What I dont get about the pope

[NightWatcher]

Here's a pic from a movie about Jesus giving a sermon to the masses.



Here's a pic of the pope giving a sermon to his masses.



"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
"Poor in spirit" means to be humble. Humility is the realization that all your gifts and blessings come from the grace of God. To have poverty of spirit means to be completely empty and open to the Word of God. When we are an empty cup and devoid of pride, we are humble. Humility brings an openness and an inner peace, allowing one to do the will of God.

Blessed are the meek,
for they shall inherit the earth

Does the pope look meek to you


Jesus said "Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven"

The pope hides child molesters from prosecution and allows them to abuse another day.


Please kep this from the religion dungeon, no one ever goes there and today is the conclusion of pope-apallooza

[pnwmom]

1. You're not the only one. n/t

[Breeze54]

2. He doesn't wear that all the time... it's a special occasion and so

he is dressed up for these special occasions.

Don't you dress up for special occasions? :shrug:

[Fumesucker]

5. The Sermon on the Mount

Was a "special occasion".

I wonder how the Christ "dressed up" for it?

[coriolis]

The amusing irony is - all dressed up and nowhere to go.

:shrug:

[Breeze54]

13. He's been all over the last few days.

;)

He's in NYC now.

[coriolis]

24. Well, I actually meant like...in a few years.

:evilgrin:

[Ian David]

3. The Pope is actually a giant rabbit. How else do you explain the hat?

http://bp0.blogger.com/_S1bdNBvOURk/RhhPJDk25BI/AAAAAAAADDU/UaXLcA-V8z4/s320/stan+and+bunny.jpg

[Smarmie Doofus]

4. People have been raising these questions since the Reformation...

... and before that, actually.

No simple answer. My take: lots of people want to be ruled by a king. They like the pageantry, etc. Christianity... including (*especially*) it's central doctrines be damned.

Monarchy ( in the medieval sense) is kaput ... for a variety of complicated reasons. Yet many miss the trappings and ceremony. Ergo, the pope remains popular... esp. in areas of the world that are unfamiliar with the history of the church.

[rAVES]

6. Heh, Good point :)

[AngryOldDem]

7. The disconnect is stunning and sickening.

A few years ago I got into a rather nasty debate on another forum (not DU) about this very subject. People there were saying the such finery glorfies God and is therefore quite acceptable and appropriate.

I've never understood that since Christ preached and lived the total opposite.

I don't need the eccelastical equivalent of a Vegas floor show to feel reverence and awe at God's presence. In fact, some of the most spiritual times I've had have been in the exact opposite environments of what I've seen on TV.

But if the Pope wants to wear 500 yards of expensive linens and wear $500 Gucci shoes...well, it looks nice. I guess.

I'll be glad when he gets on the Popeplane and goes home. Getting tired of the nonstop coverage, getting tired of the "next best thing to God" references.

[coriolis]

8. Ratzo is truly one evil looking old Nazi bastard.

:scared: :grr:

[Solly Mack]

9. Maybe it's just me...but that's just not a kind looking face

Pope Bennie, that is

[coriolis]

10. That expression is on the wrong end of the exorcism.

!

[DawgHouse]

11. Yikes!

[Junkdrawer]

12. He's still pissed that he was passed over for the role of Palpatine...

[Individualist]

19. ...and I thought I was the only one who thought of Palpatine

when I looked at the Pope's eyes.

[Solly Mack]

38. Oh, snap. My husband said the exact same thing.

lol

[baldguy]

14. The Roman Catholic Church is the wealthiest entity on the planet.

That gold & jewel encrusted miter he's wearing is encrusted with actual gold & jewels. His staff is made of pure silver. Ratzo hasn't done too bad for taking a vow of poverty.

[Breeze54]

16. He doesn't 'own' any of that...

and I believe those things were donated to the church and to Vatican City
and have been in the possession of The Vatican City for centuries.

[baldguy]

21. Thats a distinction without a difference.

Bill Gates doesn't "own" his house either, but just try & take it away from him.

[Breeze54]

23. You made it as if he did own it. He doesn't but

he has chosen to use the more ornate clothing, more than other pope's
according to what I've read but I don't care what he wears, actually.

[baldguy]

25. The Church owns it. The Pope is the absolute monarch of the Church. Therefore he owns it.

If he sold his hat, how many children could be fed for a year? A million? 5 million? 10? That's why it matters.

[Breeze54]

28. Wrong... the Church owns it...

He does not personally own it at all.

The Catholic Church has many charities to feed the poor.

Today, http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=290&srcid=193">Catholic Charities is recognized as one of the nation’s largest social service networks.
More than 240,000 compassionate volunteers, staff, and board members comprise the driving force
behind the Catholic Charities network that touches the lives of more than 7.8 million people of
all faiths a year.

Ninety cents of every dollar donated to Catholic Charities agencies goes directly to programs
and services, making the Catholic Charities network one of the most efficient in the country.

[urgk]

30. Okay...

Then why doesn't he ask the church to sell it? I don't remember any spending or giving limits as set forth by the New Testament. There's nothing along the lines of "And when the multitudes had assembled, Jesus spake thusly: 'Giveth to some, then take a break and weareth thou a jewel-encrusted hat while other bellies bloat with starvation. Let them beg for food and mercy in the name of my Father, but do not help them, for a glimpse of your sterling silver crucifix-stick will feed their sprits.'"

I can't understand how people can use a story about ultimate self-sacrifice as justification for this kind of blatant, materialistic selfishness.

[baldguy]

31. Because the aggrandizement of the Holy Mother Church is more important than mere human welfare.

[Breeze54]

35. The Catholic Church donates more to charity than

many other entities including government.

[urgk]

46. But, again...

But when, according to Christ, would it be okay to be done?

When is it okay to stop and gild a hat, rather than feeding a hungry baby?

[Breeze54]

34. Why should they sell it? maybe they'll think about it after the crystal Cathedral is sold!

The Crystal Cathedral is a Protestant Christian megachurch
in the city of Garden Grove, in Orange County, California.
www.crystalcathedral.org/visitors/

[urgk]

47. So, Catholics (or the Catholic Church - ed. ) will act Christlike...

Only if somebody else does it first?

That sounds like a thorough understanding of the scriptures.

[Breeze54]

52. Huh?

The point is there is a lot of wealth among all the denominations.

I'm not a religious person. Are you?

[Breeze54]

37. A lot of the stuff was borrowed or is part of the Vatican Treasury

The pope's clothing a nod to church history

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-080418-pope-fashion-photogallery,0,1203086.photogallery

The pope's clothing and its historic influence.

------------------------

Pope Benedict XVI wore a traditional white cassock with buttons down the
front and his trademark red shoes Wednesday during a visit to the White House.
(Getty photo by Win McNamee / April 16, 2008)



Pope Benedict XVI wore a gold mitre and heavily embroidered red chasuble
for mass in Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. His gold crozier, once carried
by Pope Leo XIII, was borrowed from the Vatican treasury.
(Getty/AFP photo by Mandel Ngan / April 17, 2008)


The trademark red shoes of Pope Benedict XVI are reportedly handmade by a cobbler
in northern Italy not Prada, as rumored. Pope Benedict revived the traditional papal
red shoes, which had not been worn since early in the pontificate of Pope John Paul II.
(Getty/AFP photo by Tim Sloan / April 17, 2008)


While presiding over Vespers in the Crypt at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the
Immaculate Conception, Pope Benedict XVI wore a century-old gold cope from the treasury
of the National Shrine. It was worn by Bishop Thomas Joseph Shahan, the bishop who raised
funds for the shrine, on the day that church's foundation stone was laid in 1920.
(Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
Photo by Matthew Barrick / April 16, 2008)


At a meeting with American bishops on Wednesdsay, Pope Benedict XVI wore a stole made of gold,
no fabric. The stole, which belonged to Pope Paul VI, is normally on display at the Basilica
of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. (Basilica of the National Shrine of the
Immaculate Conception photo by Matthew Barrick / April 16, 2008)



More pics at link...

[urgk]

48. And the problem remains...

The Catholic Church has a treasury, full of gilded, materialistic things.

And babies still starve.

[baldguy]

32. You don't understand what the term "absolute monarch" means, do you?

[Breeze54]

36. I think you don't

[baldguy]

39. OK Peewee, here's the deal.

Christianity should be all about following the teachings of Christ: feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, clothing the naked, healing the sick. If the absolute monarch of the Catholic Church did that then charitable works would be its primary function.

The fact that it DOESN'T isn't an indication that the Pope CAN'T, that some unknown & unseen force within the Church actively prevents God's representative on earth from implementing His teachings & helping people. It is an indication that he sees the Churchs primary function to be something else - which is ACCUMULATING POWER & INFLUENCE. The immense wealth the Vatican displays is a byproduct of this, and why Bush (always the political animal)was required to go to the airport to get him like some minor acolyte.

The Pope wasn't given the Vatican treasury and the absolute power of the Church to fulfill Christ's teachings, he was put there to maintain & increase its wealth, power & influence.

[Breeze54]

40. Ok, Snotnose, here's the deal.

You can try to rationalize and preach all about what the church should be doing but please include
ALL the denominations when doing so, as a comparison and BTW? The Catholic Church is one of the
top charities helping to feed the poor and help the poor in many ways. Of every dollar donated to
their charities, .90 cents goes to the charity. That's not to shabby. Have a great day; Snotnose!

[baldguy]

49. What is the financial relationship between the Catholic Church & Catholic Charities?

Answer: There is none, other than Church appointees administer the funds donated by INDIVIDUALS and other groups not associated with the Church. Catholic Charities is an independent entity. None of the funds come from the Church, and when you make a donation to the Catholic Charities you are NOT donating to the Church.

The fact is the Church doesn't give anything the charity. None of the profits from its financial holdings, its properties around the world, or its other assets go toward charitable endeavors. All the "Catholic" schools, hospitals, and aide organizations have setups identical to the Catholic Charities: they are independent organizations where the money is donated from elsewhere and the Church is allowed to appoint the people in charge of that money. Other denominations don't play these legal semantic games.


and fyi "Peewee" is a specific reference, not just a random insult.

[Tesha]

54. And thanks to their stance on contraception, a nearly inexhaustible supply of poor to feed.

And convert along the way, of course.

Tesha

[malaise]

20. It's also the oldest multinatonal corporation on earth

What a great con.

[Breeze54]

29. Yes and HORROR! They asked the choir to wear WHITE at the mass in DC!!!

Those bastids!! :sarcasm:

[UTUSN]

15. This image is what really TORKS me: Pope as TOOL for Shrub!1

http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slideshow/photo//080416/photos_ts/2008_04_16t113636_450x337_us_pope_usa/


His defenders trot out "Pope was against the Iraq Attack" oh, & news items last week about his refusing to meet Condo and refusing to attend dinner with Shrub--


Yet, there he is sitting like painted puppets with Shrub. It DON'T MATTER that he was against the Iraq Attack, he IS LENDING his presence and his supposed "moral authority" to EVERYTHING SHRUB REPRESENTS just by being there.


CLUE: If Shrub is smiling, it AIN'T GOOD!1

[Breeze54]

17. That's silly.... he's a visiting dignatary also

and if your theory is correct, then

all dignitaries that visit also support all of *'s policies?

I don't think so.

[UTUSN]

41. What I said. But another way of saying what YOU said is:

1) Power-wielders/office-holders have a vested interest in legitimizing one another. If head-chopping happens to ONE, it might spread to OTHERS---viz., the other kings and the French Rev.

2) So if some dignitaries don't support all of anybody's policies, why do we demand that SOME dignitaries make a statement, such as against the Chinese at the Olympics? When DO we make a statement, when don't we do?!1


Now, in this situation, the pope has not been popular or "warm" so if he went off criticizing and disapproving, the masses of 'muricans would likely give him a big F-U!1 So there was something in it for him.

Would that da pope had discreetly delivered a big switch to Shrub IN PRIVATE, but why don't I believe he did? It would have been nice to hear Wolf say, after the private meeting, "A visibly shaken and somber pResident Shrub appears to have been ass-whipped by the pope, probably because of Iraq, although there is such a long list of Shrub offenses that it's hard to tell what for."


So le pope got a huge public relations deep tonguing.


Congrats to me for having responded without calling YOU "silly".

[Breeze54]

42. I said your theory was silly, not you.

Get a grip.

[UTUSN]

45. So I'm gripless?!1 n/t

[MiniMe]

22. Damn, Ratzo is even shorter than W

[Junkdrawer]

26. Remember this?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3182884

[Vickers]

18. Good lord, I wonder what the drag coefficient is on that Popemobile?

:shrug:

[Berry Cool]

27. Seems to me that John Paul II was much more into the humility thing than Ratzo is

and that's why, if you pay any attention to the pope at all (which I tend not to), he didn't seem so bad. True, I didn't agree with all his stances on issues, but that was hardly surprising given that he was Catholic and I am not. At least he was consistent--he was against both abortion AND the death penalty, for example. He believed both were examples of man taking away life that was only God's to take away. He didn't vilify abortion and glorify execution at the same time.

As for Ratzo, he kind of reminds me of why Lutherans such as the ones I spring from came to be. You know: because the Vatican became a symbol of wealth and riches and power exercised in a kingdom on earth, and, as the OP has pointed out, that was never what Jesus was about in the first place.

[Pharlo]

44. I'm an American Catholic and I agree with your assessment.

There was a LOT that I disagreed with Pope John Paul II about, but I respected his convictions, his sincerity, and his absolute dedication to what he thought was right. I do not have the same respect for this Pope. Therein lies the reason people have issues with this pope that you didn't hear with JP II.

JP II lived what he preached. While he was risking his life in Poland for an education during WWII, this pope joined the Nazi youth group to facilitate his survival.

[begin_within]

33. The answer is:

Churches have absolutely nothing to do with God. Churches are entirely man-made institutions, even though they claim to be founded by God, they are man-made entities. I believe that God absolutely hates religion.

[hellbound-liberal]

43. I'm sure Jesus didn't teach his message that looked anything like this either.

It's the Mormon temple in Kensington, MD.

[Junkdrawer]

50. In the 80's, some wag spray painted "Surrender Dorothy" on that bridge...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surrender_Dorothy

:rofl:

[pleah]

51. It reminds me of the stories about the

Pharisees and Sadducees that Jesus railed about. Puts on a good show.

[LatteLibertine]

53. What I don't get

is how the Church is sorry for all the sex abuse yet Bishop Law goes on to become Cardinal Law. If they were sorry they wouldn't have been shifting the predators around and attacking victims that came forward.