Pope Ratzi

You know, I thought I would have to wait awhile before I disagreed with the decisions of the new pope.

I was wrong. They didn’t hire some unknown, no they hired Joseph Ratzinger, a man know, and hate.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7523254/

Anyone think this will not turn out well? He is even more hardline then the last guy.

Also, did anyone read this past Friday’s USAToday? It had an article from South American Catholics, who for some reason where sure that one of their own would be elected. Poor guy, I feel sorry for them. :frowning:

Pope Palpatine I

The pope is not the leader of a country with any flashing red buttons in reach. Does it really matter how hard-line he is? This coming from an Atheist.

It matters a lot. Like it or not, the Catholic Church is a hugely influential organization with a vast infrastructure. The tone, if you will, set by the Pope has direct bearing on how much or how little a whole lot of people suffer.

Yeah, I really thought chances were good for them electing a liberal atheist Pope this time.

Seriously, can somebody tell me precisely how the last one was less hardline?

Being that the largest religious sect in the world reads his words as divine law, yeah, I’d say it matters.

Ok, but he’s not God. He is still bound by his religion isn’t he? How much difference can a conservative pope make than a ‘liberal’ one?

Read up on “[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ex_cathedra]ex cathedra” papal statements.

The last one lied about aids, covered up child abuse, and openly spoke out against gay rights, however, he was willing to admit he was wrong. Sure, so was about things that where over and done with, such as the Holocaust, and Galileo, but it was two more, “We were wrong to do those things”, then we will get from the new guy. He is a (non-Spanish) Inquisitor!

Nothing that wouldn’t get him shot by the fundies.

Great. He’s not even Pope for an hour… in fact, he’s not even Pope yet, and already you vultures are criticizing him.

Give it a rest. You hate Catholics and you hate the Pope. We know that. What I don’t know is what pleasure you get out of tearing down a good man.

Well, speaking for all Filthy Liberals™, I have to confess that it really boils down to a blind hatred of God. The only thing that is more satisfying than railing against God is railing against the Vicar of Christ. It gives us serious wood.

Yes, it matters. I was hoping for a pope who was willing to say something like “while the use of a condom is still sinful, it is less sinful than risking the spread of Aids”. I doubt that Ratzi is that man.

Aagramn, you big doof, HIV was put here by God to punish the sinners, therefore spreading the disease is actually in accordance with His wishes and thus not sinful.

Every sperm is still sacred.

I’d be delighted if he proved me wrong, but from what I’ve heard about him he’ll take a hardline stance against issues such as contraception, homosexuality, abortion and the role of women. This doesn’t please me and many others, so we are bound to comment on it.

There was not a single Cardinal that could have been selected that would not have been criticized by some of the posters here. Anyone surprised by this thread hasn’t really been paying attention.

Would the risk of AIDS be reduced if Catholic sexual teachings were strictly followed?

Be honest now.

Gee, and you obviously give blind allegiance to a man who tells you what to do claiming to be speaking as the voice of God.

I doubt many actually hate Catholics outside the KKK. Unthinking dolts who will follow doctrine no matter how perverse and inhuman though deserve scorn and public criticism no matter what faith.

Now climb off the fucking cross.

Oh, no. We can’t let responsibility or caution or anything get in the way of pleasure.

And I’d say as the Pope affects the world beyond his flock, feeling that he needs to force himself and his views on other faiths and those who are athiest, that he has no restraint and a great deal of arrogance.