Poop from the Pope

[Officerpuppy]

Well, I think he is the most conservative pope in quite a while and he has no problem showing it.

[Chock]

What a total jerk. Really living up to his chosen name it seems isn't he? (not).

I think most people know I'm no fan of religion, but even I can see that man is about as divine and concilliatory as plank of wood.

Chock

Cardinal Ratzinger aka Pope Benedict XVI was the head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith - The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is the warm fuzzy name for The Inqusition.

Its only the second time in the history of the papacy that the head inquisitor's gotten the job.

[bookworm_020]

Any bets on when he'll bring back indulgences???:hmm:

Where is martin Luther when you need him most!

[Takeda Shingen]

Originally Posted by bookworm_020

Any bets on when he'll bring back indulgences???:hmm:

Where is martin Luther when you need him most!

The indulgences never left. They are still a part, albeit a small part, of the Roman Catholic Large Catechism.

Regarding committies, it is correct: Up until the late 19th century, the Congregation for the Doctorine of the Faith was called The Holy Office of the Inquisition. Ratzinger is, in effect, the former Grand Inquisitor of the Church.

Regarding the death of Protestantism, the effect is the opposite in the United States. In the past decades, Protestant denominations, particularly the Southern Baptist, Mormon and non-denominational congregations, have experienced a ground swell of new membership, while Catholic, Orthodox and more traditional Prostestant branches have seen a decline. This has been the cumulative effect of the type of proclaimations seen from the Doctorine of the Faith earlier this week, as well as scandals of various nature.

For the record, the Pope did not issue the statement in question. That was done by The Doctorine of the Faith, which is able to act on its own accord, much like the State Department or Homeland Security in American government. However, the Pope has to pass off on any statement made, so it did recieve his nod. It seems to have blown away the past decade of ecumenical dialogue that had passed between Catholics and non-Catholics. What a silly thing to do, and quite off the wall, as it were.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Takeda Shingen

It seems to have blown away the past decade of ecumenical dialogue that had passed between Catholics and non-Catholics.

Not really. His predecessor John Paul II. also have made statement like this, and confronted the German protestant church some years ago in preparation of a super-confessional conference. Like now, it caused quite an uproar when John Paul claimed the leading and dominant role of the the chatholic church and said something like catholicism being the true home of all other confessions as well. The Protestant representatives back then nevertheless travelled to Rome - explicitly saying that they do that not in acceptance of the vatican's demand for being the only and final authority in Christian religions, but in spite of this - as they necessarily must have seen it - affront. In fact, the demand of the Vatican to be the only true church there is, never was gone away, only became a little bit more silent for reasons of sheer pragmatism.

And my occasional sympathy for this or that detail of the churches is for pragmatic reasons only as well, and acceptance of what many people seek in when "doing" a religion. And that is not so much about experiencing the Divine themselves, but getting confirmed in what they believe is the divine essence of their life. In other words: not God is wanted, but confirmation of what one believes God is. Saying that with quite some years of daily experience in teaching meditation.

Who was it who said something like "The church is all that Jesus has taught - not."

[joea]

Trying to create some watered done super-confession that everyone can agree on is wrong and not what most people want.

Just agree not to step on each other's toes (why I support secularism in public life) but don't empty your faith out to compromise. Like SB says, the divine is not contained by 4 church walls.