The Pope resigns ...

He's survived Nazi links, serious leaks and absolutely unforgivable paedophile cover-ups. He's a tainted pope and I wonder what's coming next.

Nazi links.  Hmmmm.  True, he was a Nazi--one of the worst, actually--one of those rosy-cheeked members of the Hitler Youth who wasn't man enough to spit in the Fuhrer's face and refuse to join up.  Compared to this jack-booted thug, Adolf Eichmann was the second coming of Mother Theresa.  And then, during his tenure as Pope, Catholic priests, for the first time in the nearly 2,000 year history of the Church, began diddling choir boys and covering it up!  Tainted indeed.  What he should have done was, like John Paul, waited until he was falling face forward in his soup.

Best regards,

Russ

He should be arrested and charged with crimes against humanity and judged at Nuremburg in my view. An evil old man with few redeeming qualities. Just like his predecessor. The suffering these people have caused is on an equal level to that of Hitler. 

Sniper,

Haven't you heard? Pope JPII apologized for the Church's historical transgressions, including but not limited to;

• The conquest of Mesoamerica by Spain in the name of the Church.
• The legal process on the Italian scientist and philosopher Galileo Galilei, himself a devout Catholic, around 1633.
• Catholics' involvement with the African slave trade.
• The Church's role in burnings at the stake and the religious wars that followed the Protestant Reformation.
• The injustices committed against women, the violation of women's rights and for the historical denigration of women.
• The inactivity and silence of many Catholics during the Holocaust.
• For the sins of Catholics throughout the ages for violating "the rights of ethnic groups and peoples, and [for showing] contempt for their cultures and religious traditions". (I assume this covers the Native Americans).
• For the actions of the Crusader attack on Constantinople in 1204.
• For the Catholic sex abuse cases, the Church-backed "Stolen Generations" of Aboriginal children in Australia, and to China for the behaviour of Catholic missionaries in colonial times.

All's well now.

I also see this an an enormous opportunity for Joe Biden to become President of the United States--after Barack H. Obama is elevated to become the next representative of Christ on Earth--assuming of course that it would not be more appropriate for Christ to become HIS representative.

Ah, so that explains why you might be so interested in Obama's birth certificate?  Yes I can see how it all logically ties together now.

The covering up of child abuse by Catholic priests goes back a long time, way before the current Pope. In 2009, letters written by Father Gerald Fitzgerald in the 1950's were made public.  He had written to the Vatican, arguing against the return of sexually abusive priests to parish work.

The biggest job in the world? Not from where I am sitting.

I know little about him (the Nazi jibe is a cheap one from what I have read) and his contribution but I have had the impression from the start that his was a retrograde appointment. If he is ailing and sick (as I think we can infer) then perhaps he will be most respected later for having the insight to step aside, allowing the Church to move on and perhaps appoint someone better able to face the challenges ahead?

The abuse scandal is a shameful blot, the systematic cover ups and begrudging belated actions are pretty unpleasant however I think a far greater crime is the failure of the Catholic Church to engage the HIV debate and promote condoms in the developed world. I would argue that has resulted in a direct loss of many, many lives.

Bruce

I think they should get this guy. "I mean even his initials are the same..."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1IJiAXjj7k

(Apologies it's the Hollywood remake)

We’re doomed I say, doomed! ! !

As George has said, it's a big job. A dirty one, but someone has to do it. 

Joe:  No, I'm not a birther--I really don't care where he was born but more about where he learned his incredibly effective politics--i.e, Chicago.  Actually with what the man has done to avoid the constraints of the Constitution, successfully avoiding the qualification to become President would be a drop in the bucket.  I tell my liberal friends (and yes, I do have many ) that it isn't so bad as long as he is avoiding it to do all the wonderful things Democrats advocate--such as borrowing 41 percent of what we spend and making sure that sex change operations are paid for with public funds on an equal level with heart transplants--no, it's when he has set a precedent for avoidance that some horrid, scumbag, maggot infested conservative will be able to point to and say: Ja Wohl, Mein Fuhrer!  Der Constitution ist not a problem!    I would say what goes around comes around, but I think we conservatives will be a minority for a long time.  Thus liberal Europe can rejoice--we will be joining you soon!

But back to the Pope--I agree with Hook and with most of what Bruce say.  With all due respect for the AIDS campain, I am glad the world finally addressed it, (although the disease could have been avoided by watching where you put your uncovered dingus and your hypodermic needle), but that having been said, the greatest blot on Catholicism, in my view, is its doctrinaire opposition to voluntary birth control.  Wouldn't it be wonderful (and I really mean this) if Catholic doctrine would support rubbers, the pill, and yes, even abortion, with the woman totally in control--so long as she makes up her mind prior to the beginning of the third trimester.

Best regards,

Russ

YES!  And better still if conservative America would not feel the self-righteous need to make those choices for the individual.

I wholeheartedly agree with you, Joe.  I find that many of my liberal friends, (not meaning, you here) who are so johnny on the spot to point out when conservatives are guilty of stereotyping, are equally quick to brand me, because I hold conservative views on fiscal matters and defense, as a hidebound idiot on matters of religion and social mores.  Hell, I actually believe in evolution! 

Seriously, when you adopt a label or support a slate of candidates, generally, you throw yourself into a pot that contains some pretty unattractive ingredients.  Thus has it always been with politics and religion.

Best regards,

Russ

I did not quite foresee the discussion going as it has.

I think that the decision of the Pope to quit may well be seen as a brave decision in the face of tradition. 

If I could have a humble view of the late Jan Pawel II, it would be that he might, equally, have let go before he died, and then his - to me -  undoubted greatness would have been further heightened.

I shall not answer any further questions or posts on this as I hardly imagined the way the thread would progress.

ATB from George

Thanks, Russ,

I think we two natural small "c" conservatives, yet with compassionate hearts, may agree on more than might easily be shared on the internet .

ATB from George                                                                  

....and St Peters was hit twice by lightning today as well. Guess someone ain't happy?

Joe,

With respect to George Frederick's statement about how this thread has gone astray from his original intention--to which I have certainly contributed--I will take this discussion shortly to a separate thread. 

Best regards,

Russ

George, when a sensible response is required on this subject here or indeed over on the other place ,its always followed by the stench of anti -Catholic bigotry. Dont worry about it,  I dont think they can help themselves.

Its a sure sign the the economy is buggered when God starts laying people off.

Very good , but Tony L beat you to it two days ago in the Best Jokes thread

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