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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-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.

Apr-29-2005 15:15

I wood encourage this discussion. its been very informative for me to PM Lady Grey and chat about it. It’s great. And when you talk about important things you really get to know someone. Talk about fluff all the time and you never know someone’s core.

I hope topics like religion and politics don't seem or become talking taboo. If its done calmly and with an attitude of never being offended, it can reveal so much about people and their individual worlds.

Apr-29-2005 15:29

Thankyou Reverend, while I don't completely agree or disagree with your faith I enjoyed talking about it and learnt a little bit I didn't know before.
I was careful to phrase my quote in a none degoratory fashion and at know point personally insulted anyone, unlike a certain other gentleman. I would consider a comment about the pope that is not enthusiastically joyous in a post about the pope to be relevant.
I could have raised the point that not all popes were nice people. For example in 15th century Italy the Pope was in fact enthrone just outside Milan because Rome was occupied by rebels. It was considered perfectly acceptable for him to hire a troop of mercenaries to retake Rome with Land Grants and then, after they were paid, declare them heretic and forfeit all their lands and goods to the church.

Apr-29-2005 15:36

Incidentally: Check out a Papal fan site.
http://www.ratzingerfanclub.com
It is quite an informative site