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Apr-19-2005 17:04

The Catholic Church now has a new pope!

Congrats to our new pope: Pope Benedict XVI!

He is 78, one of the oldest popes, and is from Germany. His name is Joseph Ratzinger.


HABEMUS PAPEM!
(Latin for: We have a pope!)

Apr-23-2005 12:56

hmmm, Wireshaper, not meaning to be difficult but you can derive from the Bible whatever meaning you want.
Doesn't it say to "turn the other cheek" and "take an eye for an eye"; a justification or ban on revenge? (if i'm wrong i apologise, never got around to reading it)
For those curious about the celebacy aspect just remember that the origins of nepotism are found in the Vatican!!!!
My only other comment on the matter is that Africa has the fastest growing Catholic following, plus one of the highest levels of AIDS and infant mortality. Perhaps if contraception were not so "evil" many hundred thousand lives could be saved?

Apr-23-2005 13:25

Quote" vengeance is mine sayeth the lord, I will take an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth...."
It is actually the opposite of justifying revenge. Most people forget the first part of the quote.
I spent a lot of time at university with African overseas students. Their faith was a lot simpler than ours, without all the complicated theology that often gets in the way of belief.

PS: Croesy2002, doesnt that mean "Welcome 2002"?
(I used to live in North Wales and have vague recollections of seeing Croesy written on doors instead of welcome.)

Apr-23-2005 15:08

Thanks to everyone who stayed on topic!


Shame on those who cannot keep some comments to themselves.

Apr-25-2005 11:37

Amen jojo

Apr-27-2005 17:19

I hope he helps out the world as much as our last one did. R.I.P. John Paul the Second

Apr-28-2005 03:13

I find it a bizarre notion that there should be "shame on those who cannot keep some comments to themselves". Isn't this a message board?

While not necessarily subscribing to any particular views given here, none I've read seem particularly offensive and I don't understand how anyone could expect to raise such a topic without prompting some welcome and healthy differences of opinion.

Long live freedom of thought and expression in this small community and the wider world.

Apr-28-2005 03:43

Me too!

Apr-28-2005 19:41

Blaise, I had a very controversial post written, just be happy it was not posted by me.


People in this thread were:

1. rude
2. offensive
3. not thinking of others' opinions as well


That should have read: "Shame on those who do not think and cannot keep some comments to themselves."

Apr-29-2005 02:50

Sorry Jojo ... I don't really understand what your first and last sentences mean in your last post.

Basically, two topics that will always court controversy, from the local pub to the Sleuth message board, are politics and religion. You can't expect to raise either topic anywhere without getting a strong response, positive or negative.

If I were to celebrate the re-election of Tony Blair as Prime Minister of Great Britain (if indeed he is re-elected) with the subject line 'Blair! Blair! Blair!', I would naturally expect some passionate reaction. He, like President Bush, is a hero to some and a villain to others. Sadly, the Pope is an equally controversial figure at the head of an equally controversial religious structure.

Living in Ireland, which obviously is a very strong Catholic country, I've seen much debate over the past few weeks regarding the Church and the Pope. In equal measure, Catholics in Ireland are celebrating the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI while some see this as the appropriate time to raise what they feel are important issues regarding the Church (which, until quite recently, wielded immense power over the Irish people).

Religion is just one of those emotive topics. Everyone is free to raise it and express themselves on it, but expect a reaction.

Apr-29-2005 03:51

Me too. I have not expressed my opinion for or against the pope. Simple reason why is, though some may use the catholic church and it's leader to push things that god never would have meant to have pushed. While others use the catholic church, to push things that god would want to have pushed, and never would have if it wasn't for someones religiuous believes and goals.
In that sense, and opinion for or against this pope does not matter. What does matter, is how people end up responding to his leadership, and to which of his opinions.

What I am objecting against, is that people are to be silenced for having an opinion in here. That leadership is questioned, is a good thing.
God, in all her wisdom, created people with different opinions. Also god I am sure questions many things all human beings, including the Vatican itself in some of their collective or personal actions. THe important thing is, we all have an internal inner voice or intuition, by which god speaks to us. To decide what is good for us. For some people it is not practicing sex before marriage, and for others it is using a contraception when they do so. These are both good things.

I do not think it is fair to say, that these peoples posts are rude, hurtful and offensive. That's turning these peoples posts in to something they were not. I suggest we read their posts, and form their own opinion. Instead of a simple conclusion written that they are offensive.

My opinion, the arguments for or against the pope in here. Well most of them anyway. Are well written, argumented, and well meant on both sides.

The fact that people discuss moral rules, are a good thing. And should always be debated. This encourages people to think about morals in the first place. Many of us on earth, do not spend enough time thinking about it.

And no leader or authoritative body should be blindly followed, be monitored and questioned. This is the thing that Americans can pride themselves the most in.