Reports that Pope is going to resign...

kiffer

Bannasidhe wrote: »

Pah - more bloody white men. Ha!

I know who I'm backing:

Actually laughed out loud. .. full belly laugh while walking down the street.

endacl

This campaign should certainly be re-ignited!

PopePalpatine

robindch wrote: »

This guy's running in some Italian election soon, innit?

Well, he can't be worse than the Borgias.

endacl

PopePalpatine wrote: »

Well, he can't be worse than the Borgias.

Too early to tell...

robindch

jimd2

seamus wrote: »

Speculation around the office here is that someone was on the verge of exposing Benny's wife and family in the U.S. if he didn't resign.

Not entirely unbelievable...

Any "evidence" for this?

I am a little surprised that no one has asked you this question already on THIS forum.:D

Branch Meeting

This lad is one of the front runners apparently, worth a punt on Paddy Power i'd say

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eu4ooS5H8sA

jimd2

Thread starts at 11:00am today. By 5:30pm there are almost 150 posts on an Atheist forum about the Pope.

I cant decide if it is funny or pathetic but it is a little sad that some people have so little to do during the day that they have to resort to some of the stuff on this thread.

A lot of people including myself would concur with many things on this forum overall but in my opinion a thread like this lets the forum down.

jimd2

robindch wrote: »

Is that meant to be funny.....poor form from the forum moderator.

nozzferrahhtoo

jimd2 wrote: »

Any "evidence" for this?

I am a little surprised that no one has asked you this question already on THIS forum.:D

I think when we see the phrase "Not entirely unbelievable" around here we just take it for granted it is a joke.

After all after 18+ years of asking for evidence for the existence of god "Not entirely unbelievable" is probably how I would adumbrate the quality of the responses I have gotten back thus far.

Usually it comes in the form of the phrase "Well can you prove there is no god?" or "Well what is your explanation for the universe?" but "Not entirely unbelievable" is generally the gist of the spam these people pump out in a kind of nike "Just do it" kind of vein.

Liamario

jimd2 wrote: »

Thread starts at 11:00am today. By 5:30pm there are almost 150 posts on an Atheist forum about the Pope.

I cant decide if it is funny or pathetic but it is a little sad that some people have so little to do during the day that they have to resort to some of the stuff on this thread.

A lot of people including myself would concur with many things on this forum overall but in my opinion a thread like this lets the forum down.

My name is URL

jimd2 wrote: »

Is that meant to be funny.....poor form from the forum moderator.

There was no Pope Jack VII so it's factually inaccurate too, but that's a minor detail I suppose.

Corkfeen

jimd2 wrote: »

Is that meant to be funny.....poor form from the forum moderator.

Think you're reading too much into memes. There's a public outcry for Jack or Dougal to get the role. Personally, I think Ted is undervalued and deserves the role if only for his quality judging of the lovely girls contest.

Branch Meeting

For the punters out there, currently at 50/1, I'd say this lad would be worth an ante post punt on Paddy Power

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eu4ooS5H8sA

Michael Nugent

Here are ten reasons to be pleased that Pope Benedict is resigning.

1. He has international political influence through the Vatican
2. His Vatican works with Islamic States to oppose gay rights
3. He blames atheism for Nazi Germany and lack of virtue
4. His Catholic Church claims that atheists are not fully human
5. He protects the Vatican ahead of child sex abuse victims
6. He blames secularisation for priests raping children
7. His Vatican compares child sex abuse with ordaining women
8. He offered free plenary indulgences to Lourdes pilgrims
9. He is skeptical that there were donkeys in the crib
10. He silences priests who want a more democratic church

More details on each of these reasons here.

Unfortunately, his successor will be selected by cardinals many of whom benedict has himself appointed, so we can't really expect too much change.

smokingman

jimd2 wrote: »

Any "evidence" for this?

I am a little surprised that no one has asked you this question already on THIS forum.:D

You never watched father Ted? Y'know...the one with bishop Brennan?...where the lads were protesting the "bad" movie?...and Jack got hold of the video of him on his holiday?...you remember?....you were wearing your blue jumper....

Branch Meeting

Michael Nugent wrote: »

Here are ten reasons to be pleased that Pope Benedict is resigning.

1. He has international political influence through the Vatican
2. His Vatican works with Islamic States to oppose gay rights
3. He blames atheism for Nazi Germany and lack of virtue
4. His Catholic Church claims that atheists are not fully human
5. He protects the Vatican ahead of child sex abuse victims
6. He blames secularisation for priests raping children
7. His Vatican compares child sex abuse with ordaining women
8. He offered free plenary indulgences to Lourdes pilgrims
9. He is skeptical that there were donkeys in the crib
10. He silences priests who want a more democratic church

More details on each of these reasons here.

Unfortunately, his successor will be selected by cardinals many of whom benedict has himself appointed, so we can't really expect too much change.

As the saying goes, the Pope is dead, long live the Pope

Any links for the more controversial claims ? (I'm not really interested in Donkey's not being in the stable)

robindch

Michael Nugent wrote: »

Unfortunately, his successor will be selected by cardinals many of whom benedict has himself appointed, so we can't really expect too much change.

Thinking about his move over coffee earlier on, the obvious cleverness finally dawned -- with a previous pope watching over their shoulders, the cardinals electing a new one are going to have a hard time electing a guy they know Ratzinger will disapprove of.

UDP

Michael Nugent wrote: »

Here are ten reasons to be pleased that Pope Benedict is resigning.

...

Unfortunately, his successor will be selected by cardinals many of whom benedict has himself appointed, so we can't really expect too much change.

Those are the reasons I'm sorry to see him go. His stone age ideas and actions have alienated so many people in the western world that it has done more to help the atheism and secularisation movements than anything else. I would be afraid the next Pope might not be as disliked thus not being enough of a push to cause people to step back and look at how ridiculous the rcc (and religion in general) is.

My name is URL

Michael Nugent wrote: »

Here are ten reasons to be pleased that Pope Benedict is resigning.

1. He is skeptical that there were donkeys in the crib

More details on each of these reasons here.

That's by far the relevant of lies.

jimd2

robindch wrote: »

Thinking about his move over coffee earlier on, the obvious cleverness finally dawned -- with a previous pope watching over their shoulders, the cardinals electing a new one are going to have a hard time electing a guy they know Ratzinger will disapprove of.

I don't think this was a factor at all.....then again we probably will never know.

jimd2

smokingman wrote: »

You never watched father Ted? Y'know...the one with bishop Brennan?...where the lads were protesting the "bad" movie?...and Jack got hold of the video of him on his holiday?...you remember?....you were wearing your blue jumper....

No can't say I remember that episode.

jimd2

My name is URL wrote: »

There was no Pope Jack VII so it's factually inaccurate too, but that's a minor detail I suppose.

I realise that, I was just pointing out that there was very little effort to tone down some of the stuff on this thread and the moderator joined in with that effort that wasn't particularly funny.

Anyway, it wasn't all that bad- not a big issue.

seamus

Bill Gates did an AMA on reddit today. 23,000 karma.

The story of Bennys resignation - 5,900 karma.

What a difference a generation makes.

Michael Nugent

Branch Meeting wrote: »

Any links for the more controversial claims ? (I'm not really interested in Donkey's not being in the stable)

There are source links for most of them in the link in the first post. I'll try to add more later.

Hotblack Desiato

This just in - The Vatican has announced that in the interests of moving the Roman Catholic Church into the 20th century*, the selection of the new Pope will be filmed for a TV series.










...wait for it...







"Pope Idol"









* [sic]

Hotblack Desiato

jimd2 wrote: »

I realise that, I was just pointing out that there was very little effort to tone down some of the stuff on this thread and the moderator joined in with that effort that wasn't particularly funny.

Lighten up dude. He's not dead, just pining for the fjords resigning.

endacl

jimd2 wrote: »

No can't say I remember that episode.

It was a bonus episode in the BoxSet. You might find it on netflix?

FWIW, I thought pope Jack looked rather fetching in his big hat. Feck! Ar5e! Plenary indulgence!!

GCU Flexible Demeanour

Branch Meeting wrote: »

(I'm not really interested in Donkey's not being in the stable)

Look, if we can't account for the source of the equine DNA, we don't have full traceability, or Apostolic Succession as some call it.

joseph brand

jimd2 wrote: »

No can't say I remember that episode.

Seriously? Well, there's still hope for you, my child. The Internet is your 'saviour'. Go now!

Kivaro

Oh man, this thread is going to be a classic.

Over here in YankLand, they are saying that HBO's documentary had something to do with his "resignation":

After 2001, Cardinal Ratzinger got all sex abuse cases sent to his office. So Cardinal Ratzinger actually knows more about clerical sex abuse than any human being on the planet. And then he became pope. But it was while he was Cardinal Ratzinger that the case of Murphy was brought to the Congregation [for] the Doctrine of the Faith.

You can see the trailer here:

http://www.filmforum.org/movies/more/mea_maxima_culpa

jimd2

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/lightning-strikes-vatican-on-the-day-the-pope-1704295

Kivaro

jimd2 wrote: »

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/lightning-strikes-vatican-on-the-day-the-pope-1704295

Oh god, it's a sign.
I am now going to give up rational thinking and prostrate myself in front of the nearest inanimate object and beg for salvation.

Or I'll just continue watching the Simpsons on TV.

pauldla

jimd2 wrote: »

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/lightning-strikes-vatican-on-the-day-the-pope-1704295

A sign from God, or a sign that Benjamin Franklin was right?

ShooterSF

jimd2 wrote: »

I don't think this was a factor at all.....then again we probably will never know.

While we probably wont ever know and while it is possible, you are probably right to approach ideas, with no evidence for them, with large amounts of skepticism. Shame it's not done more often, eh?!

Jacks Smirking Revenge

Lightning?

So its true then.....





Pope Benedict is Count Dooku!



(They do have a lot of similarities when you think about it)

jank

the culture of deference wrote: »

Uncanny. 2 fictional icons leading hordes of deluded fans




Benny's legacy.

Nazi. Hilter youth and german army deserter.

Head of the Department of cover ups and silenced children in the vatican. Promoted

Pope (one of many current catholic popes) of RCC.

Not that I am surprised that this has been let go (we have already done this)but he was never a member of the Nazi party.

To those that are complaining about the media making a big deal about this as was noted earlier this is 'news' as we define it or do you not get irony?

Will be interesting who takes over. Id say a real power struggle is underway in Rome.

Nodin

pauldla wrote: »

A sign from God, or a sign that Benjamin Franklin was right?

Benjamin Franklin was Pope?

robindch

Kivaro wrote: »

[...] prostate myself in front of the nearest inanimate object [...]

Sounds painful.

Penn

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QbqyArOTdI

Bannasidhe

Bannasidhe

doctoremma

When O when will this stop being on the news? I've had quite enough of the Sky-appointed Catholic expert raving about her favoured candidate, on the basis that his policy on AIDS in Africa - 'you know, just abstain, no need for condoms' - is apparently both 'revolutionary' and 'charismatic'.

Really? On a day that North Korea edges closer to delivering a global nuclear threat, we need to understand what white smoke means?

And the number of Catholics worldwide is increasing by the hour.

Brian Shanahan

Beruthiel wrote: »

I'm going with a scandal of grandiose magnitude!

I'm going to say that José Mourinho's departure from Real has been finalised, and the Vatican is making the way clear for his true calling, being the Special One and all.

Brian Shanahan

plannerscanner wrote: »

From what I gather Ratzinger is very much a pragmatist. If he does not have the capacity to address world events within days then he is of no use to the RCC.

If that were the case he would have refused elevation, and not politicked for the job in the first place. Ratzinger was never going to be a person to be able to ensure meaningful interaction between the catholic church and the real world.

Brian Shanahan

Sarky wrote: »

Awaiting a whine from one of the usual suspects that he was hounded out by the vicious black-hearted anti-catholic liberal agenda.

Nobody expects the vicious black-hearted anti-catholic liberal agenda!

Our weapon is suprise, and ruthless efficiency.

Our two weapons are suprise, ruthless efficiency, and a total adherence to our ideals.

&c.

Sofaspud

Unfortunately this song won't be relevant for much longer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTIorwtJbhE

UDP

Sofaspud wrote: »

Unfortunately this song won't be relevant for much longer.

Considering it appears that the issue of child abuse was well known and covered up by the vatican and the higher echelons of the church there is probably a good chance that it will be very relevant to benny's successor.

Knex*

jimd2 wrote: »

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/lightning-strikes-vatican-on-the-day-the-pope-1704295

The lightning touched the dome of St. Peter's Basilica, one of the holiest Catholic churches, after the Pope's shock admission he lacks strength to do the job.

I don't know whether to laugh or cry when I read something like this. Even if we delve into the ol' Christian mindset, how can one church be more holy than another? The mind boggles.

What they actually mean is, this Church occupies the most wealth. So, apparently money = holiness.

Banbh

I don't know... I was out for a walk on Sunday along the beach when I heard a strange sound and looking up I felt splashes as if drops of water were falling on my head. I ran home and told everyone to obey me but they were unbelievers.