babble is rabble.ca's discussion board but it's much more than that: it's an online community for folks who just won't shut up. It's a place to tell each other — and the world — what's up with our work and campaigns.
Pope Benedict resigns...this is NOT a joke...Pope Benedict resigns
February 11, 2013 - 7:37am
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-21411304
(snip)
Pope Benedict XVI is to resign at the end of this month in an unexpected development, saying he is too old to continue at the age of 85.
He became Pope in 2005 following John Paul II's death.
Resignations from the papacy are not unknown, but this is the first in the modern era, which has been marked by pontiffs dying while in office.
(snip)
Did...not...see...this...coming...
This joyous news perfectly accompanies the first rays of sunshine this morning after two days of blizzard conditions.
They'll probably elect someone even more conservative to replace him. Dying empires and all of that.
Being forced into the Nazi party as a young boy, made him too easy ot a target for the virulent Catholic haters.
Hopefully, we get someone a little less Conservative in there to replace him.
Not really. It was about all the other hateful stuff that is part and parcel of Catholicism which makes the institution and its leadership a target for anti-oppressive sentiments.
I was no more impressed with JPII's populist approach either, because in my estimation at least there should be far less popularity for some of the views that he fronted.
Well, I have no love whatsoever for this Pope and most of his positions, but I say bravo. Watching John-Paul II onstage in agony for the last years of his life was a painful spectacle, it also played to the most lurid aspects of religion.
As the Guardian states:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/11/pope-resigns-live-reaction
This also includes a press conference by his spokesman, in Italian. I haven't viewed it yet. If anyone else speaks Italian...
Will they choose a Pope from the global South, Africa or Latin America? Or an old-guard cardinal from the Italian Church? Hope it is not a MILITANT homophobe (he obviously won't be gay-friendly, but hope it is not someone who excuses homophobic violence). And, will the frigging Church do anything to clean up its own house with respect to endemic child abuse?
Ha ha ha! Who's the (un) lucky guy?
I've heard they don't have such a great retirement package.
Ah yes Cardinal Rottweiler the scourge of all Catholics who preached liberation theology. Who forced him into that role?
Maysie, the Pope has long had a VERY handsome, athletic, German aide: http://www.thetablet.co.uk/article/163576
You'll find lots of other pics of gorgeous Georg. He has made the most recent cover of Italian Vanity Fair.
Ratzinger has been perhaps the most unloved Pope in my lifetime. I always thought "uh oh, here comes trouble" on his appointment.
This article demonstrates how disturbing even "progressive" Catholic thought can be. A random sample:
Um, ok, yeah.
And on the issue of young Ratzinger being forced into the Hitler Jugend - yeah, that's possible. Like, remember when he arrived in Africa and announced that condom use can actually accelerate the spread of HIV? I'm quite sure that kind of humanitarian opinion would have gotten him booted from the anti-genocidal pro-African Nazi youth. Generations later, he is at last free to express his compassion openly.
I don't believe in Hell. So when I say "may he burn in Hell", you know of course that I don't really mean it, right? Anyway, I was forced into the ranks of the Left, so don't be too too harsh on me.
End of rant, until my next post.
Actually I'm prepared to cut people a bit of slack for what they might have been involved with as kids. I would do so with any child soldier, particularly in a country where there really was no getting out of it.
A former inlaw of mine loved Hitler so much an older relative had to force him to pretend to be smaller and be evacuated so the family would have at least someone to provide for them. Of course, he wanted to go to the front and get killed for his leader. Clearly the behaviour of a rational and responsible human being.
As for Rattenfaenger, I think he has enough to answer for as an adult. The Nazi stuff is as gratuitous as any other godwinism as far as I am concerned.
He delayed being forced into it as long as he could, did fuck all when he was in it and fled as soon as was practical.
If that was the ONLY thing in an otherwise blameless life, then I would praise him and attack people who brought that up.
However his policies and attitudes from the last 40 years are what makes him despicable and unworthy. I judge you on what you choose to do and say, not what others make you do or say for you.
He fails on those counts
Actually, I don't care if he was an enthusiastic HJ member. People get involved in stupid shit, and there is a reason why children do not have the same legal responsibility as adults. And that goes double for such a stressed and controlled society as that one.
Small technical point: pointing out someone's real life involvement, voluntary or not, with the Nazi regime is not a Godwin.
True enough jas. Thanks.
"as any godwinism", I should say.
Now conspiracy theories I am just fine with:
From a friend via Facebook: (excerpt)
Richard Dawkins has tweeted: 'I feel sorry for the Pope and all old Catholic priests. Imagine having a wasted life to look back on and no sex.' Meanwhile bookies Paddy Power are in my view winning the war of words by putting odds on Richard Dawkins to succeed Benedict at 666/1.
ps: "666" - get it?
It's been a pretty long time since there have been two living Popes. I think he should move to Avignon and keep his options open.
We can use another babylonian Captivity.
They even had 5 popes at one time, at one time in history
I just listened to a RC theologian in Washington interviewed on CBC, she suggested that the papacy has to change in the 21st century, work towards gender equality, there should be women priests and cardinals, and women should be eligible to be elected Pope, and there should be term limits. She criticised Benedict for covering up the hierarchy that hid the clergy sex abusers, and said a much younger, activist Pope would be the best choice for the church, and the world.
Saddens me that all of her suggestions are highly unlikely to become reality.