Francis Effect: Republicans Re-Examine Relationship with Catholic Church

[Rapunzel]

[EC]

[Oceander]

The Pope is the pope, not the dictatorial mind-controller for all Catholics.  There are plenty of Catholics in America who disagree with the Church, and the Pope, on many issues without feeling that they have to leave the Church.  If the GOP starts to drift down an anti-Catholic road it will simply further alienate many people who are otherwise relatively conservative, thereby helping to reinforce its status as a minority party.

[EC]

Exactly.

And all the things we hear from the strategists about pulling Hispanics into the GOP tent? Hispanics are not some monobloc, but the one thing they nearly all have in common is being Catholic and respecting the Pope, especially now he can be considered to be "one of their own."

A very high profile Republican disrespecting His Holiness is not exactly going to go down too well.

[massadvj]

I would not call Argentina's system "crony capitalism."  I'd call it socialism,  I'd call the USA's system "crony capitalism."  And if anyone should know about crony capitalism it is Paul Ryan.

[Rapunzel]

I would not call Argentina's system "crony capitalism."  I'd call it socialism,  I'd call the USA's system "crony capitalism."  And if anyone should know about crony capitalism it is Paul Ryan.

 :thumbsup3: