"Pope criticizes couples who adopt pets instead of children"

[Saiwania]

I've come upon a brilliant idea for the Vatican, and that is to turn it into a monastical order. If people aren't adopting orphans, why not do it themselves? The Vatican has tons of money and the return on investment could be in the black if the people that're raised by the Church don't need to be paid but do everything voluntarily if they live in the Church and are the Church.

It could become like the Jedi or Sith orders, but with the focus on serving the Church as an institution and ideology. Raise them up young enough, and they won't miss not having had any attachments. People can leave the Church if they want if they were born into it, but by default they probably won't and will have no need for personal possessions or gain because the Church pays for them the entire time they're part of it.

Some can become generals/warriors prepared for the next Crusade (if it happens), others- diplomats and so on, who're meant to spread the Gospel globally.

[Kerwa]

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

Dogs go to heaven, their owners don’t.

[Blessed Regent Sergey Taboritsky]

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.

NO

[Neutraligon]

...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.

No, my mom does not get what she wants, because she waited for after she had kids, namely a retirement with my dad to do the things she wanted. She does not get that because my dad died due to brain cancer. You do not necessarily have the time to wait.

[Neutraligon]

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.

...Thing is the people who get pets because they need them emotionally should never have kids, because that sort of emotional attachment is abusive to a child. And the pope is saying these people should adopt kids instead of pets?

[Reploid Productions]

"Church with a history of scandals involving abuse of children wants more people to have children"... guess the global supply chain issues really are hitting everybody.

[Vikanias]

Everything’s too fucking expensive these days to raise children, getting a cat instead is much better as they are cheaper and don’t scream all the goddamn time until they’re 10.

[Neutraligon]

Everything’s too fucking expensive these days to raise children, getting a cat instead is much better as they are cheaper and don’t scream all the goddamn time until they’re 10.

You sure about that? I've known some very talkative cats.

[Vikanias]

Everything’s too fucking expensive these days to raise children, getting a cat instead is much better as they are cheaper and don’t scream all the goddamn time until they’re 10.

You sure about that? I've known some very talkative cats.

Yes, I am.

[Laka Strolistandiler]

Although I am religious Christian (and was at some point very close to baptizing as a catholic) no way I’m going to have children in the current world with the current me. Economy is trash, the country in which I live is a shithole and if anything I’d raise nothing but more stupidly incompetent spawns who will do nothing but whine about life being shit.

And no pope is making me change my opinion on the matter for now.

[Vikanias]

A nice thing to think about is that Pope Francis doesn’t have any kids at all.

[Neutraligon]

A nice thing to think about is that Pope Francis doesn’t have any kids at all.

Like I said, given the history of the Catholic church when it comes to the treatment of children, whether in the residential schools, in orphanages, or in their congregations....yeah the pope should stay pretty quiet about children.

[Daniel-Franklin]

A nice thing to think about is that Pope Francis doesn’t have any kids at all.

Like I said, given the history of the Catholic church when it comes to the treatment of children, whether in the residential schools, in orphanages, or in their congregations....yeah the pope should stay pretty quiet about children.

Yeah, and honestly, most of the clergy need to take a seat. Not just the Catholic Church, though they're the worst. I suffered tremendous physical abuse at a Pentecostal school myself.

[Ethel mermania]

Wildly bad idea. For one this is a .22 mag household, no BBs to be found.

henry rifles are also nice starters

Go colonial, brown bess's.

[Stellar Colonies]

There are people who do humanize their pets too much, but blindly demanding that couples disinterested or unable to produce or adopt children and not be 'selfish' could result in a larger surge of disturbed adults if that sentiment was enforced.

Would his next wish be that men and women who are content to be single and don't want a partner need to find one and churn out a family?

[Sundiata]

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

Please be polite towards Pope Francis everyone, it's fine to disagree but please mention the Holy Father with respect.

No.

Okay, I asked you kindly to mention Pope Francis with respect.

[Just-An-Illusion]

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

No.

Okay, I asked you kindly to mention Pope Francis with respect.

Sun this is NSG, where the majority of users are atheist. I don't think people will show any respect just because you asked nicely.

[GuessTheAltAccount]

>Criticizes pollution
>Criticizes the one thing surest to result in less pollution

Seems legit

[GuessTheAltAccount]

I'll listen to his opinion on having kids when he has some.

Eh, Al Gore doesn't practice what he preaches, that doesn't make what he preaches invalid.

There's plenty of other reasons what the Pope is preaching here is invalid, but that isn't one of them.

[Cannot think of a name]

If I fuck up a cat's life that sucks, but at worst it'll become a serial killer of birds which was its default position anyway. And it's cheaper. And I won't have to figure out how to pay for its college.

[The Blaatschapen]

The pope should have claimed that those who get cats instead of kids end up in purrdition.

[GuessTheAltAccount]

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.

There is nothing "selfless" about bringing more people into this polluted world in the era of climate change. You're making the problem worse AND throwing your own kids into the problem you just made worse.

[GuessTheAltAccount]

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.

"Be courteous, obey the law, but if some bird lays its feathers on you, sent it to the cemetery!"

[The Blaatschapen]

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.

How can cats be Muslim? Cat pictures are plentiful on the internet. While pictures of Mohammed are rare.

[Dakran]

Personally I think the Pope should make sure his house is in order before criticizing anyone else.

Also I'd be a horrible parent.