next »

[robbie]

  Do you apply for the Papacy? Seriously, how does it work?i

God knows.

[michelle]

God knows.

Do some research.

[Aileen]

 Do you apply for the Papacy? Seriously, how does it work? Do they all do a pitch in the conclave and the one with the most mates wins? Or do you rig some holy trick that tips your competitors out the barrow? Or is it all dirty politics?

From the Toronto Star - http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2013/02/11/pope_benedict_resigns_how_do_they_elect_a_new_pope.html



What really freaked me was the unseasonal thunderstorm which broke out over Rome within hours of the Pope's resignation and a bolt of lightning struck the dome of St Peter's Basilica not once, as was originally reported, but twice, although this was the one which was actually photographed ...   Was a higher power trying to tell us something?

[Elly]

^ Sorry - that was a bit crass - but I can't get on board with 'goodness' being tied up in one of the richest cities in this world where wealth is kept for inane reasons and elevates you above others.  The Vatican doesn't ever want to share - even with it's own and just continues to push guilt on people. 

[Elly]

A sign! God is warning us in advance of the upcoming Anti-Christ!! lol

Seriously, that is kind of errie.

A bit fecking late - don't you think?

[Aileen]

^ Sorry - that was a bit crass - but I can't get on board with 'goodness' being tied up in one of the richest cities in this world where wealth is kept for inane reasons and elevates you above others.  The Vatican doesn't ever want to share - even with it's own and just continues to push guilt on people.  

I apologise if I offend any Catholics who might read this, but I agree with Elly, especially about the Vatican's vast trove of riches - and yet many of the poorest countries in the world are RC.  I just don't get it, although maybe keeping these people, many of whom are very poorly educated, in fear of eternal damnation and making them regularly atone for their sins, however venial, actually works because they don't know any better and are probably afraid to ask questions anyway because they see the church as being all-powerful.

And on the subject of sin, and a mortal one at that - what about all the child abuse cases which have been uncovered over the past few years, and in which Pope Benedict himself was implicated?  Not that he himself necessarily abused children, but as Cardinal Ratzinger he was appointed to look into this abuse by his predecessor, and a lot of evidence has come to light that he knew exactly what was going on, and to what extent, yet did very little to stop it and protect these children.  Of course as Pope he apologised to the victims, but by then it was far too little, far too late.  Quite possibly shouldering this burden was another issue he felt he could no longer cope with.


  

[Aileen]

^ I had picked up on that during my time on this forum.  Also my own beliefs on matters religious is somewhat lacking.

I'd want to know how often this happens at this time of year before reaching for my rosary.

I wasn't being too serious here, fiverings, although according to the Met people it is quite unusual, although not unheard of, to have such a violent thunderstorm in this part of Italy at this time of year.  Maybe my own religious upbringing (C of S) kicked in because, as a child, my mother used to tell me that thunderstorms were because God was angry with me.  No surprise then that for years I was terrified of them until I found out what really caused them.  Still don't like them though.