New Pope Thread

"Yeah, an I'm-a da pope!"Hey, Pope. Don't really know anything about the new ex-Nazi Pope, but they say he's a hardass conservative. Oh, that's hard-line. Sorry.Thought I'd be the one to open the discussion about the new pope. Did you know that, traditionally, when the pope dies, they verify it by rapping his head with a silver hammer and calling his real name three times? Funny stuff.

As I understand it, the guy who does it goes by the name of Maxwell.Verzem

quote:

---

the new ex-Nazi Pope

---

I think that's a disservice to who he is because I read he was put into nazi stuff against his will.This message has been edited by AdminPhat, 04-19-2005 11:25 PM

I didn't say he was. But a person who served in the German army during that time period was a Nazi. That was the Nazi army. That's the term. I'm sure he did it against his will. That doesn't make him any less of an ex-Nazi. I mean, better an ex-Nazi than a neo-Nazi, right?

Hey "dude", you might want to proof read your posts before pressing the reply button.

Actually I think he was in the Hitler Youth at a time when such membership was mandatory. During WWII he was an 18 year old pulled into service during the waning days. His family were anti-Nazis who had to move on several occasions to get out of trouble with the local party.But IMHO the bigger message was that the College did not want to see any major changes. It is a sign that internally, neither the radicals or the reactionaries believe they have the strength to set policy. Until the power and direction of the College (remember it was recently expanded enormously) works itself out, they did not want to risk a younger man, one who might serve as Pope for a quarter century or more.This message has been edited by jar, 04-19-2005 08:06 PM

---

Aslan is not a Tame Lion

I think what they got, or expected to get anyway, was a sort of placeholder pope. This guy is what, 78? How long can he go?On the other hand, I think that the Catholic church is going to get a little more than they bargained for with this guy. He seems like the type to push through a bunch of "reforms" while he has the chance.Is it possible we have the first creationist pope? I don't know much but I have a feeling that the likelyhood is strong.

I think stopgap might be better than placeholder. I think they simply wanted to put off the inevitable confrontation between Liberal and Conservative, between radical and reactionary.But you never know what someone appointed to a position for life might do. Ask Dwight Eisenhower. LOLActually we know nothing about what HE thinks. We know he is an apparatchik. But beyond that little is known.

---

Aslan is not a Tame Lion

You act like he came out of nowhere. He's been an active theologian for many, many years now, and as a result there's a sigificant body of his work to view.For instance we know that he thinks that if you're not Catholic, you're going straight to hell.

But that is the apparatchik speaking.I return to my example of Dwight Eisenhower. Ike appointed a conservative, somewhat southern, long time politician to the SCOTUS. The guy had been the Vice-Presidential candidate with Dewey during the previous election. He was a classic appartchik, towed the Party Line, was the enforcer of Dogma, and yet Earl Warren as Justice Earl Warren went directly against the very President who appointed him and pushed through some of the most Liberal decisions that the SCOTUS has issued in its history.

---

Aslan is not a Tame Lion

POPE BENEDICT XVI: PROFILE (From the B.B.C.)The new Pope has been chosen from what could be termed the traditional side of the Catholic Church. To some, he heralds intellectual salvation during a time of confusion and compromise. To others, his record as Pope John Paul II's prefect of doctrine showed the then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger to be an intimidating "Enforcer", punishing liberal thinkers, and keeping the Church in the Middle Ages.While many theologians strive for a Catholic Church that is more open and in touch with the world around it, the new Pope's mission has in the past seemed to entailing stamping out dissent, and curbing the "wild excesses" of this more tolerant era.Dans clever alias will have to go under cover.This message has been edited by Phatboy, 04-19-2005 11:20 PM

Not only did he not come out of nowhere, but the late pope stuffed the college of cardinals with his own picks so that only a few were not selected by him and thus he could push his friend Ratzinger through. Ratzinger is if anything more conservative than John Paul was so it was clear he would be selected by the now overwhelmingly conservative college. Ironically, there are a lot of rumors in bavaria that he is also a homosexual i.e. I have heard him called "sister ratsy". So the church has its first homosexual pope who was once a nazi. Nice to see the church becoming so inclusive Many Germans I have heard interviewed are appalled by the selection. I think it is great. I hope he alienates so many people that they wake up and start thinking for themselves rather than basing their lives on the superstitions and dogma of a group of angry rich old men.

It seems a bit wierd to me: I'd have thoughta) not going to die soon
b) was never a naziwould both appear in the list of requirements for a new pope, and they've elected a 78 year old ex-nazi/member of Hitler youth. And, yes, I know the whole nazi thing is a bit unfair; but this guy is supposed to stand as a moral leader to a billion Catholics and all.

quote:

---

But a person who served in the German army during that time period was a Nazi. That was the Nazi army. That's the term. I'm sure he did it against his will. That doesn't make him any less of an ex-Nazi.

---

No thats not true - thr Wehrmacht and the NSDAP were always separate organs. The NSDAP had their own paramilitary unit in the form of the Brownshirts, and later a formal unit in the SS. But there was no requirement to be a member of the Nazi party in order to be in the Wehrmacht or one of its officers.I dont knownmuch about Ratzinger in this regard but it was mentioned last night that he was conscripted into the Hitler Youth.

quote:

---

know the whole nazi thing is a bit unfair;

---

why unfair? There were plenty of Germans who at risk to their own lives defied the nazi party when it was in power including leaving the party! If he is to be such a "moral" beacon, why should this failure be glossed over? Also, if it turns out that he really is homosexual, how can he as a professed conservative rail against homosexuals as morally deficient without being a complete hypocrite?
Every secular leader has their character, behavior, choices and past scrutinized...why shouldnt the professed middle man between the Xian god and his followers be exempt?I think his selection epitomizes the hypocrisy and absolute ethical vacuum of the church and thus he is the perfect representative.