I loved the Pope's visit to the U.S.

 

The religious stuff he says doesn’t resonate with me.  I don’t believe in god, heaven, hell, or the devil.  I believe in reason.  Thousands of years ago, we had legends, myths, and religion to explain what we didn’t understand.  I don’t understand why we are still relying on those solutions today.

 

But I’m loving this pope.  Even when he says stuff I don’t agree with, like a woman does not have the right to choose what happens to her body after intercourse, even if she didn’t have a choice about the intercourse; he goes on to say we should be consistent in our reasoning.  If we are going to insist on the sanctity of life, even before birth, why are we killing people with the death penalty?  Why are we so involved in the arms trade; creating and selling the implements of death?  Why do we let the slaughter of our own citizens go on so long with unregulated access to weapons for mass killings?  Where is our insistence of the sanctity of life?  C’mon people, let’s be consistent with our reasoning.

 

He believes in compassion.  When confronted with refugees, don’t see a number and look away, look into his or her eyes and see a fellow human being.  Treat them with dignity and respect.

 

He points out that we are all immigrants, or children of immigrants.  What were we all looking for?  A better life.  We should deal with immigrants humanely, as we would choose for ourselves to be treated.

 

He has a problem with unfettered capitalism.  So do I.  So many people work hard all their lives to get by.  Some people, in spite of their efforts, can’t even find *enough* work to get by.  Our system of capitalism is awesome for the people that thrive under it, but there seem to be no limits.  It produces star athletes that get 100 million dollar contracts, or even worse, feel disrespected by a 100 million dollar contract and insist they’re worth 125 million.  Really?  How can so many people work so hard for what they get, while a fortunate few get so much?  Where is the provision for compassion in capitalism for those left behind?

 

Global warming.  He thinks we should pay attention to the planet and take care of it.

 

He’s the moral compass for a billion people.  He believes in reason.  So do I.