# I Pit the Pope **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 16, 2017, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-pope/801775 "2017-11-16T16:38:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![BeenJammin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beenjammin/32/448_2.png) [@BeenJammin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeenJammin)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-pope/801775/61 "2017-11-17T20:42:28Z")
So the Pope just had a GREAT idea: “Let’s not make people suffer unnecessarily.” How does he come up with this shit? Must be talkin’ to Gawd or something. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-pope/801775/62 "2017-11-17T20:56:40Z")
> [@BeenJammin](#): > > So the Pope just had a GREAT idea: “Let’s not make people suffer unnecessarily.” > > How does he come up with this shit? Must be talkin’ to Gawd or something. That was in your OP. Did you forget _you_ started the thread? ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-pope/801775/63 "2017-11-17T20:59:48Z")
> [@BeenJammin](#): > > The issue is doing everything that _should_ be done, and the Pope’s policy is we should be doing less. No it’s not, you unbelievable moron. ---
**Author:** ![BeenJammin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beenjammin/32/448_2.png) [@BeenJammin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeenJammin)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-pope/801775/64 "2017-11-17T21:15:41Z")
Bishop1: Anyone know about this new overzealous announcement coming up? Bishop2: Cardinal Jim says it’s another classic. It is by definition true and good and cannot be rationally criticized in any way. Underling: I heard it contains no implementation details whatsoever. Altar Boy: That’s the best part - we don’t have to do anything and nobody can be held accountable if anything goes wrong. Bishop1: Wow. How does he come up with this shit? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-pope/801775/65 "2017-11-17T21:17:59Z")
> [@naita](#): > > No it’s not, you unbelievable moron. I believe he’s a moron. ---
**Author:** ![BeenJammin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beenjammin/32/448_2.png) [@BeenJammin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeenJammin)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-pope/801775/66 "2017-11-17T21:18:10Z")
> [@naita](#): > > No it’s not, you unbelievable moron. Do you understand the distinction between the terms MORE and LESS? ---
**Author:** ![BeenJammin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beenjammin/32/448_2.png) [@BeenJammin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeenJammin)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-pope/801775/67 "2017-11-17T21:19:17Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > I believe he’s a moron. And there’s a whole messageboard full of like-minded posters who agree! Good for you! ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-pope/801775/68 "2017-11-17T21:20:34Z")
> [@](#): > > Do you understand the distinction between the terms MORE and LESS? Of course we do, or we would be calling you a less-on. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![BeenJammin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beenjammin/32/448_2.png) [@BeenJammin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeenJammin)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-pope/801775/69 "2017-11-17T21:24:24Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Of course we do, or we would be calling you a less-on. That’s a good one - props! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-pope/801775/70 "2017-11-17T21:32:44Z")
> [@BeenJammin](#): > > Do you understand the distinction between the terms MORE and LESS? Do you understand that ‘the new and powerful treatments at our disposal require “greater wisdom” in evaluating the good of the patient’ is also a topic of debate among doctors and ethicists? It’s an interesting and valid topic of debate for people with cognitive skills beyond your comprehension, like most of human cognition apparently. Here’s some relevant information for you to start with if you desire to actually fight ignorance and not just troll: [Most doctors would reject aggressive treatment if terminally ill, study finds](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/10861294/Most-doctors-would-reject-aggressive-treatment-if-terminally-ill-study-finds.html%22/) Or you could accuse the Stanford University School of Medicine of overreach of course. Choice is yours. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-pope/801775/71 "2017-11-17T21:43:34Z")
Condolences **Horatius** ; yes, pretty much everything about that situation sucks. The only part that didn’t suck was the fact that Mom was able to get the pain ended at the point (well, at least not too long after the point) when she was really really ready to quit. > [@BeenJammin](#): > > The issue is doing everything that should be done, and the Pope’s policy is we should be doing less. Nonsense. His policy is that the dying and their families should think seriously about where they want to draw the line between “everything that could be done” and “everything that should be done”, and why. This is good advice and an important issue to think about. Your attempt to pretend that the issue is something other than what it is and the advice is something other than what it is and therefore the Pope is being just terrible is entirely failing to persuade anybody at all here. But, you know, as long as you’re having fun, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![BeenJammin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beenjammin/32/448_2.png) [@BeenJammin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeenJammin)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-pope/801775/72 "2017-11-17T21:49:27Z")
> [@naita](#): > > Or you could accuse the Stanford University School of Medicine of overreach of course. Choice is yours. No choice, really. It is the Stanford University School of Medicine’s business to be looking into this stuff. Not gonna tolerate the Catholic church sticking their noses in there, tho - sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-pope/801775/73 "2017-11-17T21:50:25Z")
> [@BeenJammin](#): > > Do you understand the distinction between the terms MORE and LESS? Oh dear, do we now have to explain adverbs to him as well? ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-pope/801775/74 "2017-11-17T21:52:50Z")
> [@BeenJammin](#): > > No choice, really. It is the Stanford University School of Medicine’s business to be looking into this stuff. Not gonna tolerate the Catholic church sticking their noses in there, tho - sorry. It’s moral and ethics! To any Catholic that is the pope’s business, and not Standford’s. I’m as atheist as they come, but yours is a pitiful attempt at criticizing religion. ---
**Author:** ![BeenJammin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beenjammin/32/448_2.png) [@BeenJammin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeenJammin)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-pope/801775/75 "2017-11-17T21:53:54Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > His policy is that the dying and their families should think seriously about where they want to draw the line between “everything that could be done” and “everything that should be done”, and why. As if they haven’t been since long before any of us were born. Good thing he caught on to that before it was too late! > [@Kimstu](#): > > …therefore the Pope is being just terrible. I wouldn’t say terrible. If he wasn’t the Pope, it would just be stupid. But under the circumstances, the real meaning to people who get it is something a bit more nuanced and vile. ---
**Author:** ![BeenJammin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beenjammin/32/448_2.png) [@BeenJammin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeenJammin)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-pope/801775/76 "2017-11-17T21:55:45Z")
> [@naita](#): > > …pitiful attempt at criticizing religion. Sorry you failed to connect the dots on that last argument, thought or whatever it was of yours. ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-pope/801775/77 "2017-11-17T22:03:43Z")
> [@BeenJammin](#): > > the real meaning to people who get it I get it now, you’re not a troll, you’re just wacko. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![BeenJammin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beenjammin/32/448_2.png) [@BeenJammin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeenJammin)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-pope/801775/78 "2017-11-17T22:07:20Z")
> [@naita](#): > > …just wacko. 😃 Yeah - just wacko enough to see the lines between morality, ethics, science and medicine. I’d draw you a picture, but that might require some dot connecting. ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-pope/801775/79 "2017-11-17T22:13:41Z")
> [@BeenJammin](#): > > Yeah - just wacko enough to see the lines between morality, ethics, science and medicine. > > I’d draw you a picture, but that might require some dot connecting. That’s not what’s wacko, the wacko is reading between the lines to see something sinister, when reality is that although this has been a challenge “since long before any of us were born” it is one that will continue to be a challenge long after we’re dead, and a challenge a lot of people appreciate the pope’s thoughts on. A lot of other people don’t really care about his thoughts, but it’s not like he’s coming into our homes and forces us to listen to them, so who cares. And then there’s you, who apparently reads his thoughts and finds them unpleasant, but usually that’s a sign of something wrong with ones brain, not of an actual paranormal power. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-pope/801775/80 "2017-11-17T22:52:29Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > That was in your OP. Did you forget _you_ started the thread? Must’ve lost track of which sock the’re in. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-pope/801775.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-pope/801775.md?page=5)