Pope sends direct message to Ben

[Berzerker]

"Drug addiction is an evil, and with evil there can be no yielding or compromise, he said in remarks to a drug enforcement conference in Rome carried on the website of Vatican Radio.

The remarks came a day before the pontiff is due to visit Italy's Calabria, home of the powerful 'Ndrangheta mafia, which controls a significant share of the global trade in illegal narcotics.

"Here I would reaffirm what I have stated on another occasion: No to every type of drug use. It is as simple as that," he said.

Now, the irony (sorry, hypocrisy) is that the Church uses frankincense and wine in their ceremonies. And thats just for starters, statistically speaking the victims of pedophiles are more likely to use drugs to ease their pain. The pope dont seem too concerned about that, but paraphrasing Bill Maher: why do people with invisible friends in the sky condemn other people for their "addictions"?

And why the eff is the pope speaking at a conference of Caesar's hired guns? Thats like Jesus showing up at Pilate's party to pal around with his executioners. Well, it would be if the pope actually spoke for Jesus, but he doesn't - its as simple as that.

and he aint too smart, the Mafia needs drug wars and the politicians and popes who wage them.

[kentonio]

Apparently the 'Vatican' said it so it must be true. We should ask the city state what it thinks of abortion.

It's so cute watching you squirm.

[Elok]

? Berz, I've stood next to a lit censer billowing frankincense fumes for an hour straight. It doesn't do a thing. I have no idea where you got the idea it does.

[Bereta_Eder]

That's only because Sava wasn't the altar boy.

[Ben Kenobi]

It's so cute watching you squirm

I'm still waiting for the attribution.

Who said it, Kentonio? Which bishops? Which cardinals? Who wrote it?

Don't you think that a sensible person would want to know these things?

[Berzerker]

? Berz, I've stood next to a lit censer billowing frankincense fumes for an hour straight. It doesn't do a thing. I have no idea where you got the idea it does.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080520110415.htm

[Elok]

Centuries of evidence would seem to indicate that the effect is not terribly noticeable. I was terribly depressed as a teenager; I never noticed myself feeling particularly less anxious after services, regardless of the incense used. It's certainly got nothing on Prozac or Wellbutrin. At least, not when you're lighting one censer for eight or ten guys behind the iconostas, none of whom are actively trying to whiff it. I guess it might do something if you actively snorted the stuff. But the smoke-inhalation headache and mucus membrane irritation would cancel it out.

[Elok]

Maybe it's like the way poppyseed bagels technically contain codeine, IDK.

[Imran Siddiqui]

That's only because Sava wasn't the altar boy.

[kentonio]

I'm still waiting for the attribution.

Who said it, Kentonio? Which bishops? Which cardinals? Who wrote it?

Don't you think that a sensible person would want to know these things?

Absolutely..

(Reuters) - In a dramatic shift in tone, a Vatican document said on Monday that homosexuals had "gifts and qualities to offer" and asked if Catholicism could accept gays and recognize positive aspects of same-sex couples.

Roman Catholic gay rights groups around the world hailed the paper as a breakthrough, but Church conservatives called it a betrayal of traditional family values.

The document, prepared after a week of discussions at an assembly of 200 bishops on the family, said the Church should challenge itself to find "a fraternal space" for homosexuals without compromising Catholic doctrine on family and matrimony.

The language and tone of Monday's document, read to the assembly in the presence of Pope Francis, appeared to show that the advocates of a more merciful tone toward homosexuals and Catholics in so-called "irregular situations" -- such as unmarried couples living together -- had prevailed.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/...0I20Y120141013

200 bishops enough, with the document read out in front of the pope?

[Imran Siddiqui]

To be fair, I think Elok is somewhat right on it (though a bit too flippant I think). These bishops are reaffirming that homosexuals are to be valued as people, but not that the Church should necessarily be ok with their sexual activity. As stated, the 'irregular situation' of unmarried couples living together is hardly ever broached by clergy. However, there has been a spate of priests who have kicked homosexuals out of church duties for being gay. The notion is that all are welcome, because all are sinners, but the Church isn't going to affirm the sin. It won't have a huge effect, except for the Catholic priests who are complete dicks (I'm positive that the majority of Catholic clergy in the US know of gay members of their flock and don't try to "take action" against them, even if they don't follow the Church's teaching that they should be celibate).

[Sava]

That's only because Sava wasn't the altar boy.

I actually was an altar boy though

[Kidlicious]

We had one gay man attending our church regularly for a few years until, supposedly the new pastor sail homosexuality is a sin. A lesbian couple comes occasionally and holds hands.

Sticky issue.

[kentonio]

You're saying they don't wash after sex?

[Kidlicious]

Ewww