Why is everyone so excited about the possibility of a black Pope?

[socalover]

What if that 'black' Pope ends up like a Condi Rice or Colin Powell?

[Zynx]

1. Arinze is pretty right wing.

Possibly moreso than the former Pope. A lot of people seem to be willing to sacrifice ideology for diversity.

[adwon]

5. Hmm

An African or Latin American pope would my personal preference if that pope was willing to reignite the social justice through social action philosophy. If not, I don't much care. :P

As for diversity, you'd think nobody ever heard of St. Augustine or any of the desert fathers. While I think the developing world should be represented in the papacy, I don't think it should be at the expense of social justice.

[Zynx]

7. There are some that would be diverse and socially just.

That would be the best.

[adwon]

14. Well

I think the developing world should produce the next couple of popes because that's both the center of the church's struggle and it's the fastest growing region of the church. I just don't want Alan Keyes as pope just to satisfy some sense of diversity.

[Zynx]

15. Same here.

[forgethell]

22. Which would be

better, or wore? A white conservative pope, or a black conservative pope? Does it make any difference?

[adwon]

28. That was my point

[forgethell]

29. Yes, I got that.

my point was, if the only choice we have is a conservative, why not a black one? Make a little bitty bit of progress?

[adwon]

30. I'm not sure if it's progress

The question of the pope really isn't black/white, it's Europe vs the rest of the world. Not European ancestry, Europe.

As for progress, the Catholic Church is the descendent of folks who weren't lily white. That was why I mentioned St. Augustine.

[Catch22Dem]

2. Why is black in quotes?

Is he allegedly black? LOL :rofl:

[socalover]

24. Yup!

In my opinion, yes, "allegedly"... LOL!

[thecorster]

3. Because he'll be able to dance really well

really liven up those boring old hymns

[LibraLiz1973]

4. Ah. I think I know what you mean. Unless I don't.

Are you saying a black pope like Condi & Colin meaning not REALLY black?


Or are you saying smart like Condi & Colin? Since thats impossible I'll assume it was the first one!

[tx_dem41]

6. Aren't you just stereotyping blacks by asking such a question?

What does the color of their skin have to do with the performance of Condi Rice and Colin Powell?? Why make the link? :shrug:

[Zynx]

8. The idea is that diversity is not the sole criteria we should be looking

for.

[tx_dem41]

11. Ummmm....who says that he would be selected only because of ..

diversity? It appears you and the OP are assuming that.

[Zynx]

13. I never said that.

I said that some people want a black pope just because he is black rather than looking at his qualifications. Some people similarly got wet over Colin Powell and Condi Rice just because they were black without caring about what ideology they brought to their offices. We weren't making any kind of racist statement or anything of the kind.

[deadparrot]

9. I've heard the African bishops tend to be extremely conservative.

:shrug:

[stellanoir]

10. because Africa needs so much help right now,

and is largely ignored by the MSM. It's really sad.

And even though he's allegedly conservative, he won't even be remotely like Condi or Colin. He's Nigerian. He could potentially raise the collective focus and visibility on a continent that needs it more than any others right now (see the conflict in Sudan and the AIDS epidemic for reference.)

And also, the possibility of finding a Cardinal from an Arabic country is really remote right now.

Too bad.

[Rowdyboy]

12. How about Clarence Thomas for the Supreme Court...?

Yes, he's black, but he doesn't have a clue. Niether does Nigerian Cardinal Ariznde (sp?). I'm sorry, skin color means nothing.

[tx_dem41]

17. What do you know about Cardinal Arinze?

Other than the general statement that some DUers have made that he is "conservative"?

[JVS]

19. Why don't you share what you know about him?

[tx_dem41]

20. I know that he has impressed the College of Cardinals in various...

leadership roles leading up to the Jubilee of 2000. Other than that, I know little about him, but I'm not here making judgements or assumptions about him based on the color of his skin either.

Or is it that everyone here is an expert on him?

[noamnety]

25. I'll share

through the powers of google:

Regarding people who wore rainbow sashes to a church in solidarity of gay activists: Arinze’s secretary wrote, “Rainbow Sash wearers, the Cardinal says, are showing their opposition to Church teaching on a major issue of natural law and so disqualify themselves from being given Holy Communion.”

Cardinal Arinze said that the institution of marriage ‘is mocked by homosexuality’.

Cardinal Arinze noted also that the family has enemies and that the phenomena of abortion, contraception, infanticide, euthanasia, pornography, homosexuality, sodomy, fornication, adultery, irregular unions and divorce undermine its sacredness.

[NNN0LHI]

16. If there is a black pope he will be an Italian black pope

There will be no more non-Italian popes in any of our life times.

Don

[Donailin]

18. Fine, I'll take the Italian, then. The last Italian Pope was

interrupted, shall we say, from exposing all manner of improprieties within the vatican, and he was also considered "traditional"

Also consider that Pope John XXIII was considered a trad, and then he pulled this stunt otherwise known as Vatican II. Boy, were those cardinals ever surprised!

I think the majority of Cardinals keep to themselves their divine revelations until they are in a position to reform, that position of course, is Bishop of Rome. Not too many cracks at that seat, best to make as few waves as possible unless you're in it. <g>

[roguevalley]

21. I want that Irish looking priest on 60 minutes to be pope. I don't

want a color or a gender to be the pope. I want someone who has a heart.
The rest is irrelevent.

[foreigncorrespondent]

23. What if a

"white" Pope ends up being like Falwell, Robertson, or worse still, Phelps? :eyes:

Oh! And for the record, I am white. I just see your post as being, at best, flame bait, and worst, rather bigoted.

[tx_dem41]

32. I'm glad I'm not the only one that perceived that.

See my post #6.

I thought I was starting to go crazy.

[applegrove]

26. A black pope could just end up being a wolf in sheep's clothing.

As much as I would like to see a black pope (or someone non-European). It is more important that the new Pope promotes birth control and safe sex. Also allows for women to take the place they had right beside men in the bible (as apostles).

Number of people whose lives will be diminished or not matters much more. The world needs a Pope who will lead the poor of the world.

[MrSlayer]

27. I'm excited because I want to mock the racist "devout" Catholics I know.

I've been promoting Cardinal Arinze for several years now for this specific purpose. I personally have no interest in who becomes Pope because I quit religion when I was in 7th grade but I would like to have the amusing diversion a Black Pope would bring.

[BuyingThyme]

31. If you've seen some confusing discussion about the "Black Pope,"

you may not be familiar with the concept of the Black Pope. (He ain't black.)

To find out what the Black Pope is, do a google on the phrases "Black Pope" and "Jesuit General" (simultaneously).

Scary stuff.