The Pope

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Also it took courage for Ratzinger to desert the German army. That in itself provided severe risk to his life, because he would have been executed if caught. So doesn't that count for something?

[teacake]

Following his 14th birthday in 1941, Ratzinger was conscripted into the Hitler Youth—as membership was required by law for all 14-year-old German boys after December 1939[14]—but was an unenthusiastic member who refused to attend meetings, according to his brother.[15] In 1941, one of Ratzinger's cousins, a 14-year-old boy with Down syndrome, was taken away by the Nazi regime and murdered during the Action T4 campaign of Nazi eugenics.[16] In 1943, while still in seminary, he was drafted into the German anti-aircraft corps as Luftwaffenhelfer (air force child soldier).[15] Ratzinger then trained in the German infantry.[17] As the Allied front drew closer to his post in 1945, he deserted back to his family's home in Traunstein after his unit had ceased to exist, just as American troops established their headquarters in the Ratzinger household

Joining the Hitler Youth was like being on facebook. Everyone did it.

I don't think too many 14 year olds would make a stand and die over such a thing.

I have nothing nice to say about the pope but he wasn't a nazi. There's plenty or real stuff to trash him over.

[Jan]

Sector 7 wrote:

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The Catholic Church considers the Pope a perfect successor to Saint Peter... infallible. A perfect person, even a Saint, should be willing to die for the cause of Christ. Ratzinger did NOT do that

Sorry, that's absolutely wrong. Successor to Peter, yes. Perfect person...no more so than Peter was. Remember him? Denied Jesus three times? Yeah, that Peter. As for infallibility, that's only under certain specific circumstances, none of which apply to a 14-year-old seminarian.

Jan

[sidious618]

Mr. Laser Beam wrote:

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Also it took courage for Ratzinger to desert the German army. That in itself provided severe risk to his life, because he would have been executed if caught. So doesn't that count for something?

When he ignored child rape an child torture? No.

[Tora Ziyal]

Jan wrote:

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Sorry, that's absolutely wrong. Successor to Peter, yes. Perfect person...no more so than Peter was. Remember him? Denied Jesus three times? Yeah, that Peter. As for infallibility, that's only under certain specific circumstances, none of which apply to a 14-year-old seminarian.

Jan

Sector 7, Jan is correct. Infallibility means that the pope does not err when he speaks ex cathedra (in his official/public capacity), defining some doctrine of faith or morals. And there are some limitations even within that.

Infallibility has nothing to do with perfection as a person, or with anything unofficial that the pope says. Benedict himself has pointed out that his books -- some written after he became pope -- are not infallible or even church dogma, just the opinions of a theologian.

Also, some courageous people's standing up for their principles/beliefs, even at the risk of death, doesn't mean that the natural human instinct isn't to preserve one's life. Part of why we admire martyrs is that they have chosen the less instinctive, more difficult way.

[Bisz]

bigdaddy wrote:

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NAZI Pope is leaving to be replaced by another asshole who that hates women, hates gays, hates Jews, hates Muslims, hates science, hates health and safety.

I hope he dies a slow painful death from his version of a vengeful god.

The fact people still care about stupid things like the Pope scares me.

The fact there are people on the internet as proud to share their next to criminal ignorance with the world as you just have... doesn't surprise me. It does sadden me though.

[Maestro]

Sector 7 wrote:

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- Paul, crucified upside down, because he felt unworthy to die the same death as Jesus Christ.

You are incorrect. Christian tradition holds that the Apostle Paul was martyred, likely by beheading. There is no documented evidence that he was crucified. The only evidence of his death that we have is in the writings of St. Ignatius, whose writings noted the death and martyrdom of Paul.

[Nerys Ghemor]

Maestro wrote:

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You are incorrect. Christian tradition holds that the Apostle Paul was martyred, likely by beheading. There is no documented evidence that he was crucified. The only evidence of his death that we have is in the writings of St. Ignatius, whose writings noted the death and martyrdom of Paul.

Sector 7 meant St. Peter. Peter is said to have been crucified upside down. St. Paul was beheaded as you say.

[Maestro]

What you think he meant and what he said are two very different things in this case. In fact, this mistake may very well impeach his argument.

[chardman]

Mr. Laser Beam wrote:

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Even though the 'prophecy of the popes' is almost certainly a bunch of BS (like anything Nostradamus ever wrote), I think the next pope had better think of a non-"Peter" name to use...

I'm really hoping for George Ringo, to offset the two John Pauls we've already had.

[Maestro]

I was always more of a Monkeys fan, myself.

[JarodRussell]

Never really understood the concept of the Pope either. Mere mortals appoint him by worldly standards, with a hint of political intrigue. As someone living in the 21st century, I'm asking myself what authority that particular guy has over anyone.


But on the other hand, it is a very positive thing that a church as huge as the catholic church has one guy at the top that plots the course. Islam doesn't have that, which is why there are thousands of different directions and interpretations, the source of chaos and mayhem. I long for the day of the Muslim counterpart to the Pope.

[chardman]

The Vatican claims Darwin's theory of evolution is compatible with Christianity Telegraph article from 2009

[chardman]

Pope Allegedly Sought Immunity For Abuse Crimes Just Before Resigning LINK

Said immunity was sought because rumors has it that some international body was about to issue an arrest warrant for the Pope. Here's a link to a whole mess of links about such, via Google LINK

[Haggis and tatties]

chardman wrote:

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The Vatican claims Darwin's theory of evolution is compatible with Christianity Telegraph article from 2009

Nobody makes a monkey out of me......and it's just coincidence that i'm having a bannana sandwhich for lunch. lol