Pope Francis is dead...only days after snubbing JD Vance who tried to meet with him.

[HomerJS]

I always have trusted God but I have not always been faithful to the Commanments.

Then there is prophecy. When Jesus said one day the Jewish great temple would fall no one believed. But it did. And it was because the Jews tried to stage an uprising against the mighty Roman Empire. The temple was destroyed decades after the prophecy.

While you violate Commandment #1

 

[quikah]

Whoever the next Pope is, it is going to be a big job. Can you imagine being 70+ and taking on the world? Im in my 50s and pretty sure I could not do it, being a leader of billions of souls...way too stressful.

You had one Pope in modern times that did not even live one month in office:

View attachment 122560

Poor Pope Stephen, barely lived through the weekend!

Not sure where you got that list, but it has several errors. Stephen was never consecrated as pope so is not listed as such, think he was added in the 14th or 15th century to the rolls, but then removed in 1961. JP 1 was pope for 33 days, the dates are right, but whoever made the list can't do math. Leo XI died on April 27. Pius II listing looks like it is supposed to be Pius III. The dates on the earlier ones are a bit confusing as the calendar was switched ~1580.

 

[nakedfrog]

I always have trusted God but I have not always been faithful to the Commanments.

Then there is prophecy. When Jesus said one day the Jewish great temple would fall no one believed. But it did. And it was because the Jews tried to stage an uprising against the mighty Roman Empire. The temple was destroyed decades after the prophecy.

You openly worship Mammon.

 

[FelixDeCat]

Not sure where you got that list, but it has several errors. Stephen was never consecrated as pope so is not listed as such, think he was added in the 14th or 15th century to the rolls, but then removed in 1961. JP 1 was pope for 33 days, the dates are right, but whoever made the list can't do math. Leo XI died on April 27. Pius II listing looks like it is supposed to be Pius III. The dates on the earlier ones are a bit confusing as the calendar was switched ~1580.

Interesting. You appear to be a learned scholar and good at math. 🙂

 

[WelshBloke]

I always have trusted God but I have not always been faithful to the Commanments.

Then there is prophecy. When Jesus said one day the Jewish great temple would fall no one believed. But it did. And it was because the Jews tried to stage an uprising against the mighty Roman Empire. The temple was destroyed decades after the prophecy.

Genuine question. Do you think that the modern republican party, a lot of modern US 'Christian' churches, and you strive to adhere to the teachings of Jesus?
How do you think that you and most of the rest of the USs Christian followers will be judged given the Christian values that they profess to follow?

Personally (and I say this as an atheist and non US person) a lot of US 'Christians' seem the antithesis of Christian values. They seem to value hate and money over anything Jesus taught!

 

[FelixDeCat]

Genuine question. Do you think that the modern republican party, a lot of modern US 'Christian' churches, and you strive to adhere to the teachings of Jesus?
How do you think that you and most of the rest of the USs Christian followers will be judged given the Christian values that they profess to follow?

Personally (and I say this as an atheist and non US person) a lot of US 'Christians' seem the antithesis of Christian values. They seem to value hate and money over anything Jesus taught!

Admittedly evil lurks within men's hearts, which is an ever persistent world wide problem. It's easy to embrace because we are emotional beings who give in to lust, greed, anger, hate, fear and gluttony.

I've way over indulged on discount after Easter markdown jelly beans and my stomach is not happy. But they are so dang good, especially the spicy ones flavored with clover. 🍀

 

[nakedfrog]

Admittedly evil lurks within men's hearts, which is an ever persistent world wide problem. It's easy to embrace because we are emotional beings who give in to lust, greed, anger, hate, fear and gluttony.

I've way over indulged on discount after Easter markdown jelly beans and my stomach is not happy. But they are so dang good, especially the spicy ones flavored with clover. 🍀

1 Timothy 6:10
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

 

[WelshBloke]

Admittedly evil lurks within men's hearts, which is an ever persistent world wide problem. It's easy to embrace because we are emotional beings who give in to lust, greed, anger, hate, fear and gluttony.

But do you speak out against that or do you embrace it?
Im not trying to pick on you specifically but you seem to enjoy, and sometimes revel, in being on the side of the things you say Christians should be against.

I've way over indulged on discount after Easter markdown jelly beans and my stomach is not happy. But they are so dang good, especially the spicy ones flavored with clover. 🍀

I can't see your God being that hard on you for that tbh!

 

[FelixDeCat]

But do you speak out against that or do you embrace it?
Im not trying to pick on you specifically but you seem to enjoy, and sometimes revel, in being on the side of the things you say Christians should be against.

I can't see your God being that hard on you for that tbh!

I am going be honest and say sometimes both. My only defence is...I am human.

 

[conspireagainst]

1. If the pope were some progressive real one, why didn't he denounce all of the child abuse running rampant throughout his organization of those that purported to do good for humanity? Why not immediately and unequivocally root out the evil from within and rid the brainwashing cult of child molesters, or at the very least pretend to? It would at least be better than doing nothing. Oh, I know! Because it's all lies from top to bottom and power is all that matters.

2. The idea of an omnipotent being is preposterous and vile. Religion only exists as a tool to control the masses (see Wahhabism if you need an easy example).

 

[VRAMdemon]

A tale of two Americas.
One celebrates faith, of being wholesome and good.
The other is MAGA incarnate, celebrating the death of a good man.

1. A Pope Who Preached Decency in Indecent Times...
2. MTG Says 'Evil Being Defeated' After Death...

Trump is MTG's God now. Jesus is just too "woke" for her. He says things like love thy neighbor, loves Jews and condemns racists.

 

[Brovane]

1. If the pope were some progressive real one, why didn't he denounce all of the child abuse running rampant throughout his organization of those that purported to do good for humanity? Why not immediately and unequivocally root out the evil from within and rid the brainwashing cult of child molesters, or at the very least pretend to? It would at least be better than doing nothing. Oh, I know! Because it's all lies from top to bottom and power is all that matters.

The task is not yet completed but Pope Francis took some very important steps on dealing with abuse in the Catholic church.

Pope Francis took vital steps on abuse. It will be up to his successor to ensure reforms are enacted

Hopefully his successor will ensure his reforms are followed through with.

in memoriam...

 

[WelshBloke]

The task is not yet completed but Pope Francis took some very important steps on dealing with abuse in the Catholic church.https://www.wbaltv.com/article/pope...t,build more accountability and transparency.

You say that like he was some outside investigator into the Catholic Church not its head. He was in charge. He had the authority, the manpower, the responsibility to fix this.
Taking some 'important steps' really isn't enough given how long this has been going on and how devastating it is to the victims.

 

[fskimospy]

1 Timothy 6:10
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

It is way easier to understand modern Christianity if you accept that the influence is people -> Christianity and not Christianity -> people.

 

[Brovane]

You say that like he was some outside investigator into the Catholic Church not its head. He was in charge. He had the authority, the manpower, the responsibility to fix this.
Taking some 'important steps' really isn't enough given how long this has been going on and how devastating it is to the victims.

Yes the church failed and the changes can never be enough for the devastated victims who had been abused.

 

[Brainonska511]

You say that like he was some outside investigator into the Catholic Church not its head. He was in charge. He had the authority, the manpower, the responsibility to fix this.
Taking some 'important steps' really isn't enough given how long this has been going on and how devastating it is to the victims.

The pope, like any other person in charge of a country, only operates with the support of those under him. He made changes for the better, and still more are needed.

There is no Green Lanterning your way through politics.

 

[pmv]

For no other reason than it seems to be happening everywhere, with every country and every major organisation, my suspicion is the next Pope will be a more right-wing one.

Apparently US Catholicism, at least, has shifted rightward in recent years. Some of that seems to be down to right-wing Protestants converting.

 

[FelixDeCat]

Yes the church failed and the changes can never be enough for the devastated victims who had been abused.

Everything exploded in the late 80s and through out the 90s. Billions were paid out and some dioceses went bankrupt.

Changes to policies to protect children going forward were begun in the late 90s after several arrests and prosecutions.

Numerous popes have been on worldwide apology tours and children are safe.

Yet none of the above is sufficient for those who like to be critical of the Catholic Church so they act like its still the early 1980s.

Its been more than 25 years since changed began and 100 years from now they will be leveling the criticism because thats their bag.

 

[BoomerD]

Everything exploded in the late 80s and through out the 90s. Billions were paid out and some dioceses went bankrupt.

Changes to policies to protect children going forward were begun in the late 90s after several arrests and prosecutions.

Numerous popes have been on worldwide apology tours and children are safe.

Yet none of the above is sufficient for those who like to be critical of the Catholic Church so they act like its still the early 1980s.

Its been more than 25 years since changed begand and 100 years from now they will be leveling the criticism because thats their bag.

Because, in 100 years, priests will still be buggering altar boys.

 

[FelixDeCat]

Because, in 100 years, priests will still be buggering altar boys.

What an asshole.

And with near daily arrests of teachers for abuse do you you hear the criticism of districts for not weeding out perverts or anything else? And when the teacher is a hot blonde are they not even praised? I have always spoken against it.

 

[fskimospy]

What an asshole.

And with near daily arrests of teachers for abuse do you you hear the criticism of districts for not weeding out perverts or anything else? And when the teacher is a hot blonde are they not even praised? I have always spoken against it.

If a school district ran a coordinated campaign to conceal teachers who were raping children so that they could continue their crimes I would fully expect that district to be heavily criticized.

 

[pmv]

Because, in 100 years, priests will still be buggering altar boys.

It's not just Catholics, though.

Justin Welby says he forgives serial abuser John Smyth

Welby ‘profoundly ashamed’ of comments he made after resigning as archbishop of Canterbury over scandal

www.theguardian.com

Church of England ‘directly responsible’ for John Smyth abuse in Zimbabwe, victim says

Rocky Leanders, then 15, was beaten with wooden paddle by Smyth at camp where boys were made to swim naked

www.theguardian.com

Just read up on the full horror of the John Smyth case. Religions in general have zero credibility when it comes to lecturing everyone on morality.

 

[fskimospy]

It's not just Catholics, though.

Justin Welby says he forgives serial abuser John Smyth

Welby ‘profoundly ashamed’ of comments he made after resigning as archbishop of Canterbury over scandal

www.theguardian.com

Just read up on the full horror of the John Smyth case. Religions in general have zero credibility when it comes to lecturing everyone on morality.

The UK doesn't have a great reputation for catching these pedos, no.

I mean consider Jimmy Savile. Was it THAT hard to figure out this guy might be a creep?

 

[pmv]

The UK doesn't have a great reputation for catching these pedos, no.

I mean consider Jimmy Savile. Was it THAT hard to figure out this guy might be a creep?

View attachment 122703

Ugh, thanks for that full-sized picture!

As I say, it's not just the Catholic church. But Top Of The Pops never lectured me about moral behaviour. Organised religions claim to be authorities on that, yet are clearly no better than everyone else (and might be worse).

 

[FelixDeCat]

If a school district ran a coordinated campaign to conceal teachers who were raping children so that they could continue their crimes I would fully expect that district to be heavily criticized.

And if that district was exposed nearly 30 to 40 years ago and billions were paid, people jailed, reforms made and numerous apologies made over decades just like the church has done would that even matter?

It would. And it does. To some it does not because they do not like Catholicism.