The New Pope Johannes Ratzinger...

Didn't he also play Cliff on "Cheers"?

 

I doubt he's even that funny!

 

In all seriousness, I think he's a logical choice in terms of his credentials, but isn't he nearly as old as his predecessor? I wouldn't think that the Vatican wants to go through all this again in just a few years.

 

According to the news reports he had his 78th birthday last Saturday. His age did suprise me. Seems the church will go through this process again in 5 or so years.
Just after Pope John Paul died someone mention, can't remember who, the new pope would be older. They didn't want someone hanging on for a quarter of a century.

Even so, Pope John was Pope only for about 5 years, back in the late 50's. He was suppose to be a caretaker Pope. Turns out he was one of the more important Popes in recent history, invoking the Vatican II Council...etc.
Admittily I'm a little shaky on my Papal history, not being Catholic. Mostly repeating news reports.

 

I was watching the news. Supposedly, he's 78 years old, and is the first German pope in 950 years. He's ultra-conservative, and speaks adamantly against homosexuality, birth control, abortion, women in the ministry, and liberal spirituality. He also wants to make it so that people who have gone through a divorce are not allowed to receive communion.


One lady on the news stated, "He stands for what we all believe in, whether christian or not." Um...yeah right...lol...

 

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Coincidence?

I think not...

 

yeah..... hes aweful

Im sad and im not even ctholic

 

AS FOR the Cheers thing----

he was cliff claven

and jon kerry was sam malone




am i right?

 

None of these ideas are new or radical; they reflect historic Catholic teaching. I find it amusing that people are so shocked by the prospect of a devout Catholic Pope!

 

I just wish there was a Latin American Pope. It seems like as great as Pope John Paul was, he didn't do so great of a job with taking a stand against all the violence in Latin America. Oh well, good thing I'm not Catholic or I'd be even more unhappy now.

 

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Racist? That's pulling at strings...I think hoping for a Latin American pope is more about location than color.

 

It's good that a former Nazi can rise to such a highly "respected" position. Remember what William Burroughs said "Never enter a church. The only key those bastards have is to the shithouse!"

 

He was certainly outspoken against the economic injustice that has fueled this violence.

His memoirs clearly show that he was coerced into joining the Hitler youth, which was very typical of the Nazi regime. Given that he later deserted the German army, he doesn't seem to have ever been a true Nazi believer.

 

Ya I read that they made him join the Hitler youth and he deserted them. But in the paper I read that he said Buddhism was for the "self-indulgent" and that rock music was "anti-religion". So idno if its a good thing hes the pope. He isnt very open minded or tolerant.

 

I just discusses the hitler youth thing today. This is not something to be taken too serious. Almost every kid had to be in there at that time, and as a kid you don't have much to say. After all, they did also many things that were fun for kids, almost like scouting today, except that they always had the preparation of the kids for war in the mind.


Nevertheless, he's even for a catholic very conservative. I have known many catholic priests, most of them have very liberal views concerning divorce, and communion shared with the protestants. I have been to a catholic school, and they always said, that all protestant students are invited to share the comunion, if they like. Something that is totally outlawed by the vatican. Even on the german catholic's day, a bishop had a shared communion at a huge service.
For me this only shows, that the basis, the priests that are in touch with the people are very liberal, but in the vatican, where they live on their own without so much real contact to the world, are so conservative, and they try to preserve something that barely exists anymore.


And about his age? A german Newsmagazine (kind of like TIME in the US) stated, that Razinger is a little bit more then a temporary solution. And more like a substitute for John Paul, as he also has been in the past.

I was really hoping for an African or Latin American Pope. This would have probably brought some new things into this old institution.

 

JPII reigned for what, 25 years? And "liberalized" too much for the Catholic heirarchy to stomach. This guy is old, conservative, and no bullshit. He'll do just enough to bring the RCC back where the Cardinals want it to be. Because, make no mistake, they have all the power. They gave JPII too much leash.

So look for edicts stating that homosexuals should be stoned (and not in the good way), Rock and Roll are the devil's work and people who use birth control will be excommunicated. Paedophilic priests are to be forgiven and sent to Latin America.

 

I thought all germans were protestant.

 

nope, it's about 50-50,

in the north more protestant, in the south more catholic