There is a new Pope

[Dinner]

Ahh, to clarify Ratzinger wanted to excommunicate all politicians who didn't want to outlaw abortion and simply outlaw people who vote for them from taking communion.

[PLATO]

Benedict XVI. Good Choice. A man who stands for the values the Church was founded on.

It is good in this world of popular opinion that a man of conviction can still gain this type leadership.

It is also good that the liberal whiners have something to whine about...which seems to be their only conviction

[Frozzy]

Originally posted by Oncle Boris
Panzerfaust! Aber sofort!

When I first saw an image of a Panzerfaust I thought it was a plunger with a rocket strapped to it.

[Alexander's Horse]

The points and useful links Oerdin has raised tend to suggest to me that the honeymoon for this pontiff is going to be very short, in fact nonexistent.

I like to think of JPII as the Breznhev Pope - the outward appearance of strength whilst the system falls apart and he does nothing about it. That would make Ratzinger the Constantine Chernenko Pope. Eventually after a succession of shortlived papacies, and after the conservative Vaticanistas have been thoroughly discredited, we might get someone worthwhile in the job.

[Bosh]

Originally posted by PLATO
Benedict XVI. Good Choice. A man who stands for the values the Church was founded on.

It is good in this world of popular opinion that a man of conviction can still gain this type leadership.

It is also good that the liberal whiners have something to whine about...which seems to be their only conviction

Yes exactly! And if threatening to excommunicate people who report crimes to the police doesn't say "conviction" I don't know what does!

[Seeker]

Well it's cool that he has previous experience in mass youth movements...that should help the catholic youth organizations...and he also has experience sheltering the ass-rapers?

I wonder if these two fields of experience had any relation, any cross-pollination of ideas and technique (the HJ and the Vatican pedophile protection bishops).

I think he brings a lot of Experience and Know-How to his job.

Oh well, just more proof that the world is going to hell in a hand-basket.

EDIT: wait...it's possible to be a german and NOT be a nazi?! Is this true??

[Dinner]

Originally posted by PLATO
Benedict XVI. Good Choice. A man who stands for the values the Church was founded on.

You mean like married Priests like St Paul? Or maybe a priesthood which doesn't seek Earthly power? Are those the type of founding values you are speaking off?

[Gatekeeper]

Hmm. Does Pope Benedict XVI support the excommunication of Catholic politicians who, say, vote for using violence against other nations? Or is this just something intended only for those who oppose the "culture of life," but only when it comes to abortion and birth control?

I'd like to think that if Sen. John Kerry did indeed get caught up in one of the pope's edicts, it was only because he's a Catholic, not because he was a Democratic Catholic running for the presidency of the United States of America.

Gatekeeper

[Ted Striker]

POPIN' AIN'T EASY!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Agathon]

Obergrupprenvater Benedict XVI

[Seeker]

TOTALLY OFF-TOPIC:

That reminds me of something. There's a TV show out of Detroit called 'Judge Mathis', it's just like Judge Judy but with a Large Black Man instead of a Little Jewish Woman.

Anyway, these two roommates are suing each other. The bailiff brings in the defendant. There are three pretty girls in the front row and they whisper something and giggle. Judge Mathis looks up from his papers and grins

Judge: 'They know a playa when they see one'.
Then he looks over the case and whistles..."Looks like it's expensive bein' a playa"

Defendant: "I'm sorry, Your Honour, pimpin' ain't easy"

Judge: "I know, son, but somebodies gotta do it"

At that point the whole court just breaks up laughing. I Love Detroit TV!

[Ted Striker]

[Ned]

Originally posted by Oerdin


"The 69-page Latin document bearing the seal of Pope John XXIII was sent to every bishop in the world. The instructions outline a policy of ’strictest’ secrecy in dealing with allegations of sexual abuse and threatens those who speak out with excommunication."

Seems pretty clear to me.

Now, that was more than 40 years ago. But still, you have a point his letter may have been the source of the coverup.

[Imran Siddiqui]

I think its a bad idea to have someone who may have had a hand in the coverup of the molestation of alter boys to be elected Pope. Even if it wasn't totally proven, having that sort of thing follow you around doesn't do well for the reputation of the Church, IMO.

[Dinner]

He wasn't a dedicated member of the Hitler Youth and was drafted against his will into Hitler's Army so it's hard to hold that against him. Less understandable is why he didn't claim to be a conscientious objector like several religious people in the same town did plus joining a seminary automatically gave you an exemption from the draft. He could have easily gotten out of serving in Hitler's Army but choose not to.

True, he did eventually desert when everyone else was doing so, but, these are looking like the acts of a man who simply goes along with the flow instead of a man who stands up for his principles. Maybe I would do the same if I was in Nazi Germany but I wouldn't expect people to make me Pope after I did so. His former membership in Nazi organizations really isn't the problem though. The problems are his current policies and his absolutely immoral acts of protecting pedophile priests who sexually abused children. That's unforgivable and Ratzinger continues to be knee deep in it.