U.S. Catholics and the Pope

Great Debates
1

Just wondering how many American practicing Catholics really listen to what the Pope has to say and how much value they put into it?
I saw a news clip today where the Pope said that anyone who practiced in Pre-marital sex are not to take communion. This leaves me to several possible conclusions:

  1. There are a lot of hypocritical Catholics out there taking communion.

  2. Catholics really don’t have premarital sex.

  3. American Catholics don’t really consider the Pope and what he says as part of their beliefs.

What is the concensus?

2
  1. Catholics are sinful*, just like everyone else.

[sub]* Does not imply a normative judgement on various acts, as to whether they are or aren’t sinful.[/sub]

3

I forget where I first heard this analogy, but I found it sadly valid, and have used it ever since.

“The Pope today is like your grandfather or your favorite elderly uncle .Everybody loves him, everybody is happy to see him when he visits, and everybody rolls out the red carpet when he drops in. But NOBODY has any intention of following his advice. When he gives it, everyone smiles, nods warmly, and immediately forgets it.”

And that, I’m afraid, sums up the attitude of most American Catholics toward the Pope. They regard him with great affection… but when he starts railing against either abortion or the death penalty (both of which most American Catholics support), their eyes glaze over, and they cease paying attention.