Pope Francis’ recent statements that couples who choose not to have children are “selfish” – but that bringing them into this world and spanking them as a means of punishment can be “beautiful” – make me so glad I left Catholicism when I was 14.

I recognized at a young age that believing in God never made sense to me, because God was portrayed as a man and not a human being. And now we have a pope who’s better than all the others but still lacks a skill set for the human race.

I pray every day for functioning brains in our new world in religion and politics but will die before any of my prayers are answered. My prayer rug is so thin even Goodwill doesn’t want it.

Dorothy Tweer

Portland