Good old reliable Jingthing! You can be sure of a positive spin if it's about gay rights in the US or Thailand, or about Obama and the Democrats, and a negative spin if it's about religion, especially the Catholic Church.

No, I am not going to respond to every slur you choose to cast on the Church. I'm sure you'll have a fine few weeks until the conclave digging up the dirt!

I don't think that link is a slur. I share the opinion of the article that the Cardinal in question should be in prison, not electing a new pope. You choose to play personality games rather than deal with the issues in question. Not very convincing.

Perfectly valid post by you JT. There was and still is also enough evidence to charge Herr Rat which is why he had no other option that to play the totally fallacious 'head of state' card some 2-3 years back in order to visit Ireland and the UK. The Vatican has for many decades existed in a 'state' non state' mist while they ducked and dived in shadows of their own making and this has never been tested in court. The last thing they wanted to do was fall on one side or the other because it would require the use of their 'get out of jail free' card but they were left with no option.... or rather Herr Rat was left with no option. He is now required to fall on his sword and retire in an effort to slow the noose which surrounds the Catholic Church.

Still well on topic and in relation to JT's point earlier about the Vatican shielding those who who should be in jail...

The outgoing head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI, has hinted he will withdraw into seclusion after stepping down at the end of this month.

[..]

However, he is expected to spend his retirement in a monastery at the Vatican [..]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21458783

He's going into hiding so expect something big to come out fairly soon.

The Hitler youth did some terrible things during WW2, especially towards the end of the war.

he quit because his chances to marry a lovely Thai lady were rather low.

The Hitler youth did some terrible things during WW2, especially towards the end of the war.

some of them were caught smoking in one-way streets.

http://www.bbc.co.uk...europe-21458783

He's going into hiding so expect something big to come out fairly soon.

perhaps a sex change in Phuket?

Good old reliable Jingthing! You can be sure of a positive spin if it's about gay rights in the US or Thailand, or about Obama and the Democrats, and a negative spin if it's about religion, especially the Catholic Church.

No, I am not going to respond to every slur you choose to cast on the Church. I'm sure you'll have a fine few weeks until the conclave digging up the dirt!

All these slurs from a man who comes from the Religion that executed Christ.................and now concentrates on Palestinians.

I don't admire the Catholic church, that is true. But they are a major force in the entire world so they can't be ignored. I think the chances are very remote of a more "progressive" new pope.

The political dynamic of having a living pope when there is a vote for a new pope is just weird.

Yes at the end of the day the Church has some old school ideas that marraige is a ceremony between a man and woman, family is a man woman and child, life begins at conception, an unborn child is sacred and worthy of protecting. IMO many in the Catholic faith ignore the church a great deal.

Good old reliable Jingthing! You can be sure of a positive spin if it's about gay rights in the US or Thailand, or about Obama and the Democrats, and a negative spin if it's about religion, especially the Catholic Church.

No, I am not going to respond to every slur you choose to cast on the Church. I'm sure you'll have a fine few weeks until the conclave digging up the dirt!

All these slurs from a man who comes from the Religion that executed Christ.................and now concentrates on Palestinians.

It was the Romans who executed Christ - the Sanhedrin just stood back and said 'It's your problem, chum.'.

Of course, the Romans later became the organisers of the religion that sprang from this incident.

Good old reliable Jingthing! You can be sure of a positive spin if it's about gay rights in the US or Thailand, or about Obama and the Democrats, and a negative spin if it's about religion, especially the Catholic Church.

No, I am not going to respond to every slur you choose to cast on the Church. I'm sure you'll have a fine few weeks until the conclave digging up the dirt!

All these slurs from a man who comes from the Religion that executed Christ.................and now concentrates on Palestinians.

It was the Romans who executed Christ - the Sanhedrin just stood back and said 'It's your problem, chum.'.

Of course, the Romans later became the organisers of the religion that sprang from this incident.

Your history lessons were different to mine. The Roman Governor washed his hands of the matter and let's the locals decide Jesus's fate. Yes it was physically Romans who crucified him, but Jews who condemned him to death.

Good old reliable Jingthing! You can be sure of a positive spin if it's about gay rights in the US or Thailand, or about Obama and the Democrats, and a negative spin if it's about religion, especially the Catholic Church.

No, I am not going to respond to every slur you choose to cast on the Church. I'm sure you'll have a fine few weeks until the conclave digging up the dirt!

All these slurs from a man who comes from the Religion that executed Christ.................and now concentrates on Palestinians.

I guess I shouldn't be shocked that some people still think this way.

Interestingly there is a connection in the subject you bring up to Pope Benedict.

I am an atheist but yes my ancestors were in Israel in the time of Christ (and a number of other characters who claimed to be saviors) before the great diaspora of the Jewish people.

The Jews killed Christ mantra of hate has fueled mass murder, genocide, and forced conversions of Jews for thousands of years now. Even if it was true, and I'm not really sure it matters, would it justify what the world has done to the Jews. Does it justify the Vatican being complicit in the holocaust and cooperating with the fascist Mussolini? I don't think so. I am not saying "the Jews" killed Christ or "the Jews" didn't kill Christ. I'm saying modern Jewish PEOPLE are about as guilty of that as a baby born in Deutschland today. In other words: NO GUILT.

http://religion.blog...es-in-new-book/

Jews did not kill Jesus, pope writes in new book

The Jewish people are not collectively responsible for the death of Jesus, Pope Benedict XVI writes a book to be published next week.

http://forward.com/a...-ties-to/?p=all

Jews were offended by his decision to allow a wider use of the old-style Latin Mass and missal, which included a prayer for the conversion of the Jews.

Read more: http://forward.com/articles/170923/pope-benedicts-jewish-legacy-tarnished-by-ties-to/?p=all#ixzz2KyuixZDs

The decades long conflict between the state of Israel and the Palestinian Arabs is radically off topic and deserves no response.

A numbers comparison to keep this in context, to further expand on why the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, the Pope, is always an important world leader:

Global Roman Catholics: 1.196 billion

Global Jews: 12.9 million

(Compare to the population of Mexico City: 22 million)

For example, when a Pope is discouraging condom use in Africa, the impact on lives and deaths is MASSIVE in numbers.

It has been implied there that non-Catholics have no business voicing opinions about Popes. That is just very wrong. Are only Americans entitled to have opinions about American presidents?

I don't admire the Catholic church, that is true. But they are a major force in the entire world so they can't be ignored. I think the chances are very remote of a more "progressive" new pope.

The political dynamic of having a living pope when there is a vote for a new pope is just weird.

Yes at the end of the day the Church has some old school ideas that marraige is a ceremony between a man and woman, family is a man woman and child, life begins at conception, an unborn child is sacred and worthy of protecting. IMO many in the Catholic faith ignore the church a great deal.

I think you paint this Pope's views on homosexuality in too benign a light. Old school is one thing. You almost make it sound charming. But this Pope was anything but charming on gay people. More like a global leader of ant-gay intolerance.

http://www.towleroad...ntryPermalink$>

Ugandan parliamentary speaker, who has said she wants to pass the "kill the gays" bill as a "Christmas gift" to Ugandans, received a blessing from the Pope at the Vatican.

Read more: http://www.towleroad.com/2012/12/ugandan-kill-the-gays-bill-lawmaker-rebecca-kadaga-receives-blessing-from-the-pope.html#ixzz2KzPgvCsO

Hopefully, the NEXT Pope won't be this horrific regarding gay people, but I reckon he probably will be, considering this Pope both stacked the deck of the voters and also STILL LIVES.

I don't admire the Catholic church, that is true. But they are a major force in the entire world so they can't be ignored. I think the chances are very remote of a more "progressive" new pope.

The political dynamic of having a living pope when there is a vote for a new pope is just weird.

Yes at the end of the day the Church has some old school ideas that marraige is a ceremony between a man and woman, family is a man woman and child, life begins at conception, an unborn child is sacred and worthy of protecting. IMO many in the Catholic faith ignore the church a great deal.

I think you paint this Pope's views on homosexuality in too benign a light. Old school is one thing. You almost make it sound charming. But this Pope was anything but charming on gay people. More like a global leader of ant-gay intolerance.

http://www.towleroad...ntryPermalink$>

Ugandan parliamentary speaker, who has said she wants to pass the "kill the gays" bill as a "Christmas gift" to Ugandans, received a blessing from the Pope at the Vatican.

Read more: http://www.towleroad...l#ixzz2KzPgvCsO

Hopefully, the NEXT Pope won't be this horrific regarding gay people, but I reckon he probably will be, considering this Pope both stacked the deck of the voters and also STILL LIVES.

And why is this a bad thing for the leader of a christian church to be? There are still many people in the world; i would bet a majority who do not view homosexuality as a normality or a conditon that deserves the same privileges as heterosexuals such as marriage and adoption.

And why is this a bad thing for the leader of a christian church to be? There are still many people in the world; i would bet a majority who do not view homosexuality as a normality or a conditon that deserves the same privileges as heterosexuals such as marriage and adoption.

You just replied to a post about the Pope blessing an African politician seeking to MURDER gay people just for being gay. You ask why is this a bad thing? Nothing more to say, is there?

The Jews killed Christ mantra of hate has fueled mass murder, genocide, and forced conversions of Jews for thousands of years now. Even if it was true, and I'm not really sure it matters, would it justify what the world has done to the Jews. Does it justify the Vatican being complicit in the holocaust and cooperating with the fascist Mussolini? I don't think so. I am not saying "the Jews" killed Christ or "the Jews" didn't kill Christ. I'm saying modern Jewish PEOPLE are about as guilty of that as a baby born in Deutschland today. In other words: NO GUILT.

I'm responding to this one because I agree with you, JT, NO GUILT. That doesn't mean to say we shouldn't pray for your conversion! The same for Hindus, Jains, Shintos, and whoever else!

The Jews killed Christ mantra of hate has fueled mass murder, genocide, and forced conversions of Jews for thousands of years now. Even if it was true, and I'm not really sure it matters, would it justify what the world has done to the Jews. Does it justify the Vatican being complicit in the holocaust and cooperating with the fascist Mussolini? I don't think so. I am not saying "the Jews" killed Christ or "the Jews" didn't kill Christ. I'm saying modern Jewish PEOPLE are about as guilty of that as a baby born in Deutschland today. In other words: NO GUILT.

I'm responding to this one because I agree with you, JT, NO GUILT. That doesn't mean to say we shouldn't pray for your conversion! The same for Hindus, Jains, Shintos, and whoever else!

Not after the history of what the Roman Catholic Church did to Jews over the centuries in terms of mass expulsions, torture, FORCED conversions, the Inquisition (an office held by the current Pope), and worse. The Jews are a TINY global ethnic minority. Jews already don't convert others, unlike other "major" world religions. Adding that to the centuries of genocide and forced conversions, it's really a miracle there are even 12 million. It really shows deep DISRESPECT for Roman Catholics to pray for conversion of Jews. Did Spain expel/force convert/murder all of it's Shintos? I think not. No modern Catholics are not guilty of what Spain, etc. did but by praying for conversion of Jews, that is SALT in the wound and suggesting the lesson was NOT learned.

Great idea! Elect a NUN for Pope. (No not a Sister of Perpetual Indulgence.) The link writer thinks it is possible under the current rules. Not going to happen of course, maybe never, but cool idea.

http://www.washingto...7adb_story.html

Nonetheless, handing leadership to a woman — and in particular, to a nun — would vastly strengthen Catholicism, help the church solve some of its immediate problems and inspire many who have left the church to look at it with new eyes.

Much more interesting than why an old, sick man decided he could no longer deal with one of the most testing jobs in the world is, where do we go from here?

Just a reminder than when Benedict XVI became Pope, he knew more about the paedophile scandal than any other man living. All the information about it came into his office, John Paul, also old and sick, refused to handle it, and Benedict knew what he was up against. He was either a very brave man, or a very foolhardy one, to accept the papacy. It is easy now to say he wasn't the right man for the job.... but perhaps the alternative (though there was no obvious alternative) would have been worse.

Now we have to look ahead, mainly Catholics of course, but the rest of the world will be watching, because, in spite of all the posts saying the Pope doesn't count any more, the Pope is still a world leader. Obviously the new Pope must be somebody completely untainted by the scandal. He needs to be young (at least as young as Popes ever are). He should probably come from the places where the Church is growing, South America, Africa or parts of Asia. He needs to be curia-savvy.... because, like it or not, he's going to have to deal with the Vatican bureaucracy. That really means he needs to know Italian, though a Spanish-speaking Pope could probably manage. I hope this doesn't rule out the Africans, though. But above all, he needs to be a dynamic leader, which Benedict wasn't.

And not a nun, JT!

I thought these cardinals MUST accept if elected. The current guy made it clear before that he didn't want it but he got it anyway.

I agree any Pope is a world leader by default. That can be good or bad depending on what messages they are projecting.

Showing explicit respect to politicians seeking to mass murder gay people is an example of a BAD message.

I thought these cardinals MUST accept if elected. The current guy made it clear before that he didn't want it but he got it anyway.

I agree any Pope is a world leader by default. That can be good or bad depending on what messages they are projecting.

Showing explicit respect to politicians seeking to mass murder gay people is an example of a BAD message.

The designated cardinal is always asked if he will accept the papacy. Whether he can say No in practice, I don't honestly know. If he did say No, the outside world might never hear of it.

Your last sentence.... agreed.

And why is this a bad thing for the leader of a christian church to be? There are still many people in the world; i would bet a majority who do not view homosexuality as a normality or a conditon that deserves the same privileges as heterosexuals such as marriage and adoption.

You just replied to a post about the Pope blessing an African politician seeking to MURDER gay people just for being gay. You ask why is this a bad thing? Nothing more to say, is there?

i replied to a post regarding the Pope being anti gay, that had a link to an obscure piece of news in Africa. At the end of the day gays and gay rights is a very, very, very small part of what a Pope must deal with as the global leader of the Catholic church. IMO most catholics do not think of the Pope and gays issues as it simply not on their radar.

And why is this a bad thing for the leader of a christian church to be? There are still many people in the world; i would bet a majority who do not view homosexuality as a normality or a conditon that deserves the same privileges as heterosexuals such as marriage and adoption.

You just replied to a post about the Pope blessing an African politician seeking to MURDER gay people just for being gay. You ask why is this a bad thing? Nothing more to say, is there?

i replied to a post regarding the Pope being anti gay, that had a link to an obscure piece of news in Africa. At the end of the day gays and gay rights is a very, very, very small part of what a Pope must deal with as the global leader of the Catholic church. IMO most catholics do not think of the Pope and gays issues as it simply not on their radar.

I think you're wrong. This Pope has been obsessed with anti-gay stuff. Just because gays are a small minority doesn't mean it's OK for the leader of such a major religion to pander to those who seek to mass murder gays.

There was and still is also enough evidence to charge Herr Rat which is why he had no other option that to play the totally fallacious 'head of state' card some 2-3 years back in order to visit Ireland and the UK. The Vatican has for many decades existed in a 'state' non state' mist while they ducked and dived in shadows of their own making and this has never been tested in court. The last thing they wanted to do was fall on one side or the other because it would require the use of their 'get out of jail free' card but they were left with no option.... or rather Herr Rat was left with no option. He is now required to fall on his sword and retire in an effort to slow the noose which surrounds the Catholic Church.

(Reuters) - Pope Benedict's decision to live in the Vatican after he resigns will provide him with security and privacy. It will also offer legal protection from any attempt to prosecute him in connection with sexual abuse cases around the world, Church sources and legal experts say.

"His continued presence in the Vatican is necessary, otherwise he might be defenseless. He wouldn't have his immunity, his prerogatives, his security, if he is anywhere else," said one Vatican official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

http://www.reuters.c...E91E0ZI20130215

A numbers comparison to keep this in context, to further expand on why the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, the Pope, is always an important world leader:

Global Roman Catholics: 1.196 billion

Global Jews: 12.9 million

(Compare to the population of Mexico City: 22 million)

For example, when a Pope is discouraging condom use in Africa, the impact on lives and deaths is MASSIVE in numbers.

It has been implied there that non-Catholics have no business voicing opinions about Popes. That is just very wrong. Are only Americans entitled to have opinions about American presidents?

You know something, I'm in agreement with everything you have posted here, indeed I would add dump sites full of unwanted children in Manila and Rio due to the church stance on contraception. I would however observe that from your perspective a greater threat to your own interests comes from another totalitarian right not the Catholic church.

Indeed I hope the next pontiff is black and African and stands up for Christians being persecuted there in contrast to the Pope ducking the issue of the holocaust during WWII the last time the world faced a totalitarian ideology. To be fair to Benedict he did condemn the Easter massacre in Nigeria, whilst you could hear a pin drop from other western leaders at the time.

he quit because his chances to marry a lovely Thai lady were rather low.

i thought he quit to open a beer bar in thailand instead no?

Pity the advertiser can't spell 'International'.

I thought of applying, but I really cannot wear red. Very unlucky colour.

Here is some great dish about how messed up the Vatican is and also what a weak Pope Benedict was:

http://www.washingto...1a13_story.html

It showed how Benedict, a weak manager who may most be remembered for the way in which he left office, was no match for a culture that rejected even a modicum of transparency and preferred a damage-control campaign that diverted attention from the institution’s fundamental problems. Interviews in Rome with dozens of church officials, Vatican insiders and foreign government officials close to the church, many of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retribution, mapped out that hermetic universe.

...

A radical transformation of the culture is unlikely.

No doubt about it. Benedict pretty much will ONLY be remembered for quitting.

There was and still is also enough evidence to charge Herr Rat which is why he had no other option that to play the totally fallacious 'head of state' card some 2-3 years back in order to visit Ireland and the UK. The Vatican has for many decades existed in a 'state' non state' mist while they ducked and dived in shadows of their own making and this has never been tested in court. The last thing they wanted to do was fall on one side or the other because it would require the use of their 'get out of jail free' card but they were left with no option.... or rather Herr Rat was left with no option. He is now required to fall on his sword and retire in an effort to slow the noose which surrounds the Catholic Church.

(Reuters) - Pope Benedict's decision to live in the Vatican after he resigns will provide him with security and privacy. It will also offer legal protection from any attempt to prosecute him in connection with sexual abuse cases around the world, Church sources and legal experts say.

"His continued presence in the Vatican is necessary, otherwise he might be defenseless. He wouldn't have his immunity, his prerogatives, his security, if he is anywhere else," said one Vatican official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

http://www.reuters.c...E91E0ZI20130215

Interesting. I guess we will have to wait and see what reveals itself!

he quit because his chances to marry a lovely Thai lady were rather low.

i thought he quit to open a beer bar in thailand instead no?

initially yes, but he was refused a work permit.

he quit because his chances to marry a lovely Thai lady were rather low.

i thought he quit to open a beer bar in thailand instead no?

initially yes, but he was refused a work permit.

A bar beer requires a work permit?

I haven't seen an owner yet who could get up off his stool and do any work.

Anyway, isn't the bar usually in the wife's name?