Pope Benedict XVI arrives this afternoon for his first US visit. Nearly half a million faithful, including Stephen Colbert, have acquired tickets to his events in Washington, DC and New York City.
A recent poll found that 74 percent of American Catholics approve of their spiritual leader. But, it's not all fishes and loves. More than 6 out of 10 Catholics reported that the Church is out of touch with their views. About 75 percent of Catholics and non-Catholics disapprove of how the Church leadership handled the priest sexual abuse crisis. It is likely that the Pope, who while aboard his plane to the US said he was "deeply ashamed" of the scandal, will apologize to Americans this week.
And of course, this wouldn't be a truly American visit without some financial analysis. To see how much this visit is going to cost, read more.
The Archdiocese of Washington estimates it will spend $3 million on the three-day visit. Using some good old-fashion American entrepreneurial spirit, the Archdiocese established a foundation which has raised the $3 million from wealthy donors. In New York, the city and Yankee stadium are waving the cost of the mass venue and security. To make up the other cost to the New York Archdiocese, Pope memorabilia is being sold on websites like popevisit2008.
Since many American Catholics are concerned that the Church does not reflect their values, do you think the Pope should use this opportunity to remind Catholics of the importance of maintaining the Church's traditions? Or, should he work on making the Church more relative to modern life? How?
Dune
Colline
Anthony Peto
"More than 6 out of 10 Catholics reported that the Church is out of touch with their views." - Whoa, whoa, whoa. Are they implying that the Church is following the wishes of God instead of the wishes of the people?
This is crazy. The Pope really needs to have a stern talk with God about this.
1"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Are they implying that the Church is following the wishes of God instead of the wishes of the people?"
You read my mind 3M!
2Well I think it depends on two views. Did the church join them or did they join the church? Or You could see it as a club and the members are telling their leader they want new rules.
3"Or You could see it as a club and the members are telling their leader they want new rules."
Who would replace God?
"Did the church join them or did they join the church?"
I don't understand this statement.
p.s. I am still trying to figure out the perfect term of endearment for you hypno, but it is so hard to pick just one!
4Well, what are God's views? What do you think the Catholic church should be doing that it is not doing now? Just curious to know. I know I have my own feelings about the Catholic church as a Catholic myself, but I don't really know what God would have wanted in terms of those views.
5dude, they have pope eggs benedict the whatev's picture on DOG TAGS for sale, OMG no one in my adult catholic "know yer saints" class is gonna believe it, so jealous of me!
6God is not the leader of the Roman Catholic Church cine_lover, God is the focus of the church. The Pope is the leader of the Roman Catholic Church which is the leader I was referring to in the club comment.
As for the choice comment I was referring to the 6 out of 10 Catholics who are not happy with the church.
7I am going to have to disagree hypno. God is the leader of the Catholic church, the Pope is seen as the person in charge (for lack of a better term)of making sure the people of Catholic faith are walking in the path of Christ and serving God.
8Well then I'm gonna have to disagree, LOL, God is every one's leader if one so chooses to believe in a God. God did not create religion. Man created religion. God created humanity if one so believes and there for it would be appropriate to say God is the leader of humanity not a religion created by humanity.
9Fishes and loves! Ha! Good one Liberty! I love me some cheesy jokes!!
I am a Catholic... well, workin on jumpin back in... And I have to wonder, many people like the catholicism because its so steeped in tradition... I wonder how many people would be upset if all of a sudden we were seeing Buddy Christs everywhere?
I know I would be...
10"many people like the catholicism because its so steeped in tradition... I wonder how many people would be upset if all of a sudden we were seeing Buddy Christs everywhere?"
The main that kind of irks me is the fact that I go to church every week (and I like going, I don't go because I'm forced or anything like that), and when I get to church on Easter or Christmas, I can't find a seat because everyone decides to show up on that day. Some people even leave before the final blessing, which kind of cracks me up. It's, uh, 5 more minutes right at the end of mass. Staying after Communion isn't gonna kill you.
I don't really know how I feel about the whole "Buddy Jesus" thing, but eh...people are always going to see religion in their own way, and even though I don't treat God like a genie, who's just waiting to grant me 3 wishes if I keep praying hard enough, I know so many other people do think that way. Hence, the going to church 2 days a year ;)--"God will forgive me!"
11oh hypno I have a feeling we could go on forever with this one!
If God is everyone's leader who believes in God, then what I said would be true, God is the leader of the Catholics. Now as a Christian, we believe the Bible is the word of the Lord. And in the Bible there is a template in which to live by. Religion in my view, was created to supply guidance in order to achieve living within Gods "law". So yes in a sense religion was created by humans, but also by God.
If the Pope dies, the Catholic religion does not die, because the Pope is not our leader. We can be Catholics without the Pope, you can't be Catholic without God.
Sorry if this is a little rambley but it got busy at work.
12"The main that kind of irks me is the fact that I go to church every week (and I like going, I don't go because I'm forced or anything like that), and when I get to church on Easter or Christmas, I can't find a seat because everyone decides to show up on that day. Some people even leave before the final blessing, which kind of cracks me up. It's, uh, 5 more minutes right at the end of mass. Staying after Communion isn't gonna kill you."
I could not agree with this more!
13em - Buddy Christ is a reference to the movie Dogma...
I'm one of those annoying people you mention, and I know I'm annoying, and if I went every week, I'd be annoyed at me too!
But I never leave till the very end... who cares if you have to wait in traffic in the lot to
get out?
14Hahaha, cabaker, you crack me up
Yeah, I don't get the whole "leaving early" thing.
At most, it buys you 2 extra minutes, and then people start flooding out anyway. OK, sometimes you get stuck behing the little old ladies in their Cadillacs, but eh 
15
16
caterpillar!
17Cabaker you are not annoying!
18that was for Cabaker.
19Haha thanks Cat! Everytime I hear about how the Catholic church needs to get with the time, thats the image I imagine!
Awww, thanks Cine...
20I love Buddy Christ.
21Yes we definitely could go on forever. I believe God created spirituality period not religion. I also believe that religion was designed more for control of humanity by it's own than by an allegiance to God.
I do believe that God set forth a message to humanity but this message has been blurred by religion. You don't need a religion to spread the word of God.
22I kind of want a Buddy Christ of my own.
And yes cabaker I forgot to add in my last
post that you are not annoying. (And, that picture you have up makes me want cupcakes...as in, right now!! 
)
23"You don't need a religion to spread the word of God."
You don't, but some need religion more then others. I don't NEED to go to church, that is my choice. My faith and religion has helped me a great deal in life.
I see religion as a tool, and as such it has helped build communities and offered a lot of good in the world, but in the wrong hands it can also cause destruction.
"I believe God created spirituality period not religion."
I am assuming you are not Catholic, or of Christian faith, but I believe that I am following the rules set in place by God. There is really no place else to go from here because it is a fundamental difference between the two of us. And we won't know who is right until we die, it is all opinion.
I believe interpretation is human, and religion is interpreting what God has given us, in this case the Bible, therefor it is both Divine and human.
24As a convert to Catholicism, the difference between Catholics and other faith walks, is that in Catholicism it's a community that works together, prays together, comes together, it's "God and us" and for others it's "God and me." Where we have Tradition and the Magisterium to inform us so that we're all "on the same page" of the Scriptures, where as others have "private interpretation" of Scriptures so that there are as many "interpretations" as there are members of other faith-walks.
I'm watching live television on http://www.ewtn.org even as I type.
25Well certainly as you said it's your choice. I never suggested you shouldn't have the choice. If cine_lover is happy that let cine do what makes him happy and close to God as long as you're not impeding on others freedoms.
Personally I am from a Christian background but on a personal level I found that the message transcends any religion and that I do not need a religion giving me it's strict defined perspective to see and live the word of God.
My mother was a devout Catholic but she never made me go to church she said it had to be my choice. I stopped going to church all together for ten years and then one day in the Spring of 1998 my lover at the time took me to his church. Agape International Spiritual center. I looked out across the some three thousand people and realized that I was surrounded by Christians, Jews, Buddhists, and Muslims all together under one message and that is love. I siad hot damn I've found my place.
26"I looked out across the some three thousand people and realized that I was surrounded by Christians, Jews, Buddhists, and Muslims all together under one message and that is love."
I have seen the same thing with the charity my church does. They help all in need, no matter what religion or lack there of. I never felt (not that you were implying this) that the message was to only love other Catholics, but to love each other, to help each other, and you know, all that other good stuff
We pray for all, not just Christians. I have had such a positive experience with Catholicism, so I see it as we are the same, under one message and that is
to Love and serve the Lord and each other. Which happens to be the last thing the priests says after every mass (besides Amen of course)
I am truly happy that you found a place that you feel connected to, because in my opinion, it is so important to feel part of a community!
Sorry for the ramble again.
27On a side note, I have never discussed my religion as much as I have on this site. I feel like Catholics are the topic of the year around these parts!
28(on a random note...)
the Pope is totally snarling traffic in D.C. today. i don't know who his scheduler is but they totally effed up his arrival. he's driving through town now (RUSH HOUR!)...this is simply not a way to get some DC love.
i drove in this morning and i'm dreading my commute home. i heard the metro was packed but hey, at least you can buy a one day "Mass Pass" for his mass tomorrow at the Nationals stadium. my mom managed to snag a ticket since she teaches catechism classes at our church.
anyway, i know i'm rambling but my afternoon coffee buzz just kicked in. i'm like you Crabaker (GASP!)...i don't always attend church like i used to (i even taught catechism last year!) but i know i'll find my way back there.
i just have a lot of issues with Catholicism and i don't feel right going there when i have so many problems with it. I don't want to be a "Cafeteria Catholic" but i also don't want to be hypocritical and act like i'm praying when i don't agree with so many of the things the church advocates (pro-life, handling of pedophilia scandal, etc). anyway, like i said, i'm sure i'll find my way back. or find something else that satisfies my love of social justice and community-building.
29sigh...can you tell that i have some unsorted issues with Catholicism? i really love it so much of the time but other times...well, it's not pretty. i'm still working through internal issues with it but i know i'll never "hate it" per say.
30You're what I call a good Christian cine.
31I try!
32Hypno, don't go filling cine's head with ideas that she is "good."
33She?! Let me check under that skirt cine.
34Sorry cine I referred to you as a he earlier.
35Hey 3M! What is that suppose to mean?
36Yeah there are no twig and berries under my skirt. I am all girl!
37This has been one of the most relaxing days on this site... no arguments, nothing! We all got along!!
I can't stand it!!
jk!
38Shall I stir the pot cabaker27?
39Noooo lets enjoy this!
40I disagree with what the church says on homosexuality and contraception especially in light of HIV, God doesn't want you to put your life at risk does he? But at the same time it's really hard to pick and choose what you want to get out of the religion. You want priests to get married and nuns to serve as priests which means that we must allow gay marriage and allow gays to serve as priests let's see how well that idea goes down with the so called liberals, or those who disagree with the church. A good example is the Episcopal or Anglican church they have female bishops but the idea that a homosexual should lead them in prayer, God forbid because all those adulterers and fornicators don't want to risk coming into contact with a homosexual, it rubs off you know. As far as I'm concerned I may not agree with some rules but that won't stop me from loving my religion and enjoying it period nor will I turn my back on my faith. It's like your parents you don't like their rules but you love them none the less.
41omg, maybe this is a sign...i just got a ticket to see the Pope speak at Catholic U. tomorrow!!!!
i'll be sure to file a report ladies (and Hyno).
42sorry, HyPno.
43Yes! I def. want a full report! with pictures of the popemobile!!
44Have fun nica! Let us know how it goes!
45Yay!
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