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Apr. 3rd, 2005 10:25 amThe unconfirmed reports of the Pope's passing on Friday were incorrect and he passed away yesterday.
Since I have friends who are Christian, non-Christian, and ex-Christian, I have read a wide range of responses, from gleeful celebration to shrugging to deep mourning. My feelings about the Pope's passing are... nothing. Well, a little bit of something. But for the most part, I think of him as an old man, not connected to me, who lived a good long life and passed away in relative peace.
In some ways I might be inclined to view him as an enemy. After all, he did nothing to end the oppression of my people (gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgendered, and intersex) and promoted the perpetuation of that evil. Lack of access to birth control is a link in the chain of female oppression, and he actively promoted the perpetuation of that, too. He remained captive to doctrines which lead to pain and suffering.
OTOH he did take steps which no pope had previously taken to promote peace and interfaith understanding. And he was not without compassion.
I remain mixed in my feelings towards him.
Since I have friends who are Christian, non-Christian, and ex-Christian, I have read a wide range of responses, from gleeful celebration to shrugging to deep mourning. My feelings about the Pope's passing are... nothing. Well, a little bit of something. But for the most part, I think of him as an old man, not connected to me, who lived a good long life and passed away in relative peace.
In some ways I might be inclined to view him as an enemy. After all, he did nothing to end the oppression of my people (gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgendered, and intersex) and promoted the perpetuation of that evil. Lack of access to birth control is a link in the chain of female oppression, and he actively promoted the perpetuation of that, too. He remained captive to doctrines which lead to pain and suffering.
OTOH he did take steps which no pope had previously taken to promote peace and interfaith understanding. And he was not without compassion.
I remain mixed in my feelings towards him.
