39 replies to this topic

[ᗅᗺᗷᗅ]

Remember how Redezra said she wished there was more to the pope resigning than he was letting on?  Looks like she was right.  A secret underground of gay bishops?  Blackmail?  A mysterious dossier delivered to the pontiff the day before he announced his resignation?  The plot thickens.

[*Anastasia]

As reported in La Repubblica, perhaps the most anti-Catholic publication in mainland Europe.

An interesting read, to be sure, but I'm reserving judgment for the time being.

[Haflinger]

MvP is correct. La Republicca may be right, of course. Just because they're fervently anti-Catholic doesn't mean they're necessarily wrong. Still, the Irish Times isn't convinced: http://www.irishtime...4330413926.html

 

The Vatican is refusing to comment directly on this story, but is denouncing it indirectly: http://www.aljazeera...0254699673.html

 

There's a pretty good analysis of this story here: http://www.thedailyb...in-panties.html

[Manoka]

He's retiring becuase A- He's old and B- He realizes he's a bad leader. 

 

Zo noes, mystery! Seriously why is there really a mystery to retirement?

 

 

As horrific and awful as it is, he's old, and could be dieing.

 

He'd rather retire before then not to shock people, maybe?

[ᗅᗺᗷᗅ]

Why would people be shocked by a pope dying?  Popes die all the time.  In fact, except for this one, every pope in the lifetime of every person on this planet has died in office.  It's all well and good to say he quit because he's old and tired, but the fact remains that no other pope has resigned in 500 years.  Naturally that's going to generate interest.  Every pope gets old and tired, but they don't quit.  What's different this time?

 

Maybe it really is for the reasons he says.  Maybe he's trying to set a new precedent for future popes (which would be interesting).  Most likely the reasons given are the reasons.  But it's only human to speculate, especially when there's juicy gossip swirling about.  What's a better story: "POPE RESIGNS, CITING AGE, POOR HEALTH" or "POPE RESIGNS IN FACE OF GAY SEX SCANDAL"?  That's no contest. 

[Manoka]

Uh... sounds gross to me.

 

A better story is the pope realized he was a douche and stepped down so other people could take his place and leading catholicism down a new path. Sounds great to me.

[Redezra]

See! Told you you were all boring. Should listen to meee more often. Fantastic gossiping speculation is always better :3

[Manoka]

Idk, gay sex with 80 year old catholics doesn't sound...

 

Like something I really want to hear about.

[Alyster]

Instead people are interested in 60 year old presidents getting blown by 50 year old women? 

 

Oh wait wasn't Berlusconi's rape case even worse? 70ish year old politician with hot chicks? 

 

Sex scandals while mostly gross are still interesting to the general population. People just can't keep themselves out of other people's bedrooms. 

[Redezra]

It does if it further destroys the reputation of one of the things I hate :3

[Haflinger]

This is one of the reasons I love Canada. Our national reaction to sex scandals is usually something along the lines of lolwut.

 

We just don't care.

 

Pedophilia we care about. Nothing else.

[Redezra]

TIL: Canada has no women

[*Anastasia]

TIL: Canada has no women

More like "Canada has no very few right-wing Christian nutbars who get in a tizzy over everything". And we're very good at ignoring those we do have. The last time the term 'family values' was used on a news program or in a political speech it was 1952.

[Alyster]

TIL: Canada has no women

No you're wrong. They do have Justin Bieber. 

Edited by al-Yster, 24 February 2013 - 07:27 PM.

[Redezra]

TIL: Canada has no women

More like "Canada has no very few right-wing Christian nutbars who get in a tizzy over everything". And we're very good at ignoring those we do have. The last time the term 'family values' was used on a news program or in a political speech it was 1952.

Oooooooooh, somebody's all "up in a tizzy" xP

 

Calm down Sia-chan~ doesn't need to be super serious all the time :3

 

TIL: Canada has no women

No you're wrong. They do have Justin Bieber. 

 

Ah, good point. My bad.

[Haflinger]

I'm confused now, because all the people I've ever met who did care about sex scandals were men. Women usually just seem to think they're funny.

[Manoka]

I just think they're gross.

 

Also if it turns out he's gay you're going to be ruining the reputation of the church?

 

 

Isn't acceptance and tolerance the goal and everything? : P

[Redezra]

I'm confused now, because all the people I've ever met who did care about sex scandals were men. Women usually just seem to think they're funny.

 

Well yeah. It's funny

[ᗅᗺᗷᗅ]

The top British cardinal resigned the other day amid allegations of sexual misconduct with priests, news reports are hinting at some far-reaching scandal, and a secret report was delivered to Benedict whose contents will be revealed only to the next pope.  By all accounts the Vatican is in full-on crisis mode.  And now there are serious rumblings that Boston's Cardinal Sean O'Malley—well known for cleaning up messes—is a contender to be the next pope.  The prospect of an American pope is probably still unlikely, but the fact that it's even being seriously discussed shows just how serious things are.

[Haflinger]

O'Malley would definitely be a better choice than Ouellet. It'll be interesting to see which way the college decides to go.