I SO Don't Give a Flying Leap About a Pope

[NashVegas]

And don't understand why anyone is giving Ratzinger the power to be their political boogeyman.

It's only a tragedy if one allows it to be. This man has no power over anyone who doesn't kneel down for him and his minions.

For crying out loud, he looks like a cross between Young Gollum and the Star Wars Emperor.

Those faithful who see this as a tragedy? What the hell did you expect from the Roman Catholic Church?

Did you believe a set of scales were going to fall from their eyes and they would elect a pontiff who thinks it's a-okay for subversives to veer from traditional Catholic dogma, or better yet - did you possibly imagine the church would follow US off the beaten path?

Not in the next two lifetimes.

[bettyellen]

1. don't you love how people pretend it's relevant to their own lives?

my apologies to the two virgins out there who are planning to forgo oral sex for the rhythym method.

[Warpy]

13. Perhaps you need to familiarize yourself with some recent history

Namely, that Ratzinger issued a statement that the sacraments could be withheld from John Kerry because, although he supported the Vatican's position on abortion, stated publicly that he would not work to make the Vatican's opinion the law of the land for Catholics and non Catholics alike.

Only intervention from the Pope prevailed on Ratzinger to withdraw that statement in favor of considering a candidate's overall position instead of just one issue.

This man WILL interfere in US politics any way he can in an attempt to push his radical and misogynist morality down the throats of us all, whether or not we are Catholic.

[bettyellen]

16. he has to get in line behind the fundies who are already up the asses of

our legislature, thank you very much. because they're a darn site more influential in this neck of the woods.
i have no illusions about the church accepting me if i won't be a nice little breeder for them.
fuck that.

[WillowTree]

2. Pardon my amusement...

....at all the people who SO don't care about the election of the new Pope that they find it necessary to start yet another thread to announce their disinterest.

[bettyellen]

7. excuse me if i didn't hear about it all day.

the hipocrisy, you could slice it with a butter knife.

[tallman]

3. catholic bashing

After reading all of the comments on the election of the
pope,it is clear to me that there is no place for practicing
catholics in the Democrat party. The hatred of practicing
catholics displayed in the comments by fellow Democrats is
very clear. We need to go elsewhere. 

[Cronus Protagonist]

4. Hahaa tjhe Democrat party?

I have a few other sites to recommend for you, now that you're not a DemocRAT.... :)

http://brainbuttons.com/home.asp?stashid=13
Buttons for brainy people - educate your local freepers today!

[bettyellen]

5. after such a long stay?

[NYC Liberal]

9. What is this 'Democrat party' you speak of?

We are members of the DemocratIC party here at DU.

And what say you about practicing Catholic Democrats who oppose this pope?

[ronnykmarshall]

10. Like Free Republic?

Sorry Charlie, but the one post trick is the OLDEST one in the book.

[LSK]

18. you obviously are not a democrat

Apparently you dont understand the concept of seperation of church and state. The freepers would welcome you.

[hfojvt]

20. practicing Catholics are okay

the ones who are so perfect they don't need to practice are suspect.
Clearly there are many differences between Catholic doctrine and Democratic Party ideals. Things such as tolerance of homosexuality, tolerance of other religions, and being pro-choice.
Yet there are also many differences between Catholic doctrine and Republican Party ideals. Things such as concern for the poor and the environment, opposition to war, and opposition to the death penalty.
Cardinal Ratzinger chose to ignore differences between the church and the Republicans and to emphasize the differences between the church and Democrats. The question we may need to ask is whether there is room for Democrats in the Catholic church. Maybe we need to go elsewhere.

[donheld]

6. Ratzinger sounds like Rapsinger

:crazy:

[bettyellen]

8. now that might make him seem more relevant.

[Mrs. Overall]

11. I give a flying leap about it

because people's lives will be affected. The Pope is not just a religious leader, but a political leader as well. Your attitude is flippant and simplistic if you believe that global leaders in other parts of the world have no affect on you. And frankly, I believe that what is happening to people elsewhere, does affect me on some level--just like the deaths of innocent Iraqis turns my stomach into a knot.

The Pope's decisions could have the following consequences:

Women in theological studies in various universities, including the US--in some theology departments women are barred from certain classes already.

Clergy members barred from ministering to AIDS patients and the continuing view that homosexuality is a "sin."

Continued disregard for Liberation Theology, thus allowing the exploitation of the poor in Central and South America by corrupt governments.

Less of an emphasis on helping the poor and needy in general, and more of an emphasis on dogma and peripheral issues.

The breakdown of ecumenism and the dialogue between various world religions.

The religious right in the United States continuing to use Catholics for political gain. (Most Catholics don't realize that the Evangelical Right thinks that the Pope is the anti-Christ and that Catholics are going to hell)


This is just a short list, but as a member of the world community, this stuff affects me.

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

14. Why don't Catholics realize this:

From your post: The religious right in the United States continuing to use Catholics for political gain. (Most Catholics don't realize that the Evangelical Right thinks that the Pope is the anti-Christ and that Catholics are going to hell)

Just check the history of Ireland and the not-so-distant past in this country. The efungelicals ARE NOT friends of Catholics...once they get their agendas through, they will turn on the Orthodox Jews and Roman Catholics in a heartbeat.

[LdyGuique]

15. While I understand your points in a theorectical sense,

how does it affect me more today than it did yesterday or last year or 20 years ago?

There will come a time when women will recognize most Christian churches for what they are: patriarchal institutions designed to keep men in power and control.

We had many discussion threads followng PJP2's death that went over in sublime detail on just how much his edicts and proclamations were anti-women, gays, and the environmental issues to do with the entire realm of birth control issues that has been part and parcel of the overpopulation of the world by humans.

I've spent a fair amount of time bible reading in order to rebut it. I see a vast difference between "red letter" text by Jesus and the rest of the new and old testaments. If one is willing to ignore history, ignore various councils that decided what was scriptual and what wasn't, ignore the concept that Christ was the fulfillment of the prophecies that set aside the OT, etc., then it's a personal choice.

If someone wants to take Genesis and Creation, written over 3,000 years ago and ignore all scientific evidence to the contrary, there is little that most of us can do. But, this particular Pope is not going to change a damned thing that the RCC has been doing for centuries.

There was only one "renegade" pope in the 20th Century: Pope John Paul I who died within 33 days of his assumption of the office.

John Paul was not your ordinary pope. He referred to himself as "I" instead of the traditional royal "We." His beaming demeanor earned him the nickname "The Smiling Pope" and gave him cachet with the little people. John Paul immediately began planning out reforms he perceived that the church needed, including revisions to the long-standing absolute ban on contraceptives and fertility treatments. He was apparently also planning to shake up the Vatican power structure.

[sleipnir]

12. Seems odd for a peaceful religion.

[zippy890]

17. Its all about power and money

and the men (and only men) that control it.

can we move on from the Pope-A-Rama?

[okieinpain]

19. THANK YOU. I AGREE.....

[Jacobin]

21. This all makes Thomas Jefferson more relevant today than when

he was alive.

Keep the priests and clerics out of fucking politics.