Pope Benedict XVI resigns - First to resign voluntarily since 1415.

[PeterJB]

I think part of the Pope's concern about condoms could be that if he says all Catholics can now use condoms, that people may see it as a free pass to sleep with as many people as they like, and condoms don't make you completely impenetrable to STDs. Peter Turkson himself has a said that what condoms are available in Africa are of a poor quality, and can't always prevent infection. Faithfulness and chastity are both very effective protections against AIDS. Condoms only become necessary when these aren't upheld (or if your partner has AIDS).

 

[Dennisch]

Education is the key word here. The teachings of safe sex work so much better than the message the church spreads.

 

[terminator363]

No,j/k. It would be one hell of a step if the church does that. And finally comes out of medieval times.

We studied this in school for a little bit. It's very worrying to see families in developing countries attempting to seek contraception then the result is being frowned upon by the church and local society. It's this belief that makes it impossible for many to develop and still live in poverty (when they have three children and can't even afford to feed one). It's also a key reason as to why I do not believe in god or religion.

 

[Joel]

Education is the key word here. The teachings of safe sex work so much better than the message the church spreads.

Despite my seemingly pro church tirade up there, I still think this is the 2nd biggest black mark on the church after the whole little boys bit. To tell people in Africa and kids there who are dying young and born HIV+ that they should just remain celibate is just sticking your head in the sand and not being realistic. The only practical way to prevent the spread of AIDS (short of some sort of cheap and easily accessible cure) is to educate about safe sex and provide access to condoms. I'm not saying the Church needs to be handing out condoms, but it would be nice if they wouldn't immediately denounce it as sinful if the red cross does it.

 

[Dan_]

Well someone doesn't like it...

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/lightning-strikes-vatican-on-the-day-the-pope-1704295

Zeus?

 

[Joey D]

Despite my seemingly pro church tirade up there, I still think this is the 2nd biggest black mark on the church after the whole little boys bit. To tell people in Africa and kids there who are dying young and born HIV+ that they should just remain celibate is just sticking your head in the sand and not being realistic. The only practical way to prevent the spread of AIDS (short of some sort of cheap and easily accessible cure) is to educate about safe sex and provide access to condoms. I'm not saying the Church needs to be handing out condoms, but it would be nice if they wouldn't immediately denounce it as sinful if the red cross does it.

You'd think the church would be able to preach both safe sex and celibacy at the same time though. All they would have to say is that you should remain faithful and shouldn't have pre-marital sex, but if you are going to sin then you should at least sin safely. Hell, that could even be their slogan and they could get the Most Interesting Catholic in the World to endorse it..."I don't always sin, but when I do, I make sure to do it safely. Stay holy my friends."

 

[Dennisch]

The Vatican is stuck in the time of knights. You are a modern day believer.

Solution?

Pope Joey D I

 

[Omnis]

Preaching celibacy precludes the idea of sex regardless of any degree of safety involved.

What is so hard about keeping the snake in the cage? We even have the internet to help us out these days.

 

[Dennisch]

Preaching celibacy precludes the idea of sex regardless of any degree of safety involved.

What is so hard about keeping the snake in the cage? We even have the internet to help us out these days.

You can not spill your seed if you are catholic. So stop touching yourself, or get into the future.

 

[Omnis]

Anyway, let's talk about the pope.

 

[Dennisch]

Anyway, let's talk about the pope.

So, you are religious when it suits you? What was that word you used before?
Oh yeah. Sinner.

 

[Villain]

I really hope the next Pope is more progressive.

 

[Omnis]

So, you are religious when it suits you? What was that word you used before?
Oh yeah. Sinner.

Sinner? I know-- what about it? Am I throwing stones here? Lay off already.

 

[axletramp]

Great headline in The Independent today - "Legacy of the German Shepherd". Made me smile anyway.

Was Benedict XVI a popular Pope? There were certainly plenty of questions being asked about his history when he was elected and there's the potential for his legacy be forever remembered for the perceived cover-up of the child abuse scandal.

Perhaps needs some stronger and more open-minded leadership this time to at least divert some criticism away from the Vatican.

 

[Wardez]

It's so weird to think of a person being a "former" pope. No more pope mobile, just a regular old, mobile.

He wasn't a very popular pope though, I remember people, my extended family especially, being fanatical about John Paul II. When this guy came in, people mostly meh'd it off.

btw axletramp, only capitalize a title when it precedes the name. I just learned this, thought you'd might like to!

 

[DK]

Horsemeat found in burgers.

Pope resigns voluntarily.

Anyone else seeing this?

Communion wafers were transubstantiated into horsemeat?

 

[Famine]

I'm told that Peter Odemwingie will be the next pontiff.

Or at least he thinks so, having turned up for a medical and to discuss personal terms yesterday.

 

[axletramp]

Boom! Back of the net!

Hmm, although I'm a little worried about a premiership footballer's views on sex before marriage...

...and during.

...and after.

 

[BobK]

if the pope can help quell some of the radical Islam in the mid east then I see it as a good thing.

Pope Urban II tried that. It didn't end well. Just sayin'.

That being said, of course I find the whole child predators stuff to be indefensible, and it's disgusting that the church isn't taking steps to combat it, but that's not all the fault of the church, and it doesn't mean it's not an organization that can do good.

Could you please explain how it's not all the fault of the Church?

 

[Joey D]

Could you please explain how it's not all the fault of the Church?

The Church can't control what people do no matter how hard they try. If a priest is going to molest boys, he's probably going to do it whether the Church denounces it or not. While the Church does bear some fault for not taking more steps to prevent it, it ultimately comes down to the individual.

 

[BobK]

Okay, perhaps I misunderstood then. No, the Church isn't responsible for the molestations themselves; clearly that's the responsibilities of the priests involved. However the Church IMO is entirely responsible for the coverup, intimidation of witnesses, etc.

 

[Joel]

The Church can't control what people do no matter how hard they try. If a priest is going to molest boys, he's probably going to do it whether the Church denounces it or not. While the Church does bear some fault for not taking more steps to prevent it, it ultimately comes down to the individual.

Okay, perhaps I misunderstood then. No, the Church isn't responsible for the molestations themselves; clearly that's the responsibilities of the priests involved. However the Church IMO is entirely responsible for the coverup, intimidation of witnesses, etc.

This is what I meant. It's not entirely the fault of the pope and the Vatican that a former priest from my home town is now in jail. The coverup is indefensible.

 

[trackripper123]

You know the economic crisis is bad when even God is laying people off...

 

[Omnis]

Benedict did a lot for the mass. If it weren't for him I probably would've never seen a tridentine mass. He did even more for the church and the faith as Ratzinger, however marked by scandal that time may have been.

 

[Robin]

I can't believe the guy's giving up the shweet new Popemobile.

 

[Joel]

Tim Tebow for pope!

 

[MUSC4EVER]

Jeremy Clarkson for pope!

 

[Dennisch]

I'm sure the church will find someone with a couple of skeletons in his closet. I hope so.

 

[boiltheocean]

 

[Dennisch]

Ah yes. I love it how almost everyone on the internet sees the church and the pope as a joke.