this post was submitted on 22 Mar 2026
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[–] Sepia@mander.xyz 4 points 18 hours ago

Oh, yes, I fully agree with the Pope. Unfortunately, though, it's not the only scandal to humanity, but the head of church remains deliberately silent on others.

Just this month, for example, Pope Leo XIV told EWTN News he “cannot comment” on Jimmy Lai, the Catholic founder and publisher of the outspoken pro-democracy tabloid Apple Daily, who was sentenced Feb. 9 on charges Chinese authorities say violate national security laws. The pope instead urged for peace, telling reporters: “Let’s pray for less hatred and more peace, and work for authentic dialogue.

Here is the link to Pope Leo's statement: https://xcancel.com/search?f=tweets&q=EWTNews%2Fstatus%2F2028939158245560339

As one catholic media asks, What Hold Has China Over the Vatican?

This is part of a bigger picture, with Pope Francis secret concordat with the CCP [Chinese Communist Party], ‘legitimizing’ the state-controlled Church in China, and – allegedly – throwing the long-suffering underground Church under the bus, a resistance which had held faithful to Rome for decades after the Communist takeover after their victory in the Second World War. The ‘official’ Church now gets to choose bishops, who are properly indoctrinated and hold the party line. (The Vatican has veto power, but apparently it’s never been exercised). There are other major problems, such as the law that no one under 18 is permitted to go to church, attend Mass or, apparently, participate in the sacraments (except, perhaps, ‘underground’). Crosses are destroyed, and images of Xi Jinping are to be put up in churches, and crucifixes taken down. And sermons are carefully monitored to ensure they are properly ‘sinicized’, with nothing subversive to the regime getting through. No streaming or on-line evangelization is permitted. Priests also surrender their passports, and can only travel with permission ...

[–] ExtremeDullard@piefed.social 5 points 21 hours ago* (last edited 21 hours ago) (1 children)

It's almost as scandalous as, say, the many Crusades over the centuries, the Inquisition or tolerating a massive pedophilia ring for decades.

Pope Leo would be well-advised to check that he took a shower before criticizing other people's body odor...

[–] BigMike@lemmy.world 18 points 21 hours ago (2 children)

The Crusades were what? A thousand years ago? I don't think it's really that applicable as a "hypocrisy" card anymore. And the Inqusition is almost as old.

For the third one, sure.

[–] ExtremeDullard@piefed.social 8 points 20 hours ago* (last edited 20 hours ago) (4 children)

Oh you want more recent? How about the Vatican helping Nazis to flee to South America? Opus Dei trafficking women in the 80's?

As for the Inquisition, it still exists. It was just cutely renamed in 1965.

The point is, this is a 2000-year-old criminal organization, and it bears the weight of millenia of crime. Just waiting long enough doesn't wipe the slate clean - just like a Mafia boss can't ever give you lessons on how to lead an honest life, even if he retired 50 years ago.

Leo is the head of that criminal organization, and as such has zero standing to give anyone moral lessons.

[–] teyrnon@sh.itjust.works 5 points 15 hours ago* (last edited 15 hours ago)

Yet he's one of the good guys, someones brought the pope to our side. Stop fighting the leadership that is trying to do better, and fight the establishment that isn't.

[–] Zorque@lemmy.world 5 points 18 hours ago

So one of the most powerful organizations on the planet should just sit back and let the world fall to shit because you don't like things its done in the past?

This is one of the major reasons the world is turning to shit, people would rather stand on principle instead of practicality. Should the catholic church be taken to task for the atrocities it has committed? Abso-fucking-lutely. But until that becomes possible (which is a long time from now) having them push in the right direction for once is not a bad thing.

You don't have to celebrate them, but you don't have to shove them in a corner and dismiss everything they say either. Especially since it's the head of one of the most powerful religious organizations in the world. Even if you don't, many people still listen to it.

[–] BigMike@lemmy.world 1 points 16 hours ago

See, that's what you should've said. Bringing up stuff from centuries ago as a grudge thing to modern politics isn't a good look.

[–] youcantreadthis@quokk.au 0 points 17 hours ago* (last edited 17 hours ago)

I got some pretty good lessons on leading an honest life from a lot of ex gangsters in various positions.

[–] TheJesusaurus@piefed.ca 4 points 20 hours ago

True, it was ages ago, were not fighting over the holy land anymore and that area of the world is no longer an intractable religious-political issue shaping the decisions of major nations these days! Thank god

[–] Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe 3 points 21 hours ago (2 children)

Tell you what, Leo, glass houses and all that...

[–] teyrnon@sh.itjust.works 3 points 15 hours ago

Leo is trying to right the ship. How about you focus on the establishment that is the problem? Jesus Christ, no wonder we are losing.

[–] TheJesusaurus@piefed.ca 7 points 20 hours ago* (last edited 20 hours ago)

Fair point. As popes go Leo seems like a half decent one. Easy to forget he's the head of an entire country coated in gold, populated exclusively by men in dresses who like to violate little boys.

[–] Avicenna@programming.dev 1 points 17 hours ago

The only institution that has been improving in terms of leadership in the last decade seems to be the Church. Welp time to move to vatican and become and apply for a job in the inquisition I guess.