The Pope has passed away

[jdramj]

Originally Posted by AllyOfTheDolls

Now, in the please don't-let-me-go-to-hell department, did anybody happen to witness the Fr. Thomas Williams coverage on NBC? Two words: Sweet Lordy. Hotness in a Clerical Collar.

Father, please forgive me. [/font]

I concur on this one...holy cow he's a hottie! Good thing I'm Lutheran!

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Originally Posted by €uroMeinke

I recall at one point he laid a lot of blame on the worlds ills on "atheism" - which I think, was a euphamism/synonym to him for communism. Still, replace that noun with a more familiar one, and it was hate speech pure and simple.

Well, as someone who is gay, I can say in no uncertain terms that I felt at times that what he said was hurtful and disappointing. But I also realize that this came from what his religion taught him. I really couldn't expect him to go against his faith. Likewise, it is hard to imagine the leader and spokesperson of his religion saying "I'm cool with atheists not believing what I think is the most important factor of human existence." He believed that those that didn't believe were subjecting themselves to eternal torment and suffering. If that is what you believe, you are going to do your best to change people because you truly think that is what is best for them. Now, I don't have to believe the same thing and I don't. But I can understand that, in his view, he wasn't coming from a place of hate, but rather of love.

I remember when my grandfather told me at the dinner table one night that "The Beatles are responsible for destroying this country with their music and their drugs." He was telling this to someone who had already worn out most of my Beatles albums from hundreds of listens. I realized though that we only have our own life experiences in which to base our decisions on things. He came from a very different time and place than I did. As uninformed as he may have been, in his heart, he believed his position was correct. That had a profound effect on me to learn that I could respect someone and still think that some of their opinions are totally out of touch with reality. ( Hi scaeagles! )

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by Motorboat Cruiser

I remember when my grandfather....(snip).... had a profound effect on me to learn that I could respect someone and still think that some of their opinions are totally out of touch with reality. ( Hi scaeagles! )

Well, I guess I'll choose to be flattered that thinking of your grandfather would remind you of me rather than pointing out it is because you thought he was out of touch with reality.

And those Beatles did ruin our country, dag nab it!

[Not Afraid]

My condolences to Catholics everywhere - and especially on this board.

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

I'm with you MBC.

I've been against organized religion for quite a while now. I think man telling man what their life is about is wrong. And the Pope is head of probably the biggest organization religion has.

But I can't help but be touched by who he was as a man, not as a religious figure. What his life ment, what he did, who he was. A man is measured by his actions and I don't think many can measure up to what he's done. Historically, he is one of a few that you will be able to say made the last century and back what it was. You think of figures like Abraham Lincoln, Jesus Christ, JFK and for better or worse, Hitler, Stallin, Gandhi, Martin Luthor King Jr. Mother Theresa, Walt Disney, etc. John Paul II was one of a small list that you could put in that sort of group. I think that is what this day is about. His death marks the end of a whole life of a man that was one of the greatest figures in the history of mankind.

What is also sad is that I don't think there is anyone living now that could be or become such an extraordinary soul and have the impact on the world as he did.

[MickeyD]

This week, when I was in Mexico, one of the guys who works for the organization we go through came and told me that he knew because we're a Catholic group that we'd want to know that the Pope received his "Last Rites." I admit I got a bit teary.

I was about three when he became Pope. He's basically the only Pope I've had. He was really awesome with teenagers. I'm stuggling to find the words to express what I'm trying to say, so I'll just leave it at that. I'm sad that he won't be at World Youth Day when we take the teens from our church this year.

I'm of course very interested to see the outcome of the conclave. But the confirmation coordinator in me cringes to think of all those Cardinals away from their diocese's during confirmation season.

I'm *very* sad today. I also just found out that my brothers' friend and former Ataris drummer Derrick Plourde commited suicide while I was away.

[tracilicious]

Originally Posted by MickeyD

I'm *very* sad today. I also just found out that my brothers' friend and former Ataris drummer Derrick Plourde commited suicide while I was away.

*Gasp* What?! I love the Ataris! How stinking sad.

I'm sorry. I don't have much to say about the Pope. I don't know anything about him. I'm sorry that others are sad though.

I hope this isn't tasteless, as I just mean it as an observation, but I found it so odd that whenever they showed the Pope on TV he was surrounded by gold and silk and jewels and ornate lavishness. It seems so against everything Jesus stood for. I wonder how the Pope felt about it.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Originally Posted by tracilicious

I hope this isn't tasteless, as I just mean it as an observation, but I found it so odd that whenever they showed the Pope on TV he was surrounded by gold and silk and jewels and ornate lavishness. It seems so against everything Jesus stood for. I wonder how the Pope felt about it.

I know that seems odd, Trac. I am a Catholic (quasi-practicing, of the sort known as 'cafeteria Catholic': take the good message and drown out the rest) and have some trouble with that too. Knowing the history of gifts accepted (as passages into heaven, yes, buy your way in!) by the church, it doesn't seem contrary to expectation.

My favorite bishop, Ken Untner, had such trouble with such things that he sold the palacial bishop's rectory in Michigan and rotated from parish to parish throughout his time in the position. He also was the first bishop to grant little girls the position of altar server (I was part of the early years of that!) and deemed that the Saginaw song of blessing have two verses. They begin:

May God bless you and keep you, may he let his face shine upon you
and
May God bless you and keep you, may she let her face shine upon you

He'd have made such a great pope. Too bad he was blacklisted from becoming a cardinal. He passed away last year-- and his replacement promptly bought another palacial bishop's rectory. And did away with the second verse of the blessing.

As for John Paul II, he did some good things (aid for poverty, among them.) He did some things long-in-coming (acknowledging that the church should not have supported the Nazi party.) And he did some bad things (proclaiming that gay marriage is evidence of the evil in our world.) I don't begrudge him his flaws; he was only a man.

[Prudence]

Originally Posted by tracilicious

I hope this isn't tasteless, as I just mean it as an observation, but I found it so odd that whenever they showed the Pope on TV he was surrounded by gold and silk and jewels and ornate lavishness. It seems so against everything Jesus stood for. I wonder how the Pope felt about it.

Must not launch into history lesson on medieval heresies, the typical characteristics of reformer heresies, and the socio-economic conditions that alternately supported and suppressed such heresies.

[BarTopDancer]

I must see a photo of Fr. Whatawaste!

I think MBC has pretty much summed up everything I'd like to say perfectly.