https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/polls/atheists-back-the-pope-more-than-catholics-do Jesus Fuckin' Christ.
I'm trying to remember the rationale I saw a conservative Catholic come up with the other day for "the Pope is infallible except when I disagree with him," but it was SO tortured that I wasn't able to lodge it in my memory.
There is always a Christian apologeticist somewhere ready to explain why Jesus loves it when children die, and why keeping the poor miserable and scrabbling for basic needs is exactly what He would want for everyone except the very select few who definitely need five private jets.
The Pope is infallible in matters of faith and morals. I don't think the politics of the day counts. Speaking as a Catholic and someone who agrees with the Pope.
When Catholics disagree with the pope: 33 CE - May 2025 CE: Leave and form some other church, just leave, or declare that the pope isn't really the pope and an antipope is the real pope. May 2025 CE - present: Who does this "pope" guy think he is showing up out of nowhere and telling Catholics how to Catholic? You can't just become pope and expect everyone to go along with it.
Reminds me of a mormon I know. Gets offended if anyone suggests their beliefs are being dictated by some old dudes in Salt Lake City and insists they are just following the word of God. But then when someone asked why God changed His mind so much on matters like women, black people, and the children of gay couples, they stated that those things weren't actually the word of God but a faulty interpretation of it by flawed church leaders of the time.
"The politics of the day" in this case is stuff like "war is bad," and "we should be kind to refugees" and "it's good to help the poor" and "hoarding wealth is bad." It's some pretty basic Bible morality that folks with any sort of morality should have a hard time disagreeing with.
Jesus: "Welcome the stranger." MAGA Preacher: "Actually, Jesus warned us not to welcome just anyone. Here's why Jesus meant the stranger was supposed to be rich and white." MAGA follower: "Fucking woke liberal atheist socialist bullshit. What country are you even from?"
The Pope claims to be infallible only when speaking Ex Cathedra on these issues. Something which has happened only twice in the last 200 years.
This has been a long downward slide for the American Catholic community. Most put Republican Party politics over faith and country. I’m reminded of a church bulletin I received before the 2020 election that plainly said any politician who supports abortion cannot be elected. No commentary on war mongering, sexual abuse, or exploiting immigrants.
