent some very conservative bases so they more or less are having to crawl progress forward or they risk a schism.

The previous pope, Pope Francis, stacked the Vatican with more progressive leaning cardinals. I believe Pope Leo will be following in Pope Francis’ footsteps in terms of appointments.

OMGAWD yesss

Is an instititute not allowed to develop into something better over time?

Some cardinals and popes were better than others, thats for sure.

I was raised Catholic, actually. Went to bible camp every summer, sang in the choir. The book is fantasy fiction and the preacher's livelihood depends on convincing people that all good things come from god and all bad things come from humanity.

Pretty sure that documentary would be the more consistent and factually based religious piece of media out there.

I am sorry you had gone through that experience. The only church that illuminates at all is the one we can set on fire :')

PS. This thread can easily spin on another reiteration of the arguments around "separating the art from the artist". That text on AI may have a certain sympathy to some.. I haven't read it. After this post, I thought "maybe I should?". Thanks to your comment I got centered back in my perspective: "nah. the pope can say whatever he wants to. I won't be his supporter nor audience."

I am not here to defend that institution at all.

you are not whoever told you this was doing the work of Satan

all of us are God's creations, and God doesnt make mistakes

your sins do not define you, the crucifixion set you free of them. Have faith in Christ.

And may I ask for your diocese or archdiocese? Have you reported him to the police yet? I am incredibly sorry that happened to you

And the farthest west you go, the more the federal government owns lands. In some states like Nevada, the state only owns a small portion of their state land.

That's not anybody! I will be more specific, the Catholic church owns more land than any other private organization on Earth, but yes governments own more, and can seize land from the Catholics, too. It's happened before.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/joewalsh/2021/07/24/vatican-owns-over-5000-properties-worldwide-it-reveals-in-first-disclosures-on-its-real-estate-holdings/

That's not an anybody! Anyway, let me be more pedantic for you... they own more property than any other private organization on the planet Earth (of the Sol system).

Russia being a dictatorship implies they have total unquestionable control of all of Russian territory, which would put them at the top of the list by a lot.

Yes, they had a late start, Catholic church has been around for over a thousand years, Mormons need to catch up.

Still, they are doing rather well with around 2 million (sources vary) acres, the fifth largest landowner in USA. That's very impressive, not paying taxes helps them a great deal financially.

Ask L. Ron Hubbard

They're losing membership, but they have been unimaginably wealthy since the Middle Ages, they'll be fine. Not paying taxes helps, of course.

(that's just for the USA, they could be gaining membership elsewhere)

Did you know the Catholic church is much larger than the Vatican? IT'S TRUE

https://www.forbes.com/sites/joewalsh/2021/07/24/vatican-owns-over-5000-properties-worldwide-it-reveals-in-first-disclosures-on-its-real-estate-holdings/

ha hahaha hahaha hahahaha haaahaahahahahahaha