The Pope has passed away

[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.