"Pope criticizes couples who adopt pets instead of children"

[Segland]

I find it ironic that a man who is not allowed to marry, much less have children, is browbeating people who don't want to have children.

[GENSOC]

I see the ascetic in the golden palace has seen fit to lecture people on how purely seflish a decision to not have kids is, and even bemoan the demographic decline of the west while not taking into account any of the reasons why people might be having fewer kids on average to begin with.

I will say one thing: he has been very keen to point out the many myriad ways global capitalism is harming everyone across the globe. So while this proclamation of his is tone-deaf, it isn't quite like he's unaware of why few want kids.
Which kind of makes it all the more egregious.

[Salus Maior]

Dude I can't even afford a pet deposit and you want me to have actual human kids?
Pope has reached peak Boomer.

He's only saying that pets aren't children, and shouldn't be treated as though they are.

[Neutraligon]

Dude I can't even afford a pet deposit and you want me to have actual human kids?
Pope has reached peak Boomer.

He's only saying that pets aren't children, and shouldn't be treated as though they are.

They can however be close family. More than that unlike children they can provide significant emotional support without causing harm.

[Great Algerstonia]

without causing harm.

My couch disagrees

[Nilokeras]

Dude I can't even afford a pet deposit and you want me to have actual human kids?
Pope has reached peak Boomer.

He's only saying that pets aren't children, and shouldn't be treated as though they are.

Which of course follows nicely into the conclusion that people are treating pets like children because, increasingly, the financial and emotional burden of having kids alone in an atomized, increasingly expensive society is untenable for more and more people.

That would have been a potent message - instead we get blandishments about not dressing up Sparky in sweaters or something

[Mtwara]

...Wow that is a lot. First why does it matter if people spend more on their pets, spend more time with their pets etc? They have decided that they do not want kids/do not want to adopt and that is none of the pope's business, particularly considering the fact, as you mentioned, that the pope knows next to nothing about raising kids (or I am guessing having pets). Also...it isn't about youth and beauty, it is about not being too old to do the things you want to do. My mom likes hiking and taking photos, but due to the weight of her equipment and the fact she is getting older, there are certain things she can not do.

You're right that we can spend our money how we like, but that doesn't mean you can't waste your money.

Not sure about your mom's situation, but pretty sure generally speaking that you can have children and still go hiking. What I would say is when it comes to getting very old what you can and can't do comes down to pure luck, my dad and I did our last expedition across Spain together when he was 71, a year before he died. You can still have a lot of time to focus on yourself and what you want in the years before and after raising kids.

[Noristoniaka]

Some people may just get a pet because a human is a lot more of a responsibility, as pets are not as much :|

[Salus Maior]

More than that unlike children they can provide significant emotional support without causing harm.

This is kind of the attitude he's criticizing, which I do think he has a point with.

Having children shouldn't be a matter of "what do I get out of it", because that's completely narcissistic. You don't have children to get something out of it, you do it as an act of love in raising a new person. And that means that yes it's a hard time, and it means that people have to give up a lot for the sake of their children, but that's a virtuous thing, a selfless thing, that's for the good of the whole and the progression of society. Love is always sacrificial, and that's a good thing.

Granted, there is a point to be made that economic concerns make having children less doable, but that's a different thing altogether, and Francis would most likely agree with you on that matter.

[Heloin]

You think the pope is more of a cat guy or a dog guy?

[Segland]

You think the pope is more of a cat guy or a dog guy?

Presumably the latter. Cats tend to be Muslim, whereas dogs tend to be Christian.

[Salus Maior]

He's only saying that pets aren't children, and shouldn't be treated as though they are.

Which of course follows nicely into the conclusion that people are treating pets like children because, increasingly, the financial and emotional burden of having kids alone in an atomized, increasingly expensive society is untenable for more and more people.

That would have been a potent message - instead we get blandishments about not dressing up Sparky in sweaters or something

He's criticizing the mindset that people should opt for pets instead of children because there's less responsibility involved. That's a separate thing from economic issues, which he's said plenty on.

[Heloin]

You think the pope is more of a cat guy or a dog guy?

Presumably the latter. Cats tend to be Muslim, whereas dogs tend to be Christian.

As we all know.

[Azania-]

Fuck you Pope Francis, the bloodline dies with me.

[Esternial]

"But denial, a man or woman who do not develop the sense of fatherhood or motherhood, they are lacking something, something fundamental, something important."

Guys, I think the Pope wants a kid.

[Rusozak]

Francis just gave a big middle finger to rescue shelters I guess. I'm going with the pets. Humans just hurt you. I've never been wronged by an animal.

[Salus Maior]

"But denial, a man or woman who do not develop the sense of fatherhood or motherhood, they are lacking something, something fundamental, something important."

Guys, I think the Pope wants a kid.

Given "Pope" means father, he's already got the entire Church.

[Segland]

Francis just gave a big middle finger to rescue shelters I guess. I'm going with the pets. Humans just hurt you. I've never been wronged by an animal.

What, you've never been hissed at or scratched by a cat? It hurts...emotionally.

[Nora Xent]

Guys, I think the Pope wants a kid.

Given "Pope" means father, he's already got the entire Church.

Which is heretical. As Matthew 23:9 states 'Call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven'

[Salus Maior]

Given "Pope" means father, he's already got the entire Church.

Which is heretical. As Matthew 23:9 states 'Call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven'

And yet Jesus also used the term "father" to refer to earthly men on several occasions. Somehow I don't think that verse means what you think it means.

But this is a theological topic that's more appropriate for the CDT.

[Daniel-Franklin]

So, pets aren't people? Don't tell my cats that.

[Esternial]

Guys, I think the Pope wants a kid.

Given "Pope" means father, he's already got the entire Church.

That's going to be a hefty alimony check.

Which is heretical. As Matthew 23:9 states 'Call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven'

And yet Jesus also used the term "father" to refer to earthly men on several occasions. Somehow I don't think that verse means what you think it means.

But this is a theological topic that's more appropriate for the CDT.

And I use the term "cat daddy".

Basically the same thing as "Pope".

[Ifreann]

Guy who took a vow of celibacy really ought to stay in his lane and not comment on parenting.

[Imperial States of Duotona]

I thought all dogs go to heaven though? Has my life been a lie?

[Kerwa]

There’s no demographic winter because of automation. More kids just means greater numbers of unemployed.

There’s too many people anyway. The pope should be advocating more abortions.