# Good News! The Pope appologizes for past 2000 years! **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 14, 2000, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-news-the-pope-appologizes-for-past-2000-years/17744 "2000-03-14T21:20:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2000, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-news-the-pope-appologizes-for-past-2000-years/17744/41 "2000-03-16T04:44:00Z")
> [@](#): > > The catholic church moves slower than plate tectonics. That’s because it thinks in terms of hundreds of years rather than this year or this decade. It’s managed to survive; how many other institutions are around which were there 2000 years ago? > [@](#): > > Perhaps tollerating abortions is a bit much to ask with all that soul saving in the way but how about same sex marriages. Gays in the service of the church. How about taking a more active role in removing the pedophiles from it’s rank and file. How about reigning in some of those Polish RC nuns from trying to turn Auschwitz and other WWII concentration camp sights in Poland into a lovely parks for the kiddies. Tolerate. The word is spelled “tolerate.” It does NOT have a double “l.” And the possessive form of “its” does not have an apostrophe. I’m well acquainted with a few gay priests, thank you. They do a fine job and are a credit to their position. And how do you propose to remove pedophiles from the “rank and file?” They don’t wear signs, you know. They manage to get into the schools and youth organizations around the country; where is your fingerpointing and your solutions to that? How do you define “rank and file” anyway? And your hyperbole about “parks for the kiddies” simply shows your prejudices in discussing this topic. > [@](#): > > Similarly, since the RCC is the leading (most recognized) religous organization in the (western?) world then it similarly compells it to act in a moral and just way towards all people and not just the non-American Catholic ones. > > …or perhaps not. The Catholic church provides a tremendous amount of social services in this country and elsewhere and never asks what religion – if any – the recipient professes. You can get medical treatment at a Catholic hospital, get food at a Catholic soup kitchen or food pantry, live in and have your baby at a Catholic home for unwed mothers, get a superior education at a Catholic school or university, or any of assorted other services from a Catholic-sponsored group, without being Catholic, or being religious at all. My son’s Jewish friend was always welcome at Catholic Youth events, with no attempts made to convert him. ::yawns:: Find some other tirade, mm? This one’s old. -Melin * * * **Voted Best Moderator (Emeritus)** ---
**Author:** ![UppityWoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ee7513/32.png) [@UppityWoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UppityWoman)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2000, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-news-the-pope-appologizes-for-past-2000-years/17744/42 "2000-03-16T05:09:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Melin: > \*\* ::yawns:: Find some other tirade, mm? This one’s old. > > -Melin > \*\* Ditto. And, as this is a debate forum, may I suggest that before you pronounce your opinion on the Pope apologizing only to God, not to the people who were wronged, you make sure that that was what he was doing. So far on this thread, no one seems to have read the Pope’s speech. Wouldn’t that be a wise thing to do prior to discussing it? I will see if I can find it. I have some links it may turn up on. Cardinal Law, here in Boston, made a similar public apology the day before the Pope. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2000, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-news-the-pope-appologizes-for-past-2000-years/17744/43 "2000-03-16T07:26:00Z")
Here is a link with some details on this story: [http://www.msnbc.com/news/380210.asp](http://www.msnbc.com/news/380210.asp) The Pope himself said little more than asking for forgiveness, but 5 cardinals & 2 bishops added more. Specifically included in the Pope’s request for forgiveness was mention of failure to do enough to protect the unborn. I am mystified why QuickSilver, an atheist, would care so much about what the leader of the Roman Catholic Church says & does, and what on earth gives him/her the idea that the Pope or the RCC gives a damn about his bizarre notion that being more open-minded towards abortions could somehow provide atonement for his empty apologies for errors made by the Church over the past 2000 years. The RCC’s position has always been that God alone has the moral authority to start and end a life. Every sexual act should be open to the gift of life. The abortion ban is but one aspect of this. Even ending an unborn child’s life to save the life of the mother has always been prohibited. Any form of birth control beyond the rhythm method or abstinence is prohibited. Assisted reproduction (artificial insemination, IVF, etc.) is also proscribed. Suicide offers no hope of salvation. Death penalty, euthanasia/assisted suicide are likewise not consistent with RC theology. I do not agree with all of this myself (call me a cafeteria Catholic…), but do feel that it is a coherent belief system that should be respected. (This does not mean that any government needs to follow these teachings, but that many people accept these as God’s will, and live their life this way.) As far as the apology not going far enough, the Pope is making a historic trip to Israel shortly. A few weeks ago, he travelled to Egypt & the Sinai. On those trips, he is calling for all who believe in the one God to put aside their bitterness & hatred and learn to live together. Working to bring peace to the MidEast & improve Arab-Israeli-Christian relations can atone for past sins that led to the current diviseness & hostilities. Changing church policy on abortion cannot. * * * Sue from El Paso Experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you wanted. ---
**Author:** ![Occam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Occam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Occam)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2000, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-news-the-pope-appologizes-for-past-2000-years/17744/44 "2000-03-17T15:37:00Z")
OK so the Pope didn’t personally take part in the worst acts of the church in 2000 years, but what’s your point? I’m not sure how Catholic Christians phrase this but isn’t the Pope something like man’s link to divinity? So if he is, then man’s link to divinity was personally responsible for some of the worst acts committed on man consistently for two millennia. Is it to much to ask to hear, “Hey look, I apologize for the actions of my order and my predecessors” I don’t think so. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-news-the-pope-appologizes-for-past-2000-years/17744.md?page=2)