Pope Uses Easter To Attack Gay Families

[Tab]

(Vatican City) In marking the Stations of the Cross during Good Friday observances in Rome Pope Benedict XVI called for the "filth" the surrounds society to be cleansed and said the world is in the grip of "a diabolical pride aimed at eliminating the family".

"Lord, we have lost our sense of sin," he said. "Today a slick campaign of propaganda is spreading an inane apologia of evil, a senseless cult of Satan, a mindless desire for transgression, a dishonest and frivolous freedom, exalting impulsiveness, immorality and selfishness as if they were new heights of sophistication.”

Although the Pontiff did not specifically name same-sex relationships the message was clear, less than a week after Italian voters elected a leftist government committed to recognizing gay and lesbian couples.

In a much publicized event less than two weeks before the election the pope used a meeting with the conservative coalition to launch an attack on the leftists for their support of a domestic partner law.

"Attempts to make juridically equivalent to radically different forms of unions which in reality harm it and contribute to its destabilization," the pope declared. (story)
...
Although was his first public comment on same-sex marriage since becoming Pope, Benedict had long history of attacking same-sex unions.

As Cardinal Ratzinger he was the Vatican's most outspoken opponent of gay marriage.
...
More: http://www.365gay.com/Newscon06/04/041406pope.htm

[OldLeftieLawyer]

1. This...........

........ from a guy in an embroidered dress, Gucci loafers, and a pointy hat on his head?

I don't think so.

[AuntPatsy]

3. Lol, how true.

[Waya]

5. Can't say I'm surprised.....

...just what I expected from Pope R-r-r-r-ratzinger......:puke:

[Starbucks Anarchist]

90. And this from an unmarried man with no children?

[fshrink]

117. Vatican: SF in a closet.

[soothsayer]

2. Jeez, I thought I was just a lesbian! Who knew I'm in a cult? Of

Satan no less. Jeez, Ratzy, offending a nice Catholic gal like me, and on Good Friday too. Yeesh.

[boilinmad]

99. Yeah Soothsayer.........

........would you quit destabilizing the traditional marriage........If thats not satanic, i dont know what is????:sarcasm:

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

116. Woah! We're in the same cult.

Nice to meet you, fellow satanic cult member.

[leftofcool]

140. Can I be in the cult, pleeeze?

Wait a minute........I'm not a lesbian, I'm married. Oh well, can I still be in the cult? Reminds me of a button I have........"Sorry I missed church but I was out learning to be a lesbian and practicing witchcraft."

Left of Cool

[goclark]

4. That is why GW had him installed as Pope

Didn't GW have a secret meeting with all the Cardinals right before the vote?

I remember that when everyone around me was guessing, I kept telling everyone that this one was going to be the political selection. :(

[DBoon]

8. Did they use Diebold machine to cast their votes for Pope?

that might explain his election

[0007]

38. This selection of the Pope indeed amazed me. I think they

should have given the Cardinals a saliva test after they casted their ballot. Either that or this was some first class gypsy job of the ballots...

[AndyTiedye]

61. That Was The Bit With the Yellow Smoke at the Beginning. "Just Testing"…

…they said. But we know what was really going on:


Papal Chimney Services

[saigon68]

63. A Tasteful reply to his papacy

http://www.mallofchrist.com/




Our support staff is dedicated to making your shopping at MallOfChrist.com a memorable one. Click here for information on contacting our customer care cente

[bigluckyfeet]

80. The Catholic church

Is the "Whore of Babylon" which equals false religion.

[Scurrilous]

122. Welcome to DU...

...Mr. Chick. :thumbsup:

[Arugula Latte]

144. False religion -- Doesn't that pretty much cover them all?

Just asking.

[Matariki]

34. did he really???

so the last pope was right about him being the 'anti-christ'? he made a deal they couldn't refuse?

[phantom power]

6. I daydream of a day when people just abandon the Catholic church.

What if they held a dogmatic, bigoted religion and nobody came?

[mzteris]

10. I'm truly beginning to believe

it's ALL Churches.

:(

[phantom power]

11. This atheist would not try to convince you otherwise.

[Kenergy]

37. Or just abandon organised religion in general n/t

[arewenotdemo]

74. why gays and lesbians...or any women for that matter

stay is beyond this former Cathoholic.

Masochism, perhaps???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

[LSparkle]

7. Why do so many of the world's leaders sound like Hitler?

It's not just * and Mr. Tehran spewing the hyperbole ... I swear, JPII would NEVER have said anything CLOSE to that. Very depressing that we seem to be going through a period of worldwide extremism.

[MadMaddie]

16. Well this pope actually was a Nazi youth soldier.....

so this train of thought is not that unfamilier to him.....

[LSparkle]

Geez (hits self in head), DUH ... how could I forget that?

Ratzinger indeed: a RAT slinging ZINGERS to the fascist, homophobic followers ... UGH.

[MadMaddie]

41. There ya go...looks like you summed it up pretty well....

:hi:

[goclark]

17. Just me talking

but I think it is all about CLASS and RACE now.

Those that have wealth want to keep it and they are afraid that the masses "won't eat cake."

Those that are not of darker hues or Christians are afraid that "there are more against them" and they are afraid of losing control.

This is their last STAND and it is a World Wide Stand IMO.

[bliss_eternal]

21. Great point--

I agree. :hi: goclark! Good to see you!

[Hardrada]

79. I agree.

They lose Iraq and a few other places and the old white patriarchal corporate BS is going down.

[mzteris]

9. misdirection

please don't look at the heterosexual male pedophiles we're protecting in our clergy - go get those evil homosexuals (who are perfectly happy having sex with other consenting adults!)

[AndyTiedye]

12. Pope Maledict Never Said Anything Good About Anyone

[shenmue]

45. Good nickname

I'll have to steal it. ;)

[BrklynLiberal]

13. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone...

I find it difficult to understand why this Pope is so mean spirited

[Kenergy]

39. It puts cash in the collection plate n/t

[Megahurtz]

151. He's a Nazi. n/t

[Fridays Child]

14. Will Papa Ratzo succeed in ripping the Roman Catholic Church apart?

I wonder.

[Mikimouse]

15. Silly liberal, Jesus didn't die for your sins, only

those of white, heterosexual, blue-eyed, prayer-screaming, Bible-in-the-back-pocket, Old Testament, Krishhuns. The rest of us can go to hell! At least the company will be better there.:evilfrown:

[JuniperLea]

30. And his teachings included loving everyone.... even sinners

You are treating Jesus the way you are treating sinners.


He loves all GBLT's, and everyone else every bit as much as he loves the most proper Christian who ever lived.



I'm sick of people using God's name in vain.

[TankLV]

110. Damn the fundy REPUKES & the POPE! I totally agree!

[Kenergy]

40. LOL! n/t

[progressivebydesign]

66. When they're not busy berating airline employees on 1st class flights.

I just have to laugh at ANYONE who continues to go to those megachurches, like the one in Texas where the preacher and his lovely wife were tossed off a plane for her temper tantrum over a spill. Considering the FIRST CLASS tix for their skiing vacation would come to (according to my research) over 8k round trip for the fam, I have a hard time understanding ANYONE that would listen to a word those charlatains have to say.

[Mikimouse]

70. My only hope is that someone upstairs is taking copious notes...n/t

[xchrom]

18. i was going to make a snarky pedophile comment -- but

i'll just say i hate him and leave it at that.

[MichiganVote]

42. Allow me. Headline, Benedict the Bunny Helps the Pedophiles

[ninkasi]

19. It's funny, but my family doesn't feel threatened

We enjoy the friendship of several gay or lesbian couples, and my husband and I don't feel any threat at all. My grown children, who have known these same couples for years, in some cases since they were all teen-agers, don't feel a threat, either.

What's the problem, are we just too dumb to fall for the so-called "homosexual agenda", or are these people just not trying hard enough to do whatever the hell narrow minded bigots accuse them of doing?

[xchrom]

36. you accepted us -- you'll be receiving a pamphlet in

the mail -- in it you'll see several different toasters -- two slice and four slice{may i suggest four slice for your family} and we now give a selection of colours. we have three different reds now!

our homo agenda has successful in one more case.

[ninkasi]

50. You mean all I had to do was ask?

Thanks! I definitely want the four slice.

[Kber]

97. Hey - I support the homosexual agenda too!

Which, according to Focus of the Family, seeks to insinuate "values" like tolerance, love and joy into the mainstream culture.

Two slice for us, thanks. We already have a toaster oven, you see.

Stainless steal would be nice.

[xchrom]

108. perhaps our new line of panini grills?

we had more colours -- but the manufacturer has been unreliable -- so we are only doing grey.

but since you're straight i'm sure the grey will go with whatever you have.

;-)

[Kenergy]

43. Good for you and your family...it isn't legal to lynch Blacks and

Jews anymore, so the people in our country (aka Bush supporters) have to hate somebody, and
gays and "libruls" are wide open for Jim Crow laws.There are people in this country who need to hate
somebody to make themselves look like somebody. I think they just haven't graduated from
elementary school in their thinking.
When they reached the age of 14, their brains froze and haven't grown out of their bully stage.

On edit: Just like our dear leader, George Walker Bush: 14, maybe 12 years old mentally

[Kutjara]

20. From the religion that brought you the Inquisition.

I'm sorry, but didn't a chap called Martin Luther say all that needed to be said about these clowns? I can't believe they haven't just died of shame. How much blood does one religion need on its hands?

People listen to the Pope like he has a direct line to God, or something. What? He does? So you mean God is to blame for all the hypocracy, violence, intolerance and undeserved wealth of the Catholic Church? Oh.

Every time I read about the latest absurdity from Mother Church, I thank God I'm an athiest.

[Matariki]

31. "I can't believe they haven't just died of shame"

well said.

more suffering and problems have been caused by their hateful, repressed, closeted bullshit than humanity deserves.

[sweetheart]

22. pandora's box jesus tomb

The stone was rolled away, he has risen again,
who has come again today? The spirit of a prison.
they are all evil, lord betry,
i know their sins, pope above sin.

Whining whimpering depraven,
berlusconi's greasy corruption,
Prodi's no spring maiden,
prosecuted terrorist introduction.

Sinful scoundrel covered in fluff,
making attacks on other citizens,
his own cult's got it tough,
better cast us all as hell's denizens.

White robed pope on a rope,
Muhammed ali, ropa that dope.

[IndianaGreen]

23. The Pope is just pissed that Berlusconi lost the election

I challenge the Pope to find any Jesus quote in which he condemned abortion, birth control and LGBTs, and embraced capitalism.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

48. Oooooo yes he is. Poor wittle Watzi.

He'll probably whack off to pics of Angela Merkel to console himself.

Berlusconi is PWN3D! Mwahahahahahaha!

[saigon68]

54. ANGELA MERKEL EMERGES

[Habibi]

57. Damn, that's a brutal image

What is that from?

[saigon68]

62. Here is the link

http://www.politikecke.de/forum/index.php?s=6b6a96d4048bcc299015078a11e7559f&showtopic=937&st=0&#entry13375

[BrklynLiberal]

60. ROTFLMAO! That is a rootin tootin riot!!!

[Canuckistanian]

126. Dayum! is that float for rent?

I could think of a few modifications....

[melody]

24. Backward ideas from a shriveled up evil old man

The world will ignore him. The majority of Catholics I've met do.

[aden_nak]

25. But they can't figure out why religion is losing its cultural relevance?

Geez, and we think Bush is surrounded by a bubble of yes men.

[gaialove]

26. To cleanse society???

Sounds like Hitler. Ratz needs to face the facts that two individuals who love one another and spend the rest of their lives together is a good thing. If a higher power can't bless love and commitment than that higher power doesn't need to be worshipped.

[hatrack]

69. Oh, but can't we just ETHNICALLY CLEANSE society?

Please, your Holiness, please please please?????????????/

What a fucking asshat.

Sometimes it's hard to put into words just how happy I am to be a lapsed Unitarian!!!!

[gglor]

86. is that not a quote from one of hitlers speeches

[LynnTheDem]

77. Beautifully said.

And welcome to DU. :hug:

[IndianaGreen]

106. He was a member of the Hitler Youth

looks like the Nazi indoctrination about gays and other social misfits have deep roots in Pope Ratzo.

[Name removed]

27. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[JuniperLea]

28. 'Scuse me... but the man is an asshole

And there is nothing Christ-like in a damn word he said...

I'm sick of having subjective morals crammed down my throat.

[GOPNotForMe]

29. F*** the Pope.

My apologies to my Catholic friends, but really, come on.

[Kenergy]

32. LOL! This coming from the head of the largest pedophile

operation in the world. What a hypocrite.

[goclark]

52. The Pedophile Mafia

And he is the Don Benny.

[RedG1]

33. as did the last Pope...

this new Pope-a-Nazi continues the anti-gay union/family "hate"...

as Joy Behar of 'The View' said: "the Pope forbids gay marriage...heh, guess he only wants his priests to date."

[saigon68]

55. HIS PRIESTS ONLY DATE YOUNG BOYS AGE 10

and under

He is about 500 years behind the power curve

Martin Luther where are you ?

[muntrv]

35. Ratz: I love Christ, I hate your Christians

because your Christians are nothing like Christ.

[stepnw1f]

44. Make Yourself Useful for God's Sake!

Stupid old man.

[mvd]

46. This is why I consider myself an independent Christian

I was baptized Catholic, but this Pope doesn't speak for me.

[stepnw1f]

100. My Mother Doesn't Go to Church Because of Him

out of protest for my gay sister.

[valerief]

47. If he wants to hate, he need look no further than his own backyard

with all the child-raping priests.

[Vidar]

49. Spread the love, Benny

[cyr330]

51. That poor, old asshole

Who gives a shit what that reptile has to say? The Church he's in charge of is such a ridiculous joke that it's just too easy to make fun of. How could anybody take seriously what he has to say?

[saigon68]

93. POPE PALPATINE

[Marie26]

139. Pope Ratzinger the Creepy

So, right now we've got wars, genocide, repression & environmental destruction. But, Pope Benedict thinks we need to concentrate on the true threat to this world - gay marriage! This is, apparantly, distinguished from the pedophilia scandals that he helped the Church cover up as a Cardinal. This guy is a hypocrite & coward of the highest measure & I have zero respect for him.

[Arugula Latte]

143. "You're a mean one, Mister Grinch ... " n/t

[Haole Girl]

53. With all of the problems in the world

This is really sad to hear.

[Endangered Specie]

56. Just curious, did he give his speech in the usual boring Latin...

or emotionally charged German? :shrug:

[DaveColorado]

59. This guy was central to protecting pedophile priests within the church

Pope Hypocrite I say.

[Marie26]

147. Also central to the "liberation theology" crackdown.

He was also the head of the "Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith," formerly known as the Inquisiton. His specialization was supressing rebellious priests who were espousing views outside orthodox doctrine. In this position, he cracked down on the "liberation theology" movement in Latin America. "Liberation theology" attempts to tie religion into social activism, human rights, and advocating for the poor and oppressed (you know, like Jesus did.) Nuns & priests worked to fight poverty, helped to provide food, care, & schools for the poor, & opposed the military dictatorships.

Then, Ratzinger issued a edict condemning "liberation theology", and called all outspoken priests to the Vatican for censure. And the purge began - Priests were excommunicated, books were banned, and bishops that were supected sympathizers were quickly replaced. Why was it such a danger? Because, Ratzinger said, it lessened "the Church leaders' influence over the laity" & "the authority of church hierarchy." God forbid the laity become educated, free, or able to think for themselves. Ratzinger ended a movement that was trying to self-empower people & left them to live in poverty & violence. IMO, the man is a doctrinal facist who will favor the interests of the wealthy & powerful every time. And it seems to have served him well in his career. But that doesn't mean I have to respect him.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/01/AR2005050100821.html
http://www.imdiversity.com/Villages/Hispanic/news/pns-pope.asp

[Name removed]

75. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[thatsrightimirish]

58. No matter what you think

John Paul the Second was so much better. I haven't seen this pope do anything significant instead of political speeches during mass. JP2 traveled and inspired and even if I didn't agree with him on every issue, he at least had my respect.

[progressivebydesign]

67. John Paul the Second seemed like a sweet soul. n/t

[Bridget Burke]

135. JPII was exactly as conservative as Pope Benedict.

However, he had more charisma. So, even those who claim to oppose the Church's polices on gays & women usually gave him a pass.

JPII was much more photogenic. Of course, when he ascended to the papacy, he was considerably younger than Benedict. And nobody thought it "witty" to make up nicknames about him.

[ismnotwasm]

64. Asshole

He could have could for world peace, love and understanding. He could have spoke out against the genocide in Darfur. He could have condemned even a hint of using nuclear weapons. He could have talked about stewardship of the environment, caring for our water and air. He could have talked about cultures learning to understand one another. he could have talked about what the resurrection of Christ is supposed to mean. (Not a Christian but my understanding is that it's supposed to be about redemptive love)

But NOOOooo. He wastes time, power, and authority on bullshit to hurt and damage human beings and the human condition.
If there really is evil, that speech is definitly part of it---
If there really is a satan, he/she/it wrote it.
In fact, if there really is a "cult of satan" evidently that man is sitting at the head of the table.

[NJ Democrats]

65. When they were voting for a new Pope

I was hoping that a African or Latino Cardinal-someone different- would get it. but no they just give it to the most conservative cardinal. The cardinal that was in the Hitler Youth. Man, do I feel sorry for you Catholics, who have him as the head of your church and the speaker of the stone age beliefs he has.

[progressivebydesign]

68. "eliminating the family" thru Satan? Does he mean Iraqi families?

The ones that Bush has been responsible for killing for the past few years? Is that what he meant? Or did he mean the evil that is causing the destruction of the families of our troops killed in this unjust war? Nothing destroys a family like having your spouse killed or permanently maimed. If he wants to talk Satan, he's attacking the wrong people. I'd say Satan is busy with the warmongers right now.

Geez.. that guy sounds like the meanest SOB on the earth.

[PurityOfEssence]

71. There are none so blind as those who will Nazi

This is an institution bent on world domination. In many ways, the Roman Empire never died; it just lived on as the church.

Massive uncontrolled breeding is the true creed of this cult, and the marginalization of anyone who disagrees is its method.

Choking as we are on billions of others, the selfish and primitive arithmetic of rampant breeding and exclusivity is something that's a danger to us all.

Hey, ever heard of global warming? What's the major cause? Carbon Dioxide; you're exhaling it right now.

There's only one good thing about this asshole becoming pope: to show the world the selfishness, ugliness and close-mindedness of deeply entrenched fantasy beliefs. Will people learn the lesson? History doesn't bode well.

[Ilsa]

72. Ah, just what we needed: a message of HATE for Easter from the Pope.

Yeah, that's what Jesus was all about, wasn't he Mr. Pope (He's not a Holy anything to me)? Messages of condemnation and hatred? Let's see, did Jesus exhort us to hate our neighbors? Slay and persecute them and wipe them from the planet, especially if they aren't doing anything to bother us? :sarcasm:

[knitter4democracy]

98. I was thinking the same thing.

Apparently, he didn't learn anything from his preparations during Great Lent, either.

And our church says he's first among equals . . . *sigh* At least we can count on His Eminence, Patriarch Alexii of Moscow to be more level-headed in his Easter comments.

[arewenotdemo]

73. you can take the boy out of Nazi Germany

but...

[LynnTheDem]

76. Gee, how very "CHRISTian" of the pope.

Just another asshole biggot.

[Kailassa]

78. It's lucky Catholics don't listen to fatwas.

Because that is what this is. A religious leader is calling for the murder of gays.

Apologists can try to reinterpret it all they like, but the word "cleansing" has a long and evil history. One that this short and evil man is intimately familiar with.

More and more, as gays are feeling freer to be honest about their identities, people are realizing that gays cannot threaten their families because gays are part of their families.

[Solly Mack]

81. I'll sign on to your words

You said it wonderfully.

[BlueInPhilly]

82. Not just any Prada loafers - but RED Prada loafers!

Kinda matched Good Friday's vestment color, huh?

[Solly Mack]

84. Well, you can't spell Parade without Prada

(tee-hee)

[Skittles]

83. it astounds me that anyone believes in this nonsense

:puke:

[fujiyama]

85. Nice guy

This Mr. Nazi-nger

[ECH1969]

87. Tehran says in position of power in nuclear talks

Iranian leaders Friday brushed off the threat of sanctions or military attack over their controversial nuclear drive, insisting the West was powerless to halt the Islamic republic.

The tough rhetoric came after the regime dismissed appeals from UN's atomic watchdog chief Mohamed ElBaradei to freeze its uranium enrichment programme and calm suspicions it is seeking the bomb.

"Today, thank God, the Iranian nation is a powerful one and we are going to have a dialogue with the world from a position of power," Ahmadinejad said in a speech in the northeast of the country.

"Everything we have is from God, and a few weaklings cannot stand against the Iranian people," he said. Top regime cleric Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati said in a Friday prayer sermon that the United States was a "decaying power" and pointed out that Iran was "not Iraq or Afghanistan."

http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=16239

[Jackpine Radical]

88. An impending collision of lunatics--

probly the most dangerous possible situation.

[Solo_in_MD]

89. There are no fundies like Islamic fundies

[truthisfreedom]

91. ahh, nothing like the smell of nazi Easter hate messages.

rat-zinger.

[saigon68]

92. NOW YOUNG SKYWALKER YOU WILL DIE

[Fun Doom Mentalist]

94. kick

:kick:

[Laughing Mirror]

95. Gay, Lesbian Parents Line Up for Easter Egg Roll Tickets

Washington, D.C. (AP) - Hundreds of gay and lesbian parents are hoping to bring their families to Monday's annual White House Easter Egg Roll.

Members of a nationwide contingent plan to line up for tickets overnight Friday, starting at about 8 p.m.

The National Park Service will give out free tickets to the public this weekend for the annual White House Easter Egg Roll, officials said Wednesday.

...

Jennifer Chrisler, executive director of the Family Pride Coalition says the parents won't carry signs or chant slogans, but will wear rainbow-colored leis as a unifying symbol.

Critics say it's inappropriate to use a children's event to make a political statement. But Chrisler says it's about equal opportunity.

http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0406/318768.html

[Chomp]

96. I believe

that posting blatantly anti-religious posts is not allowed at DU.

But honestly, the sooner religious fanatics of ALL religions just piss off and leave the rest of us alone the better.

[Puglover]

102. Ummm who's being anti-religious.

I just see people being anti-asshole and anti-hatemongering.

:shrug:

[Scurrilous]

121. "I just see people being anti-hate mongering."

:rofl:

[Media_Lies_Daily]

101. Papa Rat squeaks his moral outrage....

...coming from a former Nazi Youth member, this carries a lot of weight.

[leesa]

103. Nice. It's just what Jesus would have done, I'm sure. What an A-hole.

This from the King of priests, who believe families are a fatal distraction from their faith.

[Zorra]

104. If he were really concerned about families, he'd try to convince

his corporate fascist pals to pay enough money to workers so that a family could make enough money for one parent to stay home with the children.

Ratzinger is a fraud, nothing but a CEO of a really wealthy dogmatic corporation intent on spreading fascism and intolerance.

[Hand]

105. Ratzi the Nazi lives up to his name once again. nt

[reprobate]

107. The rationale is easy to see. Just follow the money.

Same gender unions do not produce offspring that will grow up to be lifelong contributors to the power structure of the church organization.

The church is no different from any other organization. It's power comes from the number of it's members and the wealth it accumulates from those held captive by it's brainwashing. This is not meant in any way to be anti-religious, but we must realize that this is true for any organization that is led from the top, in which the membership have no input to it's direction. Like any monarchy, it will go where it's lords want, while the sefs can but follow.

There's no Margna Carta or Constitution here.

[TankLV]

109. What did you expect from a former NAZI PARTY MEMBER?!

Why do you think so many of us JUSTIFIABLY condemn him here?

[Roaming]

145. He wasn't a member of the party; in fact he hated the Nazis...

He was in a program run by the Nazis, which was compulsory for all children at that time.

[karlrschneider]

111. Fuck a buncha popes

eom

[madmark2]

112. the pope may want to focus on satan's work with peodophile

priests before he moves on to external issues.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

113. Where's Earl Butz when you really need him?

[SaveElmer]

114. Benny can go to Hell as far as I am concerned...

Jesus was SO concerned about homosexuality that he uttered not a word about it...yet it seems to be cause number one for this neanderthal crew in the Vatican (followed closely by the evil that is Harry Potter of course).

There was a time when I considered the Catholic Church a force for good...but no more. Their evil obsession with demonizing whole sections of society has put them squarely on the side of bigotry and evil as far as I am concerned.

I hope that Catholic followers, and the many enlightened priests that do exist, particularly here in the U.S., will dedicate themselves to returning the Catholic Church to their roots fighting for social justice.

[Ex Lion Tamer]

130. In my parish, and in my diocese, that is exactly what's happening.

I hear NOTHING about gay marriage--other than people criticizing the obsession with it.

I hear much about our obligation to the poor, to the confined, to the sick, etc.

And I do not live in a liberal area; these people all view the Church in the context of love and not hate. As do, I think, most Catholics.

[Seabiscuit]

115. Ratso Rizzo strikes again!

Just the other day he accused genetic researchers of "playing God".

Screw you, Ratso.

[WindRavenX]

118. damn, he's on to us!

:eyes:

Gays are out to destroy the family. God. Fucking. Grief. :banghead:

[baldguy]

119. WWJH?

Who Would Jesus Hate?

[6000eliot]

120. Says the king of the child molesters.

Fuck him.

[BiggJawn]

123. Uncle Fester can Go Cheney himself.

How can a new social attitude that creates families where there were no families before be "... aimed at eliminating the family"."

And if this was Mullah Ohmar or some Ayatollah saying this, he'd be roundly denounced world-wide. Instead, we'll have reams of verbiage attempting to explain what Il Papa "really was saying"....

[Canuckistanian]

124. What the Hell does that mean?

"Attempts to make juridically equivalent to radically different forms of unions which in reality harm it and contribute to its destabilization..."

I wish these rabid homophobes would either show exactly how recognizing gay marriage "destabilizes" anything? I wish they would just STFU about this. Everyone knows this is just code for the gay-hating bigots.

I think with this pope, the Catholic Church has just made itself totally irrelevant, a relic of the dark ages that will bring no human progress.

[Zhade]

125. So, where are the allegedly liberal Catholics on DU?

Shouldn't they be denouncing this?

(Are they?)

[readmoreoften]

127. More interesting to me...

Where were the hundreds of DUers who were defending Ratzinger's homophobia and calling any DUer who denounced it "anti-Catholic." Oh, they were all a bunch of opportunistic freeper trolls who flooded DU for a moment then left. How surprising.

[Zhade]

133. Really? Trolls are more interesting than liberal DUers denouncing this?

Well, to each their own, I suppose. Personally, as I hear self-professed liberal Catholics often say they speak out against this kind of thing, I can only surmise that a number of them DON'T disagree with their pope on this.

Those who have denounced it, I tip my hat to them.

[Ex Lion Tamer]

129. That would be me.

And yes, I denounce it.

And I still love my Church; it's much bigger than the stupid myopia on display.

[Zhade]

132. Thank you for stepping up on this.

Would be nice to hear from more of your brethren and sistren on the matter.

[Ex Lion Tamer]

148. We are out there, we just don't get the limelight.

Pick up a copy of the National Catholic Reporter if you ever get the chance. It's an independent Catholic publication, and it does not hesitate to criticize Rome on these types of things--just as it criticized the bishops who injected themselves into the 2004 election, the bishops and priests involved in the sex abuse scandals, the Iraq war, torture, poverty, and xenophobia.

It is in the best tradition of Catholic social justice.

[VegasWolf]

128. Screw th Pope! nt

[happyslug]

131. Finally found the ACTUAL "Speech" of the Pope on this matter

First it is a quick pray involving the Third Station of the Cross (For you non-Catholic out there, the 12 stations of the Cross is the Traditional 12 points in Christ's Crucification).

The Stations of the Cross From the Vatican and the comments to each station (Written by the Secretary of State of the Vatican NOT the Pope, but the statements did have the Pope's approval):

http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/2006/documents/ns_lit_doc_20060414_via-crucis_en.html

To get anti-gay out of such a Short statement, means someone is reading to much into to little:

PRAYER
Lord,
we have lost our sense of sin!
Today a slick campaign of propaganda
is spreading an inane apologia of evil,
a senseless cult of Satan,
a mindless desire for transgression,
a dishonest and frivolous freedom,
exalting impulsiveness, immorality and selfishness
as if they were new heights of sophistication.

Lord Jesus,
open our eyes:
let us see the filth around us
and recognize it for what it is,
so that a single tear of sorrow
can restore us to purity of heart
and the breadth of true freedom.
Open our eyes,
Lord, Jesus!

This goes along with the First Station for people to protect the weak,and attacks people condemning people, the Second station which ask God to give people Humility and the Fourth Station (Where Christ meets his mother) to pray for all women in the world.

If you are going to attack the Pope, do it on what he says NOT what you interpret him to be saying.

[BlueInPhilly]

136. I wasn't going to say anything...

but I did suspect that whatever the Pope said was taken out of context - by a GLBT site. His prayer actually referred to the secularization of the world and the desensitization to sin. Trust me, if the Pope wanted to attack gays and lesbians, he would say it in no uncertain terms. But his first encyclica, "Deus Caritas Est" - talked about LOVE.

I too was not happy when Joseph Ratzinger was elected, but I have met the man and he is a lot more humble and low key than his predecessor. JP2 might have looked like a "kind soul" - I'm sure he was - but he also loved the limelight.

So in this case, yes, I am defending the man. Haven't we had any troubles taking someone's (mis)interpretation of something and waging a war because of that (mis)interpretation? We're doing it again.

[Bridget Burke]

137. It's so much easier to make up snide one-liners....

Than to read the actual source of a thread.

Yes, the Church has definite shortcomings when dealing with gays--although it lacks the rabid hatred you hear from our own Religious Right. And the status of women is badly in deed of updating. Let's not discuss this when it's much easier to say "Ratzi the Nazi."

I fell away from the Church years ago because of the not-believing-in-God thing. If I still believed, I'd be a noisy Catholic. And, if I'd been the mother of a child molested by a priest, I would have marched straight the the Police instead of helping the Diocese cover it up. Of course, this would have met no big monetary reward in future years!

[Marie26]

141. You're right that it isn't

explicit, but (IMO) it is implicit in the text. I think it's pretty clear that he is referring to gay marriage (among other things). In another passage, he uses the traditional codes words that imply that gay marriage is an "attack on the family."

"Surely God is deeply pained
by the attack on the family.
Today we seem to be witnessing
a kind of anti-Genesis,
a counter-plan, a diabolical pride
aimed at eliminating the family."


The article mentions that he had earlier spoken out against gay marriage "Calling same-sex unions "pseudo-matrimony" the pope said: "The various forms of the dissolution of matrimony today, like free unions, trial marriages and going up to pseudo-matrimonies by people of the same sex, are rather expressions of an anarchic freedom that wrongly passes for true freedom of man." - Compare that with this Easter speech you quoted above, that condemns "frivolous freedom" and ends w/a desire for "true freedom of man". Yes, it's more metaphorical, but it seems to be sending a similar message.

Easter prayer is such a sacred, traditional occasion that the prayer isn't going to comment explicitly on news or current events. But I think Pope Benedict sort of attempted to push the envelope by including these references, while still maintaining a "universal" theme. But that's just my interpretation, though. Thanks for posting the prayers, it does help put it into context.

[Roaming]

146. I don't see anything here that's "homophobic" /nt

[BigDDem]

134. Is this the same catholic church

that has paid out over a billion dollars for protecting pedophile priests? OK, just makin' sure.

[Arugula Latte]

138. Hey, Ratzo, We all know you're probably a big ol' closet case!

As are upwards of 90 percent of your minions!

Cut the crap ... We're on to you!

Your silly Death Cult known as the Catholic Church is losing power and you're desperate.

[TheLeftyMom]

142. Bastard.

I really don't have anything productive to say. It just made me feel better to type it.

[noonwitch]

149. Thank God he doesn't have the power to make his ideas law

At least not in this country.

I disagree with the Catholic church on matters of women's rights, birth control, abortion and gay rights. I'm grateful that those policies are not american laws (well, at least not right now).

Everybody gets sidetracked by the gay-hate, but he does have a point about the filth that surrounds our children every day. Gangsta rap, sexually suggestive programming 24/7, violent imagery, etc., permeates our society and not all parents are good about screening the worst our culture has to offer from their children's view. Gay people are not the ones out there setting the bad examples, for the most part. It's our macho athletes, who impregnate women they aren't married to, choke their coaches without major consequences, who beat on fans in the stadium, yet are still held up as acceptable role models for kids. Or rappers/rockers making videos with scantily clad women being treated like sex objects. This kind of stuff does influence kids, and parents need to fight it better than they are doing at the moment.

[geniph]

150. Radical clerics call for fatwa on LGBT people.

...sigh...

Using the celebration of Resurrection and Life to spread hate and bigotry. How thoroughly repulsive.

[madmark]

152. what an asshole; "if only the fags would quit doing each other every-

thing would be ok." Right, you may want to work on the "filth" of molesting children that your rank and file seems to have a issue with before you start worrying about what the fags are doing.

[madmark]

153. this guy needs to have the church have 20 clean years of no

molestations before it can begin to have any authority to comment on third parties.

[superconnected]

154. I could use the same words for the Bush administration.

Ah I see his words were taken out of context.

[Strathos]

155. FUCK HIM!

I hope he's exposed as the queer he truly is.