Pope Yammers Full Paragraphs About Immigration, Dialogue with Cuba, and Global Warming; Mentions Protecting the Unborn in a Single Sentence

For some time, I've heard conservative Catholics defend the Pope by saying that the left amplifies and celebrates the Pope's left-leaning cant, but ignores the things that appeal to traditionalists.

The problem with that is that while he does occasionally say things that appeal to traditionalists, he rarely says them, as if he's obligated to say such things as the cost of getting to talk about what he really wants to talk about, which is Income Inequality and Global Warming.

Today's performance is further evidence of that.

Yes, he made an allusion to abortion, not daring to speak it by name, and similarly made the vaguest allusion to gay marriage (not actually even taking a stance on it).

Then he yammered for long stretches about Nancy Pelosi's agenda.

I've tried to not speak much about the Pope due to 1, respect for my Catholic readers, 2, my complete lack of knowledge of the sorts of things Popes typically say, and 3, generally not caring, but it seems impossible at this point to continue to indulge the optimistic wishcasting of right-leaning Catholics that Francis is merely "complex" and sometimes "misunderstood."

I think we understand him just fine.

The left media is not just hallucinating this, or presenting a biased version of the Pope as they wish he were. He is in fact on the left on every single position he's liturgically permitted to be on the left on.

Posted by: Ace at 02:18 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Pope is a commie

Posted by: Tinfoilbaby at September 24, 2015 02:19 PM (Ii765)

2 El Papa Chavista

Posted by: Sphynx at September 24, 2015 02:20 PM (OZmbA)

3 You no toucha da pope!

Posted by: BunkerintheBurbs at September 24, 2015 02:20 PM (WDySP)

4 Bless me Father for I have driven an SUV.

Posted by: Ken in NH at September 24, 2015 02:20 PM (qFlZT)

5 The pope said literally nothing political when he was in Cuba. http://www.newsweek.com/when-it-comes-human-rights-francis-no-john-paul-ii-375294

And dissidents were being arrested while he visited.

Posted by: AmishDude at September 24, 2015 02:21 PM (Xd2w5)

6 Pope 'invented' a clock!

Posted by: Sphynx at September 24, 2015 02:21 PM (OZmbA)

7 Habemus Propa(ganda)

Posted by: Ponsonby Britt at September 24, 2015 02:21 PM (tNSR3)

8 Well, 2000 years, it was a nice run...

Posted by: LawLurker at September 24, 2015 02:21 PM (zKwtX)

9 I have a sense this will be worse than crossbows v. longbows, so I'm out!

Posted by: Insomniac at September 24, 2015 02:21 PM (2Ojst)

10

the pope is Soros' bitch

Posted by: Soothsayer at September 24, 2015 02:21 PM (BvMja)

11 Sad speech, but not a surprise.

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at September 24, 2015 02:21 PM (+c55T)

12 How many "syrian" refugees will Vatican City be taking in?

Posted by: nckate at September 24, 2015 02:22 PM (mHrnL)

13 This Pope is kind of a douche.

Posted by: Garrett at September 24, 2015 02:22 PM (MRjwY)

14 Did he mention us Jello-Salad eaters at all?

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at September 24, 2015 02:23 PM (+c55T)

15 Pope is a dope

Posted by: ghost of hallelujah at September 24, 2015 02:23 PM (7RXcs)

16 Pope is a commie

People who know the distinctions much better than I call him a Peronist.

Posted by: AmishDude at September 24, 2015 02:23 PM (Xd2w5)

17 Doesn't sound like he addressed it in a single sentences:

http://tinyurl.com/p23c4qy

And I think I'll bail on this thread. 300 posts on "The Pope is a commie"- meh

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at September 24, 2015 02:23 PM (1+XCd)

18 Popie is a hypocrite and filled with guile.

Posted by: kathysaysso at September 24, 2015 02:23 PM (fMQoG)

19 Dudes a hardcore leftist.

Which is not surprising. He's from Argentina. Not much more to say in the subject.

Posted by: Harry Paratestes, the artist formally known as mynewhandle at September 24, 2015 02:23 PM (AkOaV)

20 12 How many "syrian" refugees will Vatican City be taking in?
Posted by: nckate at September 24, 2015 02:22 PM (mHrnL

About as many as Saudi Arabia.

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at September 24, 2015 02:23 PM (+c55T)

21
Frances gave a nice Democrat-nominee acceptance speech. The only items missing were Koch Brothers, Roads and Bridges, and Dick Cheney.

Posted by: Soothsayer at September 24, 2015 02:23 PM (BvMja)

22 Pope 'invented' a clock!

Well, a calendar, but that was a different Pope.

Posted by: AmishDude at September 24, 2015 02:24 PM (Xd2w5)

23 Thou shalt no enjoy air conditioning.

Posted by: Sphynx at September 24, 2015 02:24 PM (OZmbA)

24 Help us Zombie JPII, you're our only hope!

Posted by: DangerGirl and her 1.21 Gigawatt TrumpProd (tm) at September 24, 2015 02:24 PM (EdhH3)

25

Tax the pope's political church, now.

Posted by: Soothsayer at September 24, 2015 02:25 PM (BvMja)

26 I still wish he'da excommunicate Nazi Pelosi and the rest of the alleged Catholics in Congress for their support of abortion.

They were all right there.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy at September 24, 2015 02:25 PM (LUgeY)

27 Howdy. We are living in the stupid times.

Posted by: Beth M at September 24, 2015 02:25 PM (kiy9d)

28 Also, Mary and Joseph were "homeless" and illegal immigrants are "pilgrims." The pilgrim comment was made yesterday.

Mind: Boggled

Posted by: Jane D'oh at September 24, 2015 02:25 PM (FsuaD)

29 How many immigrants has the Vatican taken in?

Posted by: The Devil at September 24, 2015 02:25 PM (KCQo0)

30 People who know the distinctions much better than I call him a Peronist.
Posted by: AmishDude at September 24, 2015 02:23 PM (Xd2w5)

Peron was a populist socialist who sort of kind of thought Hitler had it right (even after WWII) and blamed every ill of the country on capitalism, especially America.

Kind of like Hugo Chavez.

Posted by: Harry Paratestes, the artist formally known as mynewhandle at September 24, 2015 02:25 PM (AkOaV)

31 I've tried to not speak much about the Pope due to 1, respect for my Catholic readers, 2, my complete lack of knowledge of the sorts of things Popes typically say, and 3, generally not caring, but it seems impossible at this point to continue to indulge the optimistic wishcasting of right-leaning Catholics that Francis is merely "complex" and sometimes "misunderstood."

Go ahead and trash him. He's a buffoon.

Catholics who pretend he isn't are deluding themselves.

Posted by: Bevel Lemelisk at September 24, 2015 02:25 PM (OpK2H)

32 Its pretty sad that in the wake of PP chopping up live babies, he can't even spare 2 minutes to defend life.

If the Pope can't speak up for the most vulnerable, who will anymore?

Posted by: LawLurker at September 24, 2015 02:26 PM (zKwtX)

33 He's good at other stuff.

Like guessing a Nun's weight.

Uncanny.

Posted by: eman at September 24, 2015 02:26 PM (mR7Es)

34 I'm a conservative/libertarian Catholic.

I despise this Leftist hack, sand consider him worse than the Borgia Popes. I believe his intent is to diminish the moral authority of the papacy in the same way that Obama has debased and diminished the authority of the Presidency.

Tear into the Leftist hack all you want. He's a disgrace to the Church.

Posted by: EndOfPatience at September 24, 2015 02:26 PM (ZAIv+)

35 I am Catholic, and I am not offended by what you said Ace.
I am offended by the popes leftist, anti capitalism stance.
Pope John Paul should haunt him every day!

Posted by: Cicero Skip at September 24, 2015 02:26 PM (FIrEF)

36 >>How many immigrants has the Vatican taken in?

well, at least one, apparently, and he was something of an economic migrant.

Posted by: JEM at September 24, 2015 02:26 PM (o+SC1)

37 28 Also, Mary and Joseph were "homeless" and illegal immigrants are "pilgrims." The pilgrim comment was made yesterday.

Mind: Boggled
Posted by: Jane D'oh at September 24, 2015 02:25 PM (FsuaD

And here I thought they were in Bethlehem obeying the law for participating in the census. Guess all those years of Luke 2 were for naught.

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at September 24, 2015 02:26 PM (+c55T)

38 People who want to be socialist don't have to go to church to do it. They can just go to brunch. If you're not interested in shepherding the flock that is showing up to church each week, paying the tithes, serving in the congregations and you don't mind being sometimes insulting to them, then why shouldn't' they just go for brunch too? Why shouldn't everybody just have brunch and cut out the religious middle-man. Did the pope even mention Christ? Did he think he was incidental to the conversation?

#getoffmylawn

Posted by: Beanerschnitzel at September 24, 2015 02:26 PM (8d63Z)

39 He's an affirmative action Pope.

Posted by: kathysaysso at September 24, 2015 02:27 PM (fMQoG)

40 5 The pope said literally nothing political when he was in Cuba. http://www.newsweek.com/when-it-comes-human-rights-francis-no-john-paul-ii-375294

And dissidents were being arrested while he visited.

People can say he's a good humble man, but he's a man who doesn't want to confront evil.

Posted by: Bevel Lemelisk at September 24, 2015 02:27 PM (OpK2H)

41 Well, this is interesting.

Ace puts up a thread about shrill Hillary, and an ad pops up at the top of the home page for feminine pads...in Spanish, no less.

He puts up this thread, and an ad appears on the left of the page for tourism in Israel.

Posted by: Jane D'oh at September 24, 2015 02:27 PM (FsuaD)

42 So how many brown people get to stick their feet under my table? I need to get enough place settings ready.

Posted by: Dave, exiled in RI at September 24, 2015 02:27 PM (sSEsx)

43 By the way, the countries from where illegal immigrants come from in Latin America are overwhelmingly Catholic.

What is the Catholic church doing in those Latin American countries that is driving these people out?

Socialism, perhaps?

Posted by: The Devil at September 24, 2015 02:27 PM (KCQo0)

44 I still wish he'da excommunicate Nazi Pelosi

Posted by: BackwardsBoy at September 24, 2015 02:25 PM

Should have been done a long time ago

Posted by: Cicero Skip at September 24, 2015 02:28 PM (FIrEF)

45 Ace, Thank you for that respect. I've read the encyclical "The Gospel of Life" 3 times, praying that if God wants me to change my mind about the death penalty, that he would help me. I stand confirmed in my support of protecting innocent life in the womb, and keeping the death penalty to be implemented against guilty life. It is a sign of liberals that they embrace "no death penalty" but support abortion on demand (Pelosi/Kerry/Biden etc etc). Indeed the Pope has displayed his liberal leanings by how he presented his arguments. I also differ from him and the Magisterium when it comes to illegal immigration and sanctuary cities. As a conservative Catholic, I fight the RINO's and SJW's. Prayer is my favorite weapon.

Posted by: Sharon W at September 24, 2015 02:28 PM (Xhsh5)

46 The best kind of charity is the type drawn from the edge of a sword.

Like all leftists, you will be made to care. I'm perfectly happy to let other people's guy blather on about whatever, but the second you start interfering in my life and liberty I'll give you a hearty "fuck-off".

Posted by: Chupacabras at September 24, 2015 02:28 PM (XiVKO)

47
Just want to remind everyone: Tom Brokaw is the latest to carry the mantle for the narrative about the PP vids being all a big lie. Today he said Carly Furina made it up.

Posted by: Soothsayer at September 24, 2015 02:28 PM (BvMja)

48 It seems to me the Pope wants to be liked. He didn't say much about Cuba's human rights situation. Didn't attempt to visit any political prisoners in Cuba.

Why? He didn't want to upset his hosts.

Same situation here. He won't say anything to upset his political hosts. He wants to be liked and popular.

Problem is, that rarely coincides with being right or moral or just.

Posted by: MacGruber at September 24, 2015 02:28 PM (sWgE+)

49
Kudos, ace.

And - paging Sean Bannion ...... (meant in a playful, not nasty, way)

Posted by: rhomboid at September 24, 2015 02:28 PM (QDnY+)

50 Howdy. We are living in the stupid times.

Yeah, it's not even interesting.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy at September 24, 2015 02:28 PM (LUgeY)

51 Fuck. This. Pope. Final Conclave.

Posted by: OK, Thanks, Bye at September 24, 2015 02:28 PM (ucB75)

52 The press can recognize one of their own. The fact they are willing to risk religious cooties in covering him so extensively really tells you all you need to know about him.

Posted by: Thatch at September 24, 2015 02:29 PM (pBZp4)

53 So the official head of the Christian church (at least as viewed by much of the world) has become a sell out to liberal politics.

Can anyone else see the stage being set for the end of times, Book of Revelation, Tribulation, Armageddon scenarios?

The world is becoming a very strange place. And also very predictable.

Posted by: Sambo at September 24, 2015 02:29 PM (9UV3C)

54 Catholics who pretend he isn't are deluding themselves.
Posted by: Bevel Lemelisk at September 24, 2015 02:25 PM (OpK2H)

It's funny. I'm a recovered Catholic and still have many friends and family in the Catholic church. I've been "living in sin" with my girlfriend for something like 6 years now. That was met with a lot of disapproval from my weekly church attending liberal Aunt and Uncle.

Like a lot -- they constantly make comments.

And yet, as liberals, they are for abortion and gay marriage.

Which I find beyond bizarre. They talked shit about some Bishop (i forget who) coming out against gay marriage and calling abortion "murder" and called him an "old fuddy duddy" or something silly like that.

I don't get how "living in sin" (which is a fairly minor transgression) is a HORRIBLE THING but murdering your babies or "sleeping with a man as you would a woman" is totes okay in their world. Seems like some selective Catholic'ing to me.

Posted by: Harry Paratestes, the artist formally known as mynewhandle at September 24, 2015 02:29 PM (AkOaV)

55 And the only Pope I'm down with is Papa Emeritus III.

Posted by: Chupacabras at September 24, 2015 02:29 PM (XiVKO)

56 >>Tear into the Leftist hack all you want. He's a disgrace to the Church.

There's a streak of this in pretty much all the mainline Christian churches.

It hit us Episcopalians a long time ago, and the bishop of Rome ain't got nothing on our guy in London.

Posted by: JEM at September 24, 2015 02:30 PM (o+SC1)

57 This pope seems to confuse socialism with religion. I no longer believe this is the press misquoting him. There is too much smoke here not to be fire.

The College of Cardinals made a huge mistake in nominating this socialist to pope.

Posted by: Vic-we have no party at September 24, 2015 02:30 PM (t2KH5)

58 Ace, thanks for trying to respect your Catholic readers. My opinion of Pope Francis is so,etching I'll talk about with the "inside baseball" traditionalists but not here. Too much spew and ignorance from a lot of commenters. But you have personally been fair, and I appreciate it when an agnostic is fair to the Catholic Church.

Posted by: LadyS at September 24, 2015 02:30 PM (xYNhJ)

59 I'm a pseudo-practicing Catholic, and my opinion if John Paul II was the Reagan of Popes, Francis is the Obama. I do not respect him politically at all, and to be honest, I do not care about his positions on politics or the faith.

Posted by: Wyatt Earp at September 24, 2015 02:30 PM (Agn5J)

60 I'm Pope-eye the Social Justice Man,
I live in the Vatican.
I fight the evil rich,
'Cause I eats me spinach,
I'm Pope-eye the Social Justice man.

Posted by: Pope-eye at September 24, 2015 02:31 PM (S7x7a)

61 >> Harry Paratestes, the artist formally known as mynewhandle

Wait, aren't you third in line to the Brit throne or something?

Posted by: JEM at September 24, 2015 02:31 PM (o+SC1)

62 i'm like so anti-capitalism and pro social ism this pope dude is with some church or something but hez rrelly really cool and shit and he nos how to dress!! ya, babe! so like join me and be anti capital ism cuz its just a pain to have to hit the shift key or hit the little button on ur phone to make a capital and social media is tha shitz so yay facebook and pinterist and social ism an he cares about poor ppl and im poor ima gone havta get food stamps cuz i havta have the new iphone

Posted by: LIV with an iPhone at September 24, 2015 02:31 PM (OZmbA)

63 Has he said one damn word about the state of things in his beloved Latin America? The ONLY solution to corruption and bad living standards is to come here and mooch, apparently. I haven't heard word one about actually fixing the horrible conditions that force people to come here. No, the drug cartels are fine. The corrupt politicians are fine. But drive a SUV or use A/C--i.e. enjoy the fruits of your own labor--and you're a sinner.

Posted by: LawLurker at September 24, 2015 02:31 PM (zKwtX)

64 Just want to remind everyone: Tom Brokaw is the latest to carry the mantle for the narrative about the PP vids being all a big lie. Today he said Carly Furina made it up.
Posted by: Soothsayer at September 24, 2015 02:28 PM (BvMja)

yeah, i've been seeing that argument a lot.

I don't understand how one can say something is "false" or "made up" when there is video proof of its existence. Like hours and hours and hours of video.

I guess you just have to trust the media, not your own eyes.

Posted by: Harry Paratestes, the artist formally known as mynewhandle at September 24, 2015 02:31 PM (AkOaV)

65 I too was inclined to give Francis the benefit of the doubt at first. Maybe he was quoted out of context. Maybe the media was cherry picking things he said.

But then the realization dawned on me the way it did Ace...when a guy needs a bunch of handlers to explain what he said in plain language, the reporting on his initial statement is not the spin...the "clarification" is the spin.

Francis is a communist who is using the structure of the Church to further his own selfish desires as to how society should be organized.

Posted by: VA GOP Sucks at September 24, 2015 02:31 PM (eytER)

66 43

Countries in which they've never heard of the much maligned Protestant work ethic(that horrible "puritanical" idea)

Posted by: Wendy at September 24, 2015 02:32 PM (bpemY)

67 Who's bright idea was it to leave us in the Hillary thread? That's inhumane.

Posted by: rebel flounder at September 24, 2015 02:32 PM (1DH1V)

68 58. So etching= something

Posted by: LadyS at September 24, 2015 02:32 PM (xYNhJ)

69 Doh. who's = whose.

Posted by: rebel flounder at September 24, 2015 02:32 PM (1DH1V)

70 Did he mention Jesus? He seems to bring him up less than other Popes.

Ann Barnhardt considers him the "anti-John the Baptist"

Posted by: notsothoreau at September 24, 2015 02:33 PM (5HBd1)

71 Can anyone else see the stage being set for the end of times, Book of Revelation, Tribulation, Armageddon scenarios?

Yep. I just wonder how bad it's going to get before we get some relief.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy at September 24, 2015 02:33 PM (LUgeY)

72 Barack Obama is a SCOAMT.

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) - Fire-hooks and Rock Salt for sale at September 24, 2015 02:33 PM (kff5f)

73 Burn it down.
Scatter the stones.
Salt the earth where it stood.

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) - Fire-hooks and Rock Salt for sale at September 24, 2015 02:33 PM (kff5f)

74 Quoting Ace:

I've tried to not speak much about the Pope due to 1, respect for my Catholic readers, 2, my complete lack of knowledge of the sorts of things Popes typically say, and 3, generally not caring, but it seems impossible at this point to continue to indulge the optimistic wishcasting of right-leaning Catholics that Francis is merely "complex" and sometimes "misunderstood."

---

These are also my sentiments. I am perfectly fine with Catholics venerating their Pope as the Vicar of Christ--I respect their right to that belief. With that said, the Papacy has a long and sometimes lurid history--not all Popes have been good men, it can even be argued that the politics of the day put some very failed and venal men in the Papacy, who then proceeded to act as selfishly as any other secular leader. I do not think this Pope is a failed or venal man, I do think he is a socialist who believes that being elevated to the Papacy gives him a bully pulpit for loudly proclaiming his beliefs.

I also believe that the little girl who made her way to the Pope to make her plea about "immigrants' rights" was a complete and total set up. Yeah, I am that cynical.

Posted by: Sherry McEvil, Stiletto Corsettes at September 24, 2015 02:33 PM (kXoT0)

75 Barack Obama supports pederasty.

Posted by: Jane D'oh at September 24, 2015 02:34 PM (FsuaD)

76
1. The videos dont exist.
2. The videos exist but theyre doctored.
3. Even if the videos are real, so what.

This is their argument. And we're losing to it.

Posted by: Soothsayer at September 24, 2015 02:34 PM (BvMja)

77 He won't say anything to upset his political hosts. so he is gutless.

That never stopped Jon Paul II

I think the next time I go to mass I will put a note in the collection envelope that I gave my money to Al Gore to fight global warming.
Imagine if every Catholic did that for a month!

Posted by: Cicero Skip at September 24, 2015 02:34 PM (FIrEF)

78 John Boehner invited him to address Congress (and the Pope had him in tears of joy while doing so).

Enough said; don't give me that shit about "Boehner is a great Republican!", 'cause it plainly is no longer so, if it ever were.

Posted by: MTF at September 24, 2015 02:34 PM (TxJGV)

79 >>Yep. I just wonder how bad it's going to get before we get some relief.

We're working on that.

Posted by: Sweet Meteor of Death, coming soon to a planet near you at September 24, 2015 02:34 PM (o+SC1)

80 The Pope didn't mention God once in his speech to Congress.

Not once.

It could just have well have been Obola up there, except it was singularly lacking in insults.

Posted by: Brendan at September 24, 2015 02:34 PM (fIS5o)

81 Eric Cartman talks about Jesus more than this Pope.

Posted by: Chupacabras at September 24, 2015 02:35 PM (XiVKO)

82 There's a commie in the Pope House.

from previous topic,[more or less]: Well, she's no Enki Bracaj. http://preview.tinyurl.com/okelk24

Posted by: Ralph at September 24, 2015 02:35 PM (HJbDF)

83 Goggle "communist infiltration of the catholic church"...just saying.

Looks like the religion of Global Warming has a Pontiff.

Posted by: TommyTee at September 24, 2015 02:35 PM (zFXwQ)

84 And a troll shows up...

Posted by: Jane D'oh at September 24, 2015 02:35 PM (FsuaD)

85 Render unto Caesar, what belongs to Caesar...

and woe to you, Pharisees and Hypocrites.

Posted by: Roy at September 24, 2015 02:35 PM (VndSC)

86 What in the heck is with all this security theater for the Pope? I don't remember this level of insanity with John Paul II and someone had actually tried to kill him.

As a side note, a co-workers said that it was because everyone on the right with guns wants him dead.

I thanked him for his bigoted attitude and walked away.

Posted by: Drill_Thrawl at September 24, 2015 02:35 PM (JOG+K)

87 Wait...Hector doesn't think we bash Islam around here?

Really?

I don't think he reads very well.

Posted by: VA GOP Sucks at September 24, 2015 02:35 PM (eytER)

88 If it is any help he will turn 79 in Dec. On average, how long do these guys live? And remember -- he was voted in. The next one will probably be some commie from turd world africa.

Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at September 24, 2015 02:35 PM (iQIUe)

89 I guess you just have to trust the media, not your own eyes.
Posted by: Harry Paratestes, the artist formally known as mynewhandle at September 24, 2015 02:31 PM (AkOaV)

not your own "lying" eyes -- FIFY

Posted by: Sherry McEvil, Stiletto Corsettes at September 24, 2015 02:35 PM (kXoT0)

90 So, why did the last Pope retire? I never did hear a decent explanation.

Posted by: Wind Breaker at September 24, 2015 02:36 PM (/pOl7)

91 Eh whatever

Judas was an Archbishop. Look what came out of that!

Posted by: Bigby's Press-on Fingernails at September 24, 2015 02:36 PM (3ZtZW)

92 Aaaaaaand ...... the dim Balkan racist enters with a flourish .......

Posted by: rhomboid at September 24, 2015 02:36 PM (QDnY+)

93 The Church is missing a big revenue opportunity. Licensing the endorsement of the Pope for carbon offset "indulgences" could bring in billions. If it worked for a fat pantload like Al Gore, surely it could work for the Pope.

Posted by: Gristle Encased Head at September 24, 2015 02:36 PM (1RNgT)

94 8 Well, 2000 years, it was a nice run...
Posted by: LawLurker at September 24, 2015 02:21 PM (zKwtX)

Never fear. The Orthodox Church is still here, and has not "evolved" over time.

Posted by: the Butcher, Serbian Orthodox at September 24, 2015 02:36 PM (fUjxW)

95 81
I don't see you bashing Islam, are you scared of them?

Posted by: Il Papa at September 24, 2015 02:34 PM (vy+Nr)

New here?

Posted by: rebel flounder at September 24, 2015 02:36 PM (1DH1V)

96 >> it can even be argued that the politics of the day put some
>> very failed and venal men in the Papacy, who then
>> proceeded to act as selfishly as any other secular leader.

Some very accomplished and venal men too.

Posted by: Sweet Meteor of Death, coming soon to a planet near you at September 24, 2015 02:36 PM (o+SC1)

97 My gun range is actually across the street from the no-go fence. Hopefully they weren't strong-armed into closing.

Posted by: Chupacabras at September 24, 2015 02:37 PM (XiVKO)

98 That little girl who met the pope was a plant from La. Her family was sponsored for the trip by an immigrants rights group. Total set up. The press even had copies of the letter she gave him.

Posted by: Tinfoilbaby at September 24, 2015 02:37 PM (Ii765)

99 Drill_Thrawl-

The pope everyone forgets, Benedict XVI, was here in 2008. I don't remember the hoopla about security, but I may be wrong.

Posted by: LawLurker at September 24, 2015 02:37 PM (zKwtX)

100 He's not going to be around here long, either.

Posted by: Sambo at September 24, 2015 02:37 PM (9UV3C)

101 This Catholic sadly agrees with you Ace.

In an era when Catholics need a leader who can speak in defense of our much maligned beliefs, we have only Pope mush-mouth.

Like Obama, Francis is a stunning example of the Peter Principle. Intellectually unremarkable people rising to the heights of leadership.

Posted by: McCool at September 24, 2015 02:37 PM (TQxRy)

102
Ace is afraid of vaginas, not muslims.

Posted by: Soothsayer at September 24, 2015 02:37 PM (BvMja)

103
HH going positively man-damp over the Bishop of Rome:

Hugh Hewitt hughhewitt
The @Pontifex action louder than all of his (very wonderful) words

Hugh Hewitt hughhewitt
Loving see @GOPLeader with @Pontifex and @SpeakerBoehner

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at September 24, 2015 02:38 PM (kdS6q)

104 The next one will probably be some commie from turd world africa.

The African Church tends to be pretty damn conservative, actually. I'd have been much happier with a couple of the candidates from there. It's Latin America that's infested with the "liberation theology" wankers.

Posted by: Tenth Amendment at September 24, 2015 02:38 PM (9krrF)

105 I still wanted him to break out with some Pink Panther quotes.

Should do a mash-up with Sgt Deux Deux

Posted by: Bigby's Press-on Fingernails at September 24, 2015 02:38 PM (3ZtZW)

106 Posted by: Cicero Skip at September 24, 2015 02:34 PM (FIrEF)

Last time I was dragged to church by my family, I put a note in an envelope that said, "In order to honor Pope Francis, I give you this note instead of my capitalist blood money. I do not want to taint the church with money earned from the horrible "unfettered capitalism" that he has so strongly denounced."

I told my parents afterwards. They were not amused.

I was though.

Posted by: Harry Paratestes, the artist formally known as mynewhandle at September 24, 2015 02:38 PM (AkOaV)

107 Off, de facto irrelevant sock.

Posted by: Brother Cavil, down with Eph 6:12-13 at September 24, 2015 02:38 PM (9krrF)

108 Render the salad unto Caesar!

Posted by: Wyatt Earp at September 24, 2015 02:38 PM (gA69l)

109 Posted by: Il Papa at September 24, 2015 02:34 PM (vy+Nr)

Shut up.

I am a non-practicing Catholic to be fair but I take umbrage at pretty much everything I've heard come out of this Popes mouth.

Posted by: thathalfrican at September 24, 2015 02:38 PM (R5HRU)

110

Wait,, let me get my glasses on... Okay, who was here? The pope? When?

Posted by: Hillary Clinton at September 24, 2015 02:38 PM (HSmrB)

111 I don't see you bashing Islam, are you scared of them?

o.O

Posted by: RWC - Team BOHICA at September 24, 2015 02:38 PM (fWAjv)

112 Being willowed is like being castrated. Actually, I kind of like it.

Posted by: Caitlyn Jenner at September 24, 2015 02:38 PM (dHTO7)

113

Dorothy Day was one of the four honorable Americans he mentioned

She was a full on commie and a big fan of Fidel Castro

Benedict was ousted in favor of this papal communist by the Jesuits. He is a nearly secular pope. When he met with Little Sisters of th Poor I wouldn't be surprised if he told them to stop making a fuss

Posted by: ThunderB at September 24, 2015 02:38 PM (zOTsN)

114 The pomp and circumstance that surrounds the Pope, Cardinals and Bishops have always made me uncomfortable compared to how I read the scriptures. I can imagine these gentlemen as Jesus rebuked the Pharasee priests in their long purple robes. This also effected me when I visited St Patricks in NYC. You walk into the front door and immediately to your right is a souvenir shop. I was expecting someone to come up from behind me with a whip chasing out the clerks.

Posted by: Max Rockatansky at September 24, 2015 02:39 PM (V8uX9)

115 See... I think a lot of Conservative Catholics miss that we're not (at least: I'm not) talking about his religious positions. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that his *religious* positions are, get this, Catholic orthodox opinion.

The problem is that the Pope is not *simply* a religious figure. No high profile religious figure is, but the Pope to a special degree is also a world-wide political figure. So when he says things - ex cathedra or not - those things carry weight.

So when he says that the U.S. - not "Catholics in the US" (which would be a religious opinion) or "the People of the US" (which would be a social AND religious opinion), but the United States as an entity should do something, he's weighing in on politics.

When he addresses illegal immigration (I'm going out on a limb here and guessing he's for Amnesty) and Global Warming (I'm going out on another limb and guessing he believe in AGW) in a highly advertised US political tour (why else stop by the White House?), then he's making political statements.

And, politically, he's a commie.

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) - Fire-hooks and Rock Salt for sale at September 24, 2015 02:39 PM (kff5f)

116 Atheism is a demoic Pagan believe system. It is based on the pantheiest concept that man is God. It is a perfect refuge for cowards.

o.O

Posted by: RWC - Team BOHICA at September 24, 2015 02:39 PM (fWAjv)

117 >>I don't understand how one can say something is "false" or "made up" when there is video proof of its existence. Like hours and hours and hours of video.

I'm assuming that's why they specifically dragged one of their vaunted news idols out of retirement to reinforce the narrative.

"Look! It's Tom Brokaw, that elder statesman of nightly news who never steered you wrong on any story for decades! You trust him, you grew up watching him. He says Carly's lying so it MUST BE TRUE!!"

Posted by: Lizzy at September 24, 2015 02:39 PM (NOIQH)

118 ... well, at least, the MSM aren't saying the the Pope and the bishops have "colorful costumes and pointy hats"

Posted by: Foghorn Leghorn at September 24, 2015 02:39 PM (e8kgV)

119 Hector, shouldn't you be tear-gassing Syrian refugees or something?

Posted by: Jane D'oh at September 24, 2015 02:39 PM (FsuaD)

120 Any spanish speaking morons want to read and summarize the pope anti-capitalism book from the '90s for us?

http://tinyurl.com/o9gqmtb

Posted by: Harry Paratestes, the artist formally known as mynewhandle at September 24, 2015 02:39 PM (AkOaV)

121 Posted by: Tenth Amendment at September 24, 2015 02:38 PM (9krrF)

This

Posted by: thathalfrican at September 24, 2015 02:39 PM (R5HRU)

122 Like Obama, Francis is a stunning example of the Peter Principle. Intellectually unremarkable people rising to the heights of leadership.

He's a Jesuit. It's about what I expected.

Posted by: Brother Cavil, down with Eph 6:12-13 at September 24, 2015 02:39 PM (9krrF)

123 I watched that section real time. Pope begins talking about the 'sanctity of life'... big applause from House members, the longest and loudest so far in his speech...

Then he rick-rolls the House by talking about ending capital punishment. I shit you not.

Posted by: se pa moron at September 24, 2015 02:40 PM (sI4OA)

124 >> The next one will probably be some commie from turd world africa.

I'm tanned, rested, and ready.

Vatican City looks a little short on links, if you catch my drift, think you can do something about that?

Posted by: Barack H. Obama at September 24, 2015 02:40 PM (o+SC1)

125 I recall that I never realized it before since I read it in ( I think it was John Derbyshire the guy who got fired from National Review due to an allegedly racist article I didn't read (and therefore allegedly)) that most believers were actually left wing and not right wing. That is because most catholics worldwide are left wing.
It really is only among the protestants here in this county that right wing thought is predominant.
Maybe that is due to the social gospel of Catholicism or due partially to the idea of the strongman figurehead of the pope that creates a model for the political realm from childhood. I don't know. Either way, we've had a historically good run of popes of late, and it seems we've reverted back to norm.

Posted by: Jollyroger at September 24, 2015 02:40 PM (t06LC)

126
Thankfully, Congress successfully maintained the mandatory separation of Church-state, but Boehner did violate the "never wear little girl panties and cry" rule for Congress.

Posted by: Doctor Fish at September 24, 2015 02:40 PM (OiFtZ)

127 I've heard conservative Catholics defend the Pope

Not this one. Pope Che needs to get lost and fast.

Posted by: TheQuietMan at September 24, 2015 02:40 PM (493sH)

128 Non practicing in other words you are a heretic.

O.o

Posted by: RWC - Team BOHICA at September 24, 2015 02:40 PM (fWAjv)

129 HH going positively man-damp over the Bishop of Rome:

One of the only times I truly agreed with Donald Trump was when he said Hewitt was a third-rate radio host. I cannot stand him. He is in the mold of other "conservative" icons like Michael Medved and Bill Bennett.

Posted by: Wyatt Earp at September 24, 2015 02:40 PM (gA69l)

130 It's Latin America that's infested with the "liberation theology" wankers.
Posted by: Tenth Amendment at September 24, 2015 02:38 PM (9krrF)

And Wide Open American Borders theology which insists that if America was not just so damn selfish, then all the needs of all the world's poor would be met.

Posted by: Sherry McEvil, Stiletto Corsettes at September 24, 2015 02:40 PM (kXoT0)

131 119 Atheism is a demoic Pagan believe system. It is based on the pantheiest concept that man is God. It is a perfect refuge for cowards.

o.O
Posted by: RWC - Team BOHICA at September 24, 2015 02:39 PM (fWAjv)

oh, well aren't you an open minded person.

Posted by: Harry Paratestes, the artist formally known as mynewhandle at September 24, 2015 02:40 PM (AkOaV)

132 Poseur.

Now get me some chestnuts...

Posted by: Pope Alexander VI at September 24, 2015 02:41 PM (vBeA5)

133 Posted by: Il Papa at September 24, 2015 02:39 PM (vy+Nr)

Guess I'll be burning.

Posted by: thathalfrican at September 24, 2015 02:41 PM (R5HRU)

134 I still wish he'da excommunicate Nazi Pelosi

Posted by: BackwardsBoy at September 24, 2015 02:25 PM

This morning he had the chance to beat her like Fr. Karras did Regan - until either the demon left her or her eyelids moved - but he passed up the opportunity.

Posted by: Emmett Milbarge at September 24, 2015 02:41 PM (nFdGS)

135 rwc -- or were you just quoting the troll? in which case -- oops.

Posted by: Harry Paratestes, the artist formally known as mynewhandle at September 24, 2015 02:41 PM (AkOaV)

136 Posted by: Il Papa at September 24, 2015 02:34 PM (vy+Nr)

This Catholic says you should start consuming that bag of dicks.

Get a head start on it, as it were.

Posted by: 98ZJUSMC Staring at the Lake in the rain at September 24, 2015 02:42 PM (7rAXc)

137 Being willowed is like being castrated. Actually, I kind of like it.

That's funny, Trump got all shrill about it.

Posted by: Bandersnatch, Opus/Bill the Cat 2016 at September 24, 2015 02:42 PM (JtwS4)

138 "Conservative" Catholics...

Join the Lutheran Church! If it's good enough to Mollie Hemingway, it better be good enough for you!

We have been waiting a while for Rome to catch up. Perhaps they never will... but you can.

(And I do mean the denomination based out of Missouri, not the Lex Luthreans in the ELCA.)

Posted by: Martin Luther's Ghost at September 24, 2015 02:42 PM (eoOaz)

139 Paging St Malachy
ST Malachy please pick up a white courtesy phone

Posted by: ginaswo at September 24, 2015 02:42 PM (qxNrP)

140 We've had bad Popes before, we'll have bad Popes again, it's nothing new. What is amusing is watching all the people who have hated the Catholic Church for generations suddenly deciding the Pope is "right" when it comes to Global Warming, Collectivism, etc. At least Pope Frank isn't as bad as John XII, I put him more in the Clement VII category.

Posted by: Lincolntf at September 24, 2015 02:42 PM (2cS/G)

141
Do apologists for this absurd Peronist really pretend not to understand the bottom-line motivation for the American Church being all in for lawlessness on migration? Really?

Yet this is somehow less morally vile than the reckless and stupid Chamber of Commerce approach, trading god-knows-what sort of chaos and injustice for a short-term source of unregulated unskilled labor?

And not just Catholics. I believe the Mormons have also been quite slippery on mass lawless migration because .... well, church first, citizenship and smart policy and moral code second. This is based on comments from Utah morons on this specific issue, so it could be off-base, dunno.

Posted by: rhomboid at September 24, 2015 02:42 PM (QDnY+)

142 The Pope does remember who he works for, right?

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at September 24, 2015 02:43 PM (VPLuQ)

143 So what really happened with Pope Benedict? He claimed he couldn't handle the rigors anymore and implied he was in failing health.

Yet, he's still alive & replaced with the Manchurian pope. Makes you wonder if someone had something big on him to make him step down?

Posted by: Landofskybluewater at September 24, 2015 02:43 PM (LZVrJ)

144 The pope is chamber of commerce with a collar

His job is to spread Catholicism. He figures the best and quickest way to make the United States more catholic is to make it more Hispanic

Posted by: ThunderB at September 24, 2015 02:43 PM (zOTsN)

145 I believe he was selected Pope specifically because he was Latin and the Church needed to reestablish the strong presence in Latin America where they felt it was diminishing.

Posted by: Max Rockatansky at September 24, 2015 02:43 PM (V8uX9)

146 I believe this pope is evil.

Remember Mike Flynn's books he was reading re the history of the world. Yes, I'm still stuck in the renaissance.

There have been a lot of bad popes. This one's up there.

Posted by: prescient11 at September 24, 2015 02:43 PM (W7w/T)

147 Goggle "communist infiltration of the catholic church"...just saying.

Looks like the religion of Global Warming has a Pontiff.

Posted by: TommyTee at September 24, 2015 02:35 PM (zFXwQ)

My high school was infested with commie priests. Leftist politics was their religion. This guy reminds me of them

Posted by: TheQuietMan at September 24, 2015 02:43 PM (493sH)

148 Tom Brokaw is the latest to carry the mantle for the narrative about the PP vids being all a big lie. Today he said Carly Furina made it up.

Can't wait until he pulls a Walter Cronkite.

Dies.

Posted by: rickb223 at September 24, 2015 02:43 PM (+Q7pl)

149 Posted by: Wyatt Earp at September 24, 2015 02:40 PM (gA69l)

I'll always have a fondness for Hewitt, when he has on authors for three hours it's usually great radio.

Because of him I heard Clarence Thomas for three full hours talk about his life and career. My dad bought me his book, read it in a week.

But yeah he's really disappointed me lately. Don't get me started on Medved. I wish Levin was on the Salem Network in that time slot instead of him, without Levin or Prager I would never listen to that station.

Posted by: thathalfrican at September 24, 2015 02:43 PM (R5HRU)

150 I've tried to not speak much about the Pope due to 1, respect for my Catholic readers, 2, my complete lack of knowledge of the sorts of things Popes typically say, and 3, generally not caring, but it seems impossible at this point to continue to indulge the optimistic wishcasting of right-leaning Catholics that Francis is merely "complex" and sometimes "misunderstood."

Ace

Thank you for your respect and reserve; it's appreciated.

His Holiness did something far more vile than give abortion short shrift. he firmly associated it with the death penalty. As you know, most leftists have no problem spouting "clumps of cells" and other weasel, while expressing mercy for violent criminals.

Many Catholics see a vast difference between the death penalty and abortion. The Church as been trying for years to smear the death penalty as barbaric, while turning a blind eye to abortion and its proponents, including such Ubercatholics like Delaware's own Joe Biden.

This gives leftists not only cover, but the pretense of "acting on Catholic, pro-life principles" when they do self aggrandizing stunts like commuting death sentences and ignoring victims.

Posted by: Papist Bograt at September 24, 2015 02:43 PM (326rv)

151 Cleanup on aisle 144.

Posted by: LawLurker at September 24, 2015 02:43 PM (zKwtX)

152 Where is the Banhammer when you need it?

Posted by: Jane D'oh at September 24, 2015 02:44 PM (FsuaD)

153 Atheism is a demoic Pagan believe system. It is based on the pantheiest concept that man is God. It is a perfect refuge for cowards.
Posted by: Il Papa at September 24, 2015 02:38 PM (vy+Nr)

Will you be comforted to know that Pope Francis assured atheists that they too will go to heaven? Another gem from his historic visit.

Posted by: Sherry McEvil, Stiletto Corsettes at September 24, 2015 02:44 PM (kXoT0)

154 I'll leave to Bannion a full discussion. I'll say this, I have many conservative Catholic friends who follow church politics. When this pope was elected they knew he would definitely sound leftist, but I think they hoped he would be as distrustful of the all powerful govenment as JPII.
Quite the opposite though he seems enamored with the idea of a saving government.
He's either naive or willfulu ignorant on that front this isn't an Aquinian or even Lockean government, its straight up Hobbes.

Posted by: tsrblke (phone) at September 24, 2015 02:44 PM (tM4uk)

155 To echo Sooth, where is Benedict?

I still can't come to grips that CatLady's hairdresser's rabbi's cousin's barber was right about him resigning.

Posted by: Grump928(c) at September 24, 2015 02:44 PM (evdj2)

156 The Church has had some pretty crappy Popes before (see the Borgias). It'll survive this one. (And he is one of the crappy ones and I haven't made excuses for him for a while.)

When I heard he was a Jesuit, I knew it would be bad. The Jesuits are the reason so many US Catholic universities are barely Catholic. They used to be conservative but swung left in a big way after Vatican II.

Posted by: Donna and V. (sans ampersands) at September 24, 2015 02:45 PM (u0lmX)

157 Serbian trolls are the worst.

Posted by: se pa moron at September 24, 2015 02:45 PM (sI4OA)

158 When was the last time a Pope was ultimately correct about the science he was spouting off about? Weren't people excommunicated for the sin of saying the Earth orbited the Sun and was not, in fact, the center of the universe....?

Posted by: VA GOP Sucks at September 24, 2015 02:45 PM (eytER)

159 135 rwc -- or were you just quoting the troll? in which case -- oops.

Posted by: Harry Paratestes, the artist formally known as mynewhandle at September 24, 2015 02:41 PM (AkOaV)

Sorry. Just quoting it.

Posted by: RWC - Team BOHICA at September 24, 2015 02:45 PM (fWAjv)

160 It's rather sad to see Pope John Paul II work destroying Communism be shat all over by the current pope.

Posted by: NotCoach at September 24, 2015 02:45 PM (rsudF)

161 Babies are warm.

I'm against global warming.

So... you know.

Posted by: Pope Commie at September 24, 2015 02:45 PM (2oWD2)

162 Yep. Those Christians are odd ducks, alright.

Can't wait till he addresses the UN.

That should be eschatological gold right there. (Send donations %Bishop Bobby Jeff's Hour of Amazing Riches)

[Better ramp up the popcorn production]

Posted by: Semper In Stercus at September 24, 2015 02:46 PM (BZAd3)

163 This really isn't all that hard to understand. Catholics have been having an argument for much of... probably all of my lifetime. It's a split between the communist faction of the Church, and the non- (and sometimes anti-) communist half.

Most of the communists are from South America. This Pope is from South America. The man walks, talks, and looks like a South American communist.

We can bicker and argue about labels all we want. Doesn't change the basic, simple, obvious fact.

Posted by: BurtTC at September 24, 2015 02:46 PM (TOk1P)

164 Time for you to go Hector.

Posted by: JackStraw at September 24, 2015 02:46 PM (OGm46)

165 I didn't hear or read the Pope's speech so can someone fill me in on how many immigrants he's letting into the Vatican?

Posted by: gwelf at September 24, 2015 02:46 PM (TJ8HB)

166 Friendly reminder: DON'T REPOST THE TROLL'S COMMENTS.

Even if he gets banned, then the comments stay on the page.

Posted by: BCochran1981 - Credible Hulk at September 24, 2015 02:46 PM (gW5Vg)

167 (vy+Nr)

Hector, get back under the stairs.

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) - Fire-hooks and Rock Salt for sale at September 24, 2015 02:46 PM (kff5f)

168 140
We've had bad Popes before, we'll have bad Popes again, it's nothing new. What is amusing is watching all the people who have hated the Catholic Church for generations suddenly deciding the Pope is "right" when it comes to Global Warming, Collectivism, etc. At least Pope Frank isn't as bad as John XII, I put him more in the Clement VII category.

Posted by: Lincolntf at September 24, 2015 02:42 PM (2cS/G)

The worst thing about a bad pope is the bad taste he leaves in your mouth.

Posted by: Former Altar Boy at September 24, 2015 02:46 PM (1DH1V)

169 They used to be conservative but swung left in a big way after Vatican II.

Posted by: Donna and V. (sans ampersands) at September 24, 2015 02:45 PM (u0lmX)

This guy looks like John XXIII. My first indication that he'd be trouble

Posted by: TheQuietMan at September 24, 2015 02:46 PM (493sH)

170 161 135 rwc -- or were you just quoting the troll? in which case -- oops.

Posted by: Harry Paratestes, the artist formally known as mynewhandle at September 24, 2015 02:41 PM (AkOaV)

Sorry. Just quoting it.

Posted by: RWC - Team BOHICA at September 24, 2015 02:45 PM (fWAjv)

I was just going to keep giving it the o.O or O.o but realized I am copying and pasting its droppings.

Posted by: RWC - Team BOHICA at September 24, 2015 02:46 PM (fWAjv)

171 *chunks Jello mold full of carpet tacks at troll*

Posted by: Jane D'oh at September 24, 2015 02:47 PM (FsuaD)

172 Posted by: Grump928(c) at September 24, 2015 02:44 PM (evdj2)

Benedict stepped down because of health. My guess is that his health has probably significantly declined since then. It's very possible he's in no condition to comment on anything his successor does or says.

Posted by: Donna and V. (sans ampersands) at September 24, 2015 02:47 PM (u0lmX)

173
Joe's Law: Trolls believe none of the things they post.

Joe's Corollary: Your disgust is their oxygen.

Joe's Conjecture: All trolls are Average Joe

Joe's Tautology: Average Joe sucks cock by choice.

Posted by: Grump928(c) at September 24, 2015 02:47 PM (evdj2)

174 I'm pretty sure Il Papa is a pedophile.

Posted by: VA GOP Sucks at September 24, 2015 02:47 PM (eytER)

175 Sorry. Just quoting it.
Posted by: RWC - Team BOHICA at September 24, 2015 02:45 PM (fWAjv)

No, sorry -- I should have realized. Heh.

Oh well, glad I didn't say anything too mean.

Posted by: Harry Paratestes, the artist formally known as mynewhandle at September 24, 2015 02:47 PM (AkOaV)

176 Posted by: BurtTC at September 24, 2015 02:46 PM (TOk1P)

Prager has talked about this in depth many times.

Spot on analysis.

Posted by: thathalfrican at September 24, 2015 02:47 PM (R5HRU)

177 Yet, he's still alive & replaced with the Manchurian pope. Makes you wonder if someone had something big on him to make him step down?

I'm going to laugh if Francis calls it a Papacy early and Benedict comes back...

Posted by: Brother Cavil, down with Eph 6:12-13 at September 24, 2015 02:47 PM (9krrF)

178 also, ace, if your in the comments -- what was the quitting smoking book you were touting a few months ago? The one without the scare tactic pictures in it?

Posted by: Harry Paratestes, the artist formally known as mynewhandle at September 24, 2015 02:47 PM (AkOaV)

179 I picture Jeb jerking off while listening to the pope speak. I'd love to see B16 sneak up behind him and whack him on the head with a crozier.

Posted by: Caitlyn Jenner at September 24, 2015 02:48 PM (dHTO7)

180 Yector, back to glory hole!

Posted by: Hector's Bolivian "Wife" at September 24, 2015 02:48 PM (FwRqg)

181 Sorry I quoted the troll. I did not realize that it would make the comment stick.

My bad.

Posted by: Sherry McEvil, Stiletto Corsettes at September 24, 2015 02:48 PM (kXoT0)

182 where did I see the other day that the pope thanked castro for his contributions to world peace? Isn't he already pope? Is Sanders catching up with him, too?

Posted by: mallfly at September 24, 2015 02:48 PM (qSIlh)

183 As a practicing Catholic I think this post said it well.

"I think we understand him just fine.

The left media is not just hallucinating this, or presenting a biased version of the Pope as they wish he were. He is in fact on the left on every single position he's liturgically permitted to be on the left on."

Posted by: Seems Legit at September 24, 2015 02:48 PM (Xa4vS)

184 129 I recall that I never realized it before since I read it in ( I think it was John Derbyshire the guy who got fired from National Review due to an allegedly racist article I didn't read (and therefore allegedly)) that most believers were actually left wing and not right wing. That is because most catholics worldwide are left wing.
It really is only among the protestants here in this county that right wing thought is predominant.
Maybe that is due to the social gospel of Catholicism or due partially to the idea of the strongman figurehead of the pope that creates a model for the political realm from childhood. I don't know. Either way, we've had a historically good run of popes of late, and it seems we've reverted back to norm.
Posted by: Jollyroger at September 24, 2015 02:40 PM (t06LC)

-----

I was surprised when arguing against the ACA just how many people of faith I was arguing with. Because they cared about the sick, or wanted the poor to get health care. Superficial understanding of government, but there are plenty that seem to associate government of some kind of enforcer of their good intentions.

There are some very fundamental assumptions about the relationship between government and citizens that we have failed to educate properly.

Posted by: Dave S. at September 24, 2015 02:48 PM (mhkbv)

185 I'm going to laugh if Francis calls it a Papacy early and Benedict comes back...

Posted by: Brother Cavil, down with Eph 6:12-13 at September 24, 2015 02:47 PM (9krrF)

Laugh? I'd throw a party

Posted by: TheQuietMan at September 24, 2015 02:48 PM (493sH)

186 Posted by: VA GOP Sucks at September 24, 2015 02:47 PM (eytER)

Wow, that's harsh. And groundless. And unjustified.

Posted by: Bandersnatch, Opus/Bill the Cat 2016 at September 24, 2015 02:49 PM (JtwS4)

187 When the Pope talks about anything other than religious and moral issues, he's just another celebrity.

My ancestors fought wars so they wouldn't have to obey the Pope anymore.

Posted by: Myiq2xu at September 24, 2015 02:49 PM (5fSr7)

188 Posted by: Sherry McEvil, Stiletto Corsettes at September 24, 2015 02:48 PM (kXoT0)

It's not that it makes the post stick, but when the clean up crew shows up, they're just going to delete all of the trolls posts, not necessarily your post wherein you quote the troll.

So the trolls comments still exist in your comment, even though the blogs have otherwise been cleaned of them. if that makes sense.

Posted by: Harry Paratestes, the artist formally known as mynewhandle at September 24, 2015 02:50 PM (AkOaV)

189 Posted by: VA GOP Sucks at September 24, 2015 02:47 PM (eytER)

Wow, that's harsh. And groundless. And unjustified.

Agreed. I know it's a running gag in these parts, but in this case I'm thinking it's a bridge too far.

Posted by: Brother Cavil, down with Eph 6:12-13 at September 24, 2015 02:50 PM (9krrF)

190 >>Wow, that's harsh. And groundless. And unjustified.

I believe he was talking about Hector. In which case, justified.

Posted by: JackStraw at September 24, 2015 02:50 PM (OGm46)

191 Wow, that's harsh. And groundless. And unjustified.

Posted by: Bandersnatch, Opus/Bill the Cat 2016 at September 24, 2015 02:49 PM (JtwS4)

I think it's a reference to Hector's current nic. Not the Pope.

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) - Fire-hooks and Rock Salt for sale at September 24, 2015 02:50 PM (kff5f)

192 He is in fact on the left on every single position he's liturgically permitted to be on the left on.

____________________

Ace,

"Liturgically"? I luv ya. That's funny right there.

Posted by: Make America Great Again at September 24, 2015 02:50 PM (LXJ1e)

193 Someone needs to tell this pinko that if church doctrine on the poor is anti-capitalist, then church doctrine is wrong and needs to change. Since, you know, the only effective anti-poverty system in the entirety of history has been capitalism.

Posted by: deepelemblues at September 24, 2015 02:50 PM (L3WuP)

194 "I think we understand him just fine. The left media is not just hallucinating this, or presenting a biased
version of the Pope as they wish he were. He is in fact on the left on
every single position he's liturgically permitted to be on the left on."

And, the Vatican has shifted to a policy of outright operational cooperation with leftist governments everywhere, including here.

From endorsing the ridiculous claim on the Falklands by the Kirchner government in the Pope's home country, to claiming that the endemic problems with EUSSR socialism are due to not enough socialism, to the orchestrated "spontaneous" plea for amnesty from the little illegal Hispanic nina yesterday on his arrival in the States.

Posted by: torquewrench at September 24, 2015 02:51 PM (noWW6)

195
He stepped down because he was OLD! He's 88 now and he retired when he was 86. I know you all think you will neither physically or mentally age but I got a bridge to sell ya.

Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at September 24, 2015 02:51 PM (iQIUe)

196 Jesuits are the first SJW in the Catholic Church. They run universities like Georgetown. They are the creators of liberation theology in the Catholic Church. And this pope was a young man when liberation theology ruled Latin America.

JPII saw liberation theology for what it was, communism with a blessing, and tamped it down as best he could. I knew the second this man was chosen, he would be the Obama of the Catholic Church

Posted by: ThunderB at September 24, 2015 02:51 PM (zOTsN)

197 154 Atheism is a demoic Pagan believe system. It is based on the pantheiest concept that man is God. It is a perfect refuge for cowards.
Posted by: Il Papa at September 24, 2015 02:38 PM (vy+Nr)

Why does your head keep jerking to one side?

Medical condition?

Posted by: 98ZJUSMC Staring at the Lake in the rain at September 24, 2015 02:51 PM (7rAXc)

198 Which (the 'Il Papa' reference to Hector) is a very, very good reason for giving one or more of the Horde the keys to the Banhammer of Loving Kindness. Because then we could stomp on him early before people decide to do that kind of thing and accidentally create dust-ups.

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) - Fire-hooks and Rock Salt for sale at September 24, 2015 02:51 PM (kff5f)

199 There are a lot of Catholics unhappy with his leadership, and not just in the U.S.

The problem is, a lot of "conservative" Catholics have developed bad instincts because of two reasonably solid papacies prior to this one--it's called "papal positivism," the belief that the Pope is always going to do the right thing and has your back, so just keep your head down and don't worry about it.

It doesn't work with the current guy, who is a lefty most comfortable with European lefties. His references to things that "conservative" Catholics tend to be on the front line about are always brief, often veiled and sometimes nearly unintelligible (using "ideological colonization" in reference to gay marriage). Whereas his statements on things near and dear to the left are crystal clear.

A lot of papal positivists are in for a shock next month, when the Pope will move to fulfill a big item on the lefty wish list, communion for those who get remarried without an annulment. Then the cow flop will really hit the propeller.

Posted by: Steve the Pirate at September 24, 2015 02:52 PM (nOp4s)

200 Yep. I just wonder how bad it's going to get before we get some relief.

I suspect *we* are all the relief we're going to get for a while.

Posted by: Methos at September 24, 2015 02:52 PM (ZbV+0)

201 i gave up being Catholic for Lent back when i was a teenager...

idiots like this Pope were the reason why.

Posted by: redc1c4 at September 24, 2015 02:52 PM (TuMUR)

202 197 Someone needs to tell this pinko that if church doctrine on the poor is anti-capitalist, then church doctrine is wrong and needs to change. Since, you know, the only effective anti-poverty system in the entirety of history has been capitalism.
---------------

Jesus said we'll always have the poor.

Posted by: Roy at September 24, 2015 02:52 PM (VndSC)

203 It really is only among the protestants here in this county that right wing thought is predominant.

Posted by: Jollyroger at September 24, 2015 02:40 PM (t06LC)

Yes, Episcopals, Methodists and a number of other protestant denominations are so very conservative.

Posted by: TheQuietMan at September 24, 2015 02:52 PM (493sH)

204 Ace you are an atheist who believes in nothing. You will be a coward when Jesus judges you. Enjoy bashing Catholics now because I'm the after life you will rot in hell. I don't see you bashing Islam, are you scared of them?
Posted by: Il Papa at September 24, 2015 02:34 PM (vy+Nr)

I don't think Hell is populated by those damned for disagreeing with the Pope of Rome, but then I'm a Protestant so I would think that, wouldn't I?

That said, it bothers me that Pope Francishas given the generally non-believing Left the mantle of spiritual and moral authority they've been looking for, a kind of papal imprimateur. John Paul II's spiritual authority was one of the forces that brought down Soviet communism. It would be darkly ironic if Francis' authority pushes a similar weight in the opposite direction.

Posted by: troyriser at September 24, 2015 02:52 PM (CMthJ)

205 Dah fuq is a protetant?

Posted by: RWC - Team BOHICA at September 24, 2015 02:52 PM (fWAjv)

206 43
By the way, the countries from where illegal immigrants come from in Latin America are overwhelmingly Catholic.

What is the Catholic church doing in those Latin American countries that is driving these people out?

Socialism, perhaps?

Posted by: The Devil at September 24, 2015 02:27 PM (KCQo0)

====================
Thread Winner

Posted by: gwelf at September 24, 2015 02:53 PM (nyxv/)

207 This pope is very disappointing. Focusing on climate change and the evils of capitalism while babies literally die on cold metal tables as butchers cut open their faces...well.

Posted by: Lauren at September 24, 2015 02:53 PM (/lvv6)

208 also, ace, if your in the comments -- what was the quitting smoking book you were touting a few months ago? The one without the scare tactic pictures in it?

I think it was one of Allen Carr's books. The Allen Carr's easy way to stop smoking one I believe.

Posted by: Grump928(c) at September 24, 2015 02:53 PM (evdj2)

209 #195, that was my take as well.

Posted by: Sherry McEvil, Stiletto Corsettes at September 24, 2015 02:53 PM (kXoT0)

210 I think it's a reference to Hector's current nic. Not the Pope.

Ah.

Retracted, then.

Posted by: Bandersnatch, Opus/Bill the Cat 2016 at September 24, 2015 02:53 PM (JtwS4)

211 Hello,
I am a Catholic, a theologian, and in politics. If you understand the terms Left/Liberal and Right in their original meaning I am almost certainly the further to the Right of any person you know. I go to a Latin Mass parish, home school, etc.
What I find amazing about the last 40 years is how much people care about every word that drops from the mouth of a Pope. He comes to a nation, kisses babies, blesses people, says Mass, and utters a bromide or three about caring for the poor, the stranger, and the orphan.
Any profound statements or bombshells are typically in such specialized language that it requires experts to understand (and translate) the impact; the Pope is a ultimately a specialist in a rarefied field, after all.
So, here he is, in America. His statements so far are introductory; be good to strangers, the poor, don't be wasteful or materialistic.
No surprises.
Nothing to lose sleep over.

Posted by: Richard at September 24, 2015 02:53 PM (WEu8/)

212 "Jesus said we'll always have the poor.
Posted by: Roy at September 24, 2015 02:52 PM (VndSC)"

That plutocrat. I eagerly await the Pope's discourse on how Jesus just didn't believe in church doctrine enough and was blinded by godless MONEH.

Posted by: deepelemblues at September 24, 2015 02:53 PM (L3WuP)

213 Posted by: BurtTC at September 24, 2015 02:46 PM (TOk1P)

Prager has talked about this in depth many times.

Spot on analysis.

Posted by: thathalfrican at September 24, 2015 02:47 PM (R5HRU)

I have family members who really do not like having this discussion, but there's truth, and then there's blunt truth staring you in the face.

Posted by: BurtTC at September 24, 2015 02:53 PM (TOk1P)

214 Dah fuq is a protetant?
Posted by: RWC - Team BOHICA at September 24, 2015 02:52 PM (fWAjv)

non-catlick

Posted by: Sherry McEvil, Stiletto Corsettes at September 24, 2015 02:53 PM (kXoT0)

215 My ancestors fought wars so they wouldn't have to obey the Pope anymore.

=====

I dunno man that just seems kinda extreme

Posted by: Bigby's Press-on Fingernails at September 24, 2015 02:54 PM (3ZtZW)

216 I was surprised when arguing against the ACA just how many people of faith I was arguing with. Because they cared about the sick, or wanted the poor to get health care. Superficial understanding of government, but there are plenty that seem to associate government of some kind of enforcer of their good intentions.

There are some very fundamental assumptions about the relationship between government and citizens that we have failed to educate properly.

Posted by: Dave S. at September 24, 2015 02:48 PM (mhkbv)

I think its an abdication of the traditional role of the church and placing the burden upon the state (which the state too happily wants). You can draw a graph with a line showing the expansion of the welfare state in countries and a graph showing church participation in another, and I'd wager you'd see almost perfect correlation between the growth of the state in expansion of duties and people leaving the faith.

And then they wonder why membership falls...(other than the whole alter boy problem)

Posted by: Jollyroger at September 24, 2015 02:54 PM (t06LC)

217 >>Dah fuq is a protetant?

Somebody who is pro tetant. duh

Posted by: JackStraw at September 24, 2015 02:54 PM (OGm46)

218 Btw, Ace, I think you're very considerate to your Catholic readers. You even gave us a post covering this dumbass popes announcement. You've never been disrespectful that I've seen. If anything all the catholic commenters at this site are the irreverent ones here.

Posted by: L, Elle at September 24, 2015 02:54 PM (2x3L+)

219 "Posted by: Il Papa at September 24, 2015 02:51 PM (vy+Nr)"

__________________________________________________

Thank you, I will.

Posted by: NotCoach at September 24, 2015 02:54 PM (rsudF)

220 Don't hold back on my account.

Posted by: duke at September 24, 2015 02:54 PM (mDxGf)

221 Yes, Episcopals, Methodists and a number of other protestant denominations are so very conservative.
Posted by: TheQuietMan at September 24, 2015 02:52 PM (493sH)

I personally doubt those denominations that have become so much of the world will very much longer be in it.

Posted by: troyriser at September 24, 2015 02:54 PM (CMthJ)

222 Posted by: Grump928(c) at September 24, 2015 02:53 PM (evdj2)

Thanks!

Posted by: Harry Paratestes, the artist formally known as mynewhandle at September 24, 2015 02:54 PM (AkOaV)

223 210
Dah fuq is a protetant?

In Hector's homeland of Serbia is refers to one who molests young boys. Hector's favorite pastime.

Posted by: Jane D'oh at September 24, 2015 02:54 PM (FsuaD)

224
Jeb Bush JebBush

Grateful for the inspiring words of @pontifex. People of good will must work together to advance the common good.

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at September 24, 2015 02:54 PM (kdS6q)

225 Over/Under on Il Papa walking into a school with a bunch of guns in the next 30 days...?

Posted by: Sambo at September 24, 2015 02:54 PM (9UV3C)

226 I'm just trying to clarify for my own sake, but did OP actually read the entire speech, or did he just read AP's take on the speech?

Posted by: unfatmatt at September 24, 2015 02:54 PM (ofDwz)

227 non-catlick

catlick my junk when I smear peanut butter on it.

Posted by: Joe Biden at September 24, 2015 02:55 PM (JtwS4)

228 Basically, he left no clich� unsaid. He could have reading those needlepoint things people post in their bathrooms...

Posted by: macleod at September 24, 2015 02:55 PM (Qf5bp)

229 I read somewhere last week, I believe, that many Cardinals in the church are grumbling pretty loudly in opposition to some of the Pope's positions. Wish I had a link, but I tend not to pay much attention to this stuff. It would be kind of interesting to know now that there is this additional controversy brewing.

Just what the world needs right now is a predominant leader of a leading religion taking some pretty extreme positions. I he starts up the inquisition again, I moving to... shit... Mars, I guess.

Posted by: Semper In Stercus at September 24, 2015 02:55 PM (BZAd3)

230 And forget about bringing that quitter pope Benedict pope back. I want Charles Chaput.

Posted by: L, Elle at September 24, 2015 02:55 PM (2x3L+)

231 Jesus said we'll always have the poor.
Posted by: Roy at September 24, 2015 02:52 PM (VndSC)

----

Yes he did.

But..... the poverty level in THIS country is at the 95th percentile of income world wide. From a global perspective, we HAVE wiped out poverty.

Ive posted this before.. but... Id like to ask the Pope which economic system accomplished that. (it aint democratic socialism)

Posted by: fixerupper at September 24, 2015 02:55 PM (8XRCm)

232 212 This pope is very disappointing. Focusing on climate change and the evils of capitalism while babies literally die on cold metal tables as butchers cut open their faces...well.

Posted by: Lauren at September 24, 2015 02:53 PM

That's different
Posted by: Fleeing and lawbreaking immigrants

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at September 24, 2015 02:55 PM (OLNwX)

233 The fawning of Catholics over their Pope is completely understandable. It makes no sense to me why anyone else would listen or pay any attention to him. Kinda like Americans following every word and movement by the British Royal Family. He has no authority nor expertise in matters other than the Catholic Church and liturgy. Just another guy yapping about stuff.

Posted by: steve walsh at September 24, 2015 02:56 PM (wFwCH)

234 Over/Under on Il Papa walking into a school with a bunch of guns in the next 30 days...?

He would have to send his helper monkey.

Posted by: Grump928(c) at September 24, 2015 02:56 PM (evdj2)

235 Isn't it against church doctrine to expect someone else to take care of the poor by stealing money from people to give to the poor? That's all that Francis is advocating. Show your deep concern for the poor by supporting the government stealing more money. You don't really have to do shit.

Posted by: deepelemblues at September 24, 2015 02:56 PM (L3WuP)

236 Posted by: Jollyroger at September 24, 2015 02:40 PM (t06LC)

The more devout American Catholics are the more likely they are to be poltically conservative. And I don't think the very devout people of Poland are Commies.

I don't like this Pope either, but you're taking this opportunity to express your own bigotry.

Posted by: Donna and V. (sans ampersands) at September 24, 2015 02:56 PM (u0lmX)

237 If Catholics don't stand up to this, expect this to be the new model in Catholic leadership.

I'm also sick of conservative apologists for this Pope. "Ooohh! He's so brave for uttering a sentence condemning the killing of an infant!!! " Is that really a brave stance for a Catholic Pope to take?

The reason the media has embraced this guy is because he's a Leftist, it's sure as hell not to get more people excited about the Catholic Church.

Posted by: Coolio at September 24, 2015 02:56 PM (ctq54)

238 That said, it bothers me that Pope Francishas given the generally non-believing Left the mantle of spiritual and moral authority they've been looking for, a kind of papal imprimateur. John Paul II's spiritual authority was one of the forces that brought down Soviet communism. It would be darkly ironic if Francis' authority pushes a similar weight in the opposite direction.
Posted by: troyriser at September 24, 2015 02:52 PM (CMthJ)

---------------------

Yes, that's it.

You know, maybe, just maybe, there are leftist policies that coincide with RCC teaching. But, darn, we are chopping babies up in this country and selling the parts and the leftist are fully on board for that.

The pope is certainly signaling that he doesn't give a flip.

Posted by: Make America Great Again at September 24, 2015 02:56 PM (LXJ1e)

239
Speaker John Boehner
What a day. What a moment for our country. I;m so proud that so many came to greet the Pope

Boehner, a Catholic who invited the pope to address Congress, called the pope's visit "a blessing for all of us." Boehner became emotional during the beginning of the pope's address, wiping tears from his eyes.

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at September 24, 2015 02:56 PM (kdS6q)

240 He stepped down because he was OLD! He's 88 now and he retired when he was 86. I know you all think you will neither physically or mentally age but I got a bridge to sell ya.

Why not start picking 'em a little younger then?
You've pretty much seen most everything by the time you are 50. Waiting until they are 80 to be picked isn't helping much.

Posted by: rickb223 at September 24, 2015 02:56 PM (+Q7pl)

241 Jesus said we'll always have the poor.
Posted by: Roy at September 24, 2015 02:52 PM (VndSC)

...and the greatest force on this planet for minimizing that truth is not Catholicism.

Free-market economics, baby. Dig it.

This Catholic does.

Posted by: 98ZJUSMC Staring at the Lake in the rain at September 24, 2015 02:57 PM (7rAXc)

242 If only Clock Boy could invent a banhammer.

Posted by: Jane D'oh at September 24, 2015 02:57 PM (FsuaD)

243 non-catlick
Posted by: Sherry McEvil, Stiletto Corsettes at September 24, 2015 02:53 PM (kXoT0)

----

*ack*

*pffft*

Posted by: Bill the Cat at September 24, 2015 02:57 PM (8XRCm)

244 (vy+Nr)

Will no one rid me of this troublesome troll?

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) - Fire-hooks and Rock Salt for sale at September 24, 2015 02:57 PM (kff5f)

245 non-catlick

Posted by: Sherry McEvil, Stiletto Corsettes at September 24, 2015 02:53 PM (kXoT0)

*wipes keyboard

Posted by: RWC - Team BOHICA at September 24, 2015 02:57 PM (fWAjv)

246 But..... the poverty level in THIS country is at the 95th percentile of income world wide. From a global perspective, we HAVE wiped out poverty.

As an Indian friend of mine used to say: To be poor in America is to have a black&white TV and ride the bus. To be poor in India is to have no clothes.

Posted by: Grump928(c) at September 24, 2015 02:57 PM (evdj2)

247 >>But..... the poverty level in THIS country is at the 95th percentile of income world wide. From a global perspective, we HAVE wiped out poverty.

One of the reasons we have as much poverty in this country as we do is because we take in so much of the world's poor. They don't just come here and become captains of industry.

Take their numbers out of the poverty total and we have relatively few poor compared to just about any country in the world.

Posted by: JackStraw at September 24, 2015 02:57 PM (OGm46)

248 Hector is so inept, so desperate to offend, I find his stuff hilarious. It should be left intact as a monument to impotent leftist spite and immaturity.

Posted by: Caitlyn Jenner at September 24, 2015 02:58 PM (dHTO7)

249 If I start spinning any faster in here, I may cause some kind of cataclysmic event. Just sayin'.

Posted by: John Paul II at September 24, 2015 02:58 PM (2Ojst)

250 200 He was the first to resign since the early 15th century! It's not common, even for poor health.

And if he's still mentally competent, I have to believe he's not thrilled with what this new pope is slinging.

Posted by: Landofskybluewater at September 24, 2015 02:58 PM (wUFzV)

251 This really isn't all that hard to understand.
Catholics have been having an argument for much of... probably all of my
lifetime. It's a split between the communist faction of the Church, and
the non- (and sometimes anti-) communist half.

Most of the
communists are from South America. This Pope is from South America. The
man walks, talks, and looks like a South American communist.

Posted by: BurtTC

And that is why I believe he is weak on the abortion issue. Think about the areas of the globe where life is cheap. South America comes to mind pretty quick.

Posted by: Dang at September 24, 2015 02:58 PM (2oWD2)

252 Being a lifelong practising Catholic, I had hoped that this pope would be the equal of his two magnificent predecessors; but no such luck.

The man lectures us about the rights of immigrants, but ignores the right of *emigration*, even when dealing with two monsters who, for more than fifty years, have turned their country into an island-prison.

All manner of things come robed in white, including sepulchres.

Posted by: Brown Line at September 24, 2015 02:58 PM (zcbZo)

253 But yeah he's really disappointed me lately. Don't get me started on Medved. I wish Levin was on the Salem Network in that time slot instead of him, without Levin or Prager I would never listen to that station.

Ditto. I like Levin and love Prager. The rest of the Salem bunch - to me -is awful. Hewitt spends way too much time with people like Ben Smith and other leftist mainstays.

Posted by: Wyatt Earp at September 24, 2015 02:58 PM (gA69l)

254 Shep tells us the Pope once considered a career in politics.

Who'd a thunk?

Posted by: Jane D'oh at September 24, 2015 02:58 PM (FsuaD)

255 Sorry, yep should have said I'm pretty sure Hector is a pedophile.

Posted by: VA GOP Sucks at September 24, 2015 02:58 PM (d8KK9)

256 Yes he did.

But..... the poverty level in THIS country is at the 95th percentile of income world wide. From a global perspective, we HAVE wiped out poverty.

Ive posted this before.. but... Id like to ask the Pope which economic system accomplished that. (it aint democratic socialism)
Posted by: fixerupper at September 24, 2015 02:55 PM (8XRCm)

Exactly, as Oklahoma's favorite son, Will Rogers quipped:

We are the only nation that goes to the poor house in an automobile.

--- Except that now includes 2 large color tvs, several gaming systems, and a new iPhone.

Posted by: Sherry McEvil, Stiletto Corsettes at September 24, 2015 02:58 PM (kXoT0)

257 Posted by: Il Papa at September 24, 2015 02:46 PM (vy+Nr)

You're ill, Papa.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at September 24, 2015 02:58 PM (8ZskC)

258 "As an Indian friend of mine used to say: To be poor in America is to have a black&white TV and ride the bus. To be poor in India is to have no clothes.
Posted by: Grump928(c) at September 24, 2015 02:57 PM (evdj2)"

And today being poor in America means owning a car, having cable or satellite TV, a 40% chance of owning your own house, a 50% chance of owning at least one computer and having the internet... etc.

Posted by: deepelemblues at September 24, 2015 02:58 PM (L3WuP)

259 Posted by: Il Papa at September 24, 2015 02:51 PM (vy+Nr)

Why it's Hector, the Serbian retard!!

Posted by: Donna and V. (sans ampersands) at September 24, 2015 02:58 PM (u0lmX)

260 "You can draw a graph with a line showing the expansion of the welfare state in countries and a graph showing church participation in another, and I'd wager you'd see almost perfect correlation between the growth of the state in expansion of duties and people leaving the faith. "

This is pretty much dead on, the State is the enemy of the Church which is why Communist regimes usually shut down religion ASAP.

Posted by: Coolio at September 24, 2015 02:59 PM (ctq54)

261 Posted by: deepelemblues at September 24, 2015 02:53 PM (L3WuP)

Well Judas was his Treasurer.

Posted by: Max Rockatansky at September 24, 2015 02:59 PM (V8uX9)

262 One other thing I noticed in Pope coverage was how some 'poor immigrant girl' somehow got past the security line and delivered a letter to the Pope. Right.

The press knew all the details in mere minutes.

Can you say 'set up'?

Posted by: se pa moron at September 24, 2015 02:59 PM (sI4OA)

263 >>I think its an abdication of the traditional role of the church and placing the burden upon the state (which the state too happily wants).

What kills me is how they always end up getting punked by the state they so wholeheartedly endorsed. For example:

--- Support ACA and then the state harasses religious organizations with HHS contraceptive mandate

--- Contract with the state to care for illegal immigrant minors (and generally aid the whole open borders nonsense) and then get forced to provide contraceptives, abortions for minors who were raped in their journey to America

It's a sick, sick cycle.

Posted by: Lizzy at September 24, 2015 02:59 PM (NOIQH)

264 Boehner, a Catholic who invited the pope to address Congress, called the pope's visit "a blessing for all of us." Boehner became emotional during the beginning of the pope's address, wiping tears from his eyes.

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at September 24, 2015 02:56 PM (kdS6q)

He had the water works turned on before the pope showed up. I'm surprised his orange paint didn't run

Posted by: TheQuietMan at September 24, 2015 02:59 PM (493sH)

265 261 Shep tells us the Pope once considered a career in politics.

Who'd a thunk?
Posted by: Jane D'oh at September 24, 2015 02:58 PM (FsuaD)

It's unfortunate he didn't. It's not like he could have f'ed up Argentina any more than it is right now.

Posted by: Donna and V. (sans ampersands) at September 24, 2015 03:00 PM (u0lmX)

266
Cameras caught Sen. Marco Rubio wiping away a tear from his eyes upon hearing the "son of immigrants" line.

Does the congressional heath insurance cover testosterone supplements? Cause buncha weeping willies up there on The Hill.

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at September 24, 2015 03:00 PM (kdS6q)

267 "And that is why I believe he is weak on the abortion issue. Think about the areas of the globe where life is cheap. South America comes to mind pretty quick."

Life may be cheap, but South America is one of the only places on Earth holding strong against abortion. It's not a coincidence that South America and Ireland are the only hold outs.

Posted by: Lauren at September 24, 2015 03:00 PM (/lvv6)

268 Meh, he kind of danced around a lot of subjects in his speech...kind of like a politician. I really have a suspicion he is terminally ill with something. He doesn't look good, but than again he's pretty freakin old.

Posted by: Adam Smith's Invisible Pimp Hand at September 24, 2015 03:00 PM (jxpIB)

269 Here, Hector, have some paste!

Posted by: Joey Biden at September 24, 2015 03:00 PM (FsuaD)

270 "He had the water works turned on before the pope showed up. I'm surprised his orange paint didn't run
Posted by: TheQuietMan at September 24, 2015 02:59 PM (493sH)"

The spray-tans are what causes the water works to run constantly at Chez Boehner.

There's no way he makes himself so orange just because he wants to look like a Cheeto.

Posted by: deepelemblues at September 24, 2015 03:01 PM (L3WuP)

271 I did, see 74.

Posted by: Sherry McEvil, Stiletto Corsettes at September 24, 2015 03:01 PM (kXoT0)

272 Hewitt spends way too much time with people like Ben Smith and other leftist mainstays.
Posted by: Wyatt Earp at September 24, 2015 02:58 PM (gA69l)

Hewitt may not have invented establishment Republican punditry, but he perfected it.

Posted by: Semper In Stercus at September 24, 2015 03:01 PM (BZAd3)

273 This could have been Reagan "Tear down Planned Parenthood, Mr President"' moment for the worthless tool pope, but instead we get more of the same verbal jackassery.

Opportunity lost. This one is trying to emulate JPII but with a leftist agenda not a Catholic one.

Posted by: L, Elle at September 24, 2015 03:01 PM (2x3L+)

274 Shep tells us the Pope once considered a career in politics.

Posted by: Jane D'oh

Looks like he took that career path.

Posted by: Dang at September 24, 2015 03:01 PM (2oWD2)

275 253 But..... the poverty level in THIS country is at the 95th percentile of income world wide. From a global perspective, we HAVE wiped out poverty.

*begins shaking violently*

*stomach bile spewing from mouth*

Posted by: Il PooPoo at September 24, 2015 03:01 PM (7rAXc)

276 Liberals like subterfuge and disobiedience. They like nothing more than destruction of tradition and the perceived subjugated weakness of a potentially malleable person.

It's why they like Obama and the Pope. They perceive he is giving the same wink-nod to their favorite issues- the killing of unborn babies and the Sodom and Gomorrah of gay marriage, even though Catholic teachings and catechism are strictly against it.

They perceive and end to Christian dominance and all religion based on moral pillars, mores which stand in the way of their God is man, master of their own universe religion.

They could not be further from the truth.

Posted by: Marcus T at September 24, 2015 03:01 PM (zXvqP)

277 ~~Your Protestant take religion~~ Serbia was founded by pedophiles and rapists.

FTFY

Posted by: A Croatian at September 24, 2015 03:01 PM (FwRqg)

278 Do the popes comments give republicans political cover for amnesty

Posted by: ThunderB at September 24, 2015 03:01 PM (zOTsN)

279 Some families have these yappy little dogs, chihuahuas or something like them, that are highly annoying, but the family finds them endearing for some reason. The dog poops or pees on the floor, gets scolded but never really disciplined...

Some families have a dog, we have Hector. The only one allowed to break house rules without getting kicked to the curb.

Posted by: Sambo at September 24, 2015 03:01 PM (9UV3C)

280 The pope says we're required to sit back and welcome the tens of millions of illegal aliens living illegally in our country and sucking up our resources, because all they want is a better life for themselves and their children.

Well what about us and our children? We have no rights, not even in our own damn country? We want good lives for ourselves, and better lives for our children too, but we're not going to have that because leftist fools like Obama and this pope keep encouraging our borders to be overrun and our treasury to be looted by foreigners.

I'm sick of it, and I'm sick of politicians masquerading as priests and popes too. When the vatican dismisses all its guards, and removes its gates and doors and lets anybody and everybody just come in and take whatever they want, then I'll listen to this pope. Until then, STFU.

Posted by: TrivialPursuer at September 24, 2015 03:01 PM (a31sM)

281 269 One other thing I noticed in Pope coverage was how some 'poor immigrant girl' somehow got past the security line and delivered a letter to the Pope. Right.

The press knew all the details in mere minutes.

Can you say 'set up'?

Posted by: se pa moron at September 24, 2015 02:59 PM (sI4OA)

Heard about that this morning. What utter horseshit. Same people that fall for that think ClockBoy is the next Edison.

Posted by: RWC - Team BOHICA at September 24, 2015 03:02 PM (fWAjv)

282 Perhaps the Pope got his Catholic doctrine talking points from the DC resident expert, Nancy Pelosi.

Posted by: Roy at September 24, 2015 03:02 PM (VndSC)

283 279.... If it comes out of his mouth...It came from the Vast Republican Establishment Conspiracy

Posted by: Mr Wizard at September 24, 2015 03:02 PM (eOpVe)

284 Pope seemed pretty boring in him English delivery. I wish he had an interpreter. If only he could have been fiery like Luther....

Posted by: Draki at September 24, 2015 03:02 PM (0eidE)

285 So Hector, what do you think about the Pope's calls to admit more immigrants -to Europe? Not the Mexican ones you love so much, but the Muslim ones? The Pope loves them too.

I'm sure you'll open your home to them, right?

Posted by: Donna and V. (sans ampersands) at September 24, 2015 03:02 PM (u0lmX)

286 But..... the poverty level in THIS country is at the 95th percentile of income world wide. From a global perspective, we HAVE wiped out poverty.

Ive posted this before.. but... Id like to ask the Pope which economic system accomplished that. (it aint democratic socialism)
Posted by: fixerupper at September 24, 2015 02:55 PM (8XRCm)

Yup. When Jesus was talking about the poor, they were actually, you know, really fucking poor. No food, no shelter, sitting outside the city wall wearing rags with the dogs licking their open festering sores. In the modern US, poor means free housing, free food, free medical care, a boatload of subsidies, and maybe having to rent instead of buy new rims for the Escalade.

Posted by: Insomniac at September 24, 2015 03:02 PM (2Ojst)

287 @243

I don't know about bigotry. I really liked JPII. I don't have a hard on for catholics either, and really don't go to church very often. Of course many Catholics I do know are the latin American type, and maybe there is something to that.

The poles are kind of the exception that proves the rule.

Posted by: Jollyroger at September 24, 2015 03:02 PM (t06LC)

288 271 Boehner, a Catholic who invited the pope to address Congress, called the pope's visit "a blessing for all of us." Boehner became emotional during the beginning of the pope's address, wiping tears from his eyes.

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at September 24, 2015 02:56 PM (kdS6q)

And supposedly, he didn't notify Obama in advance of the invitation and yet all of the Dems still came to the address. That's unusual, right?

Posted by: Semper In Stercus at September 24, 2015 03:03 PM (BZAd3)

289 Dude is a Marxist.

Posted by: Community Organizer at September 24, 2015 03:03 PM (9VLhN)

290 The press knew all the details in mere minutes.

Can you say 'set up'?

Posted by: se pa moron at September 24, 2015 02:59 PM (sI4OA)

------

Hmmmmm...... that gives me an idea......

Posted by: Achmed the Living Terrorist at September 24, 2015 03:03 PM (8XRCm)

291 Someone please let Hector out in the yard. He's scratching at the door again.

Posted by: Roy at September 24, 2015 03:03 PM (VndSC)

292 He'll be the Democrat Nominee...he's even more corrupt than any Clinton

Posted by: Mr Wizard at September 24, 2015 03:03 PM (eOpVe)

293 He sounds a lot like a random Reform Rabbi.

Posted by: Attila (Pillage Idiot) at September 24, 2015 03:03 PM (p9FbV)

294 If only he could have been fiery like Luther....
Posted by: Draki at September 24, 2015 03:02 PM (0eidE)

No, I'm glad he wasn't. I hope he bored the crap out of everyone so much they didn't listen to him.

Posted by: Donna and V. (sans ampersands) at September 24, 2015 03:04 PM (u0lmX)

295 How many "syrian" refugees will Vatican City be taking in?

Posted by: nckate

My guess? 0.0

It's always somebody else's responsibility/money/etc.

Posted by: Moderate Salami, weeping for our dead Republic at September 24, 2015 03:04 PM (/Ho8c)

296 JPII saw liberation theology for what it was, communism with a blessing, and tamped it down as best he could. I knew the second this man was chosen, he would be the Obama of the Catholic Church

=====

For what little its worth, I figure God works in odd ways and the office of the Pope is one of those ways. God, seeing further than any of us has seen it best that we get a Pope who can speak with Commies. Which, I dunno, might be a forewarning for those with ears to hear it.

Posted by: Bigby's Press-on Fingernails at September 24, 2015 03:04 PM (3ZtZW)

297 Yeah that poor immigrant girl should get together with Ahmed.

Posted by: Lauren at September 24, 2015 03:04 PM (/lvv6)

298 He's a progressive coward...with a goofy hat....

Posted by: Hank_Scorpio at September 24, 2015 03:04 PM (nQREt)

299 "I think we understand him just fine."

Yep.

Posted by: Me at September 24, 2015 03:04 PM (6P0lT)

300 I want Charles Chaput.

Posted by: L, Elle at September 24, 2015 02:55 PM (2x3L+)

So you can get an even longer lecture on our duty to turn the country over to an army of illegal invaders?

Posted by: Emmett Milbarge at September 24, 2015 03:05 PM (nFdGS)

301 During their private meeting, I wonder if TFG had a chance to ask the Pope for forgiveness of his pederasty.

Posted by: MTF at September 24, 2015 03:05 PM (TxJGV)

302 Free-market economics, baby. Dig it.

This Catholic does.

Word.

Posted by: The Acton Institute at September 24, 2015 03:05 PM (FwRqg)

303 Hey, no comparing him to the Borgia poes! The first one was ok, and the second one, while highly political, at least tried to fight the muzzie threat.
It's just that they got trashed by Italian biographers coz they were Spanish.

Posted by: @votermom at September 24, 2015 03:05 PM (oTOny)

304 Ahmed's busy inventing the turnstile for use at Mecca.

Posted by: Jane D'oh at September 24, 2015 03:05 PM (FsuaD)

305 My guess? 0.0

I would like to take in 0.27 "Syrian Refugees."

Here, have this bone-saw and this gram scale...

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) - Fire-hooks and Rock Salt for sale at September 24, 2015 03:05 PM (kff5f)

306 I knew the second this man was chosen, he would be the Obama of the Catholic Church
-----------

Francis is still way better an Popin', than Obama is at Presidentin'.

Posted by: Roy at September 24, 2015 03:05 PM (VndSC)

307 hey but look at all the likes I get on social media

Posted by: Pope Social Justice at September 24, 2015 03:05 PM (xwPSp)

308 I'm trying to imagine a life so sad that you would constantly change your hash to go to a place where you are not wanted just to get banned again. That's just pathetic.

Posted by: JackStraw at September 24, 2015 03:05 PM (OGm46)

309
Richard, your illogical self ad hominems aside, either you're being disengenuous or haven't been keeping up. Every bit of support, cover, distraction, or obfuscation given to evil, stupid policies (mass illegal migration and associated race-baiting, climate cultism, statist suppression of economic freedom) matters. Things are *that* bad.

Lose sleep? No point in doing that over literally any conceivable thing, so it's a meaningless concept. But if you were more tuned in to the incredibly dumbed down, racist, economically illiterate, authoritarian mindset now dominating American culture, politics, and institutions, you'd realize that even yammering by an outside figure like a pope can be a negative.

Posted by: rhomboid at September 24, 2015 03:05 PM (QDnY+)

310 312 My guess? 0.0

I would like to take in 0.27 "Syrian Refugees."

Here, have this bone-saw and this gram scale...
Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) - Fire-hooks and Rock Salt for sale at September 24, 2015 03:05 PM (kff5f)

Got any pregnant ones?

Posted by: PP and StemExpress at September 24, 2015 03:06 PM (2Ojst)

311 A lot of papal positivists are in for a shock next month, when the Pope will move to fulfill a big item on the lefty wish list, communion for those who get remarried without an annulment. Then the cow flop will really hit the propeller.
Posted by: Steve the Pirate at September 24, 2015 02:52 PM (nOp4s)

I think you will find the Pope finds this a difficult thing to accomplish. The Curia is likely to put the kibosh on that. Adultery is still #6 on the Big Ten. It is a farther row to hoe than women's ordination, which was always a nonstarter. No matter how commie of a Pope we have, and we do have one of those.

Probably should remember that this Pope is by far not the worst one that ever made the fisherman's shoes slap pavement. We've had some doozies over the years, and yet the Church stays put.

Posted by: St. Margaret Atheling Queen of Scotland, aka tcn in AK at September 24, 2015 03:06 PM (+YMhA)

312 I'm sick of it, and I'm sick of politicians masquerading as priests and popes too. When the vatican dismisses all its guards, and removes its gates and doors and lets anybody and everybody just come in and take whatever they want, then I'll listen to this pope. Until then, STFU.
Posted by: TrivialPursuer at September 24, 2015 03:01 PM (a31sM)

Don't forget the Death Penalty nuns. We here in Oklahoma currently have Dr. Phil, Susan Sarandon and Sister Helen Prejean, the nun she played in the Dead Man Walking movie trying to save someone on Death Row who has had two trials and a petition for a new trial rejected due to "new evidence", which consists of testimony from one inmate allegedly overhearing another.

Posted by: Sherry McEvil, Stiletto Corsettes at September 24, 2015 03:06 PM (kXoT0)

313 I read somewhere last week, I believe, that many
Cardinals in the church are grumbling pretty loudly in opposition to
some of the Pope's positions. Wish I had a link, but I tend not to pay
much attention to this stuff. It would be kind of interesting to know
now that there is this additional controversy brewing.

Just what the world needs right now is a predominant leader of a
leading religion taking some pretty extreme positions. I he starts up
the inquisition again, I moving to... shit... Mars, I guess.

Posted by: Semper In Stercus at September 24, 2015 02:55 PM (BZAd3)

Cardinal Burke, who was Archbishop of St. Louis before he went to the Vatican (and was elevated to Cardinal by Benedict), was demoted by this guy. His role was specifically dealing with gay priests, and lesbian nuns, and other various elements of the Church that had gotten off track.

Hence, his demotion. He had some clear words he used last week about the Pope. This is not idle talk.

Posted by: BurtTC at September 24, 2015 03:06 PM (TOk1P)

314 The Pope is trying to reach as many souls as he can.

How else would he get CNN to broadcast his visit?

He mentioned Lincoln, but he also mentioned an American who was against nuclear proliferation, I suspect given certain beliefs about God's Chosen People that the mention and timing is not by mere chance.

Posted by: Fatman at September 24, 2015 03:06 PM (mcm0N)

315
Evils of Capitalism: 101

Charitable giving - 2013

UNITED STATES - First Place
39 BILLION of Federal Foreign Assistance
41 BILLION of PRIVATE Charitiable giving.

United Kingdom - Second Place
8 Billion of Federal Foreign Assistance.

.... it gets ALOT smaller from there.

Posted by: fixerupper at September 24, 2015 03:07 PM (8XRCm)

316 lesbian nuns

I can neither confirm nor deny that I have seen depictions of such on film.

Posted by: Insomniac at September 24, 2015 03:07 PM (2Ojst)

317 I'm going to go out on a limb here and posit that the pointy-hatted guy-in-Rome's anti-rich agenda does *not* extend to his own organization.

"For the Lord sayeth, 'Socialism for thee, the least of my flock, but for thy shepherds, let them hoardeth wealth.'" The Gospel According to St. Bastard, 19:34

Seems like an awful lot of churches like that one.

Posted by: Fa Cube Itches at September 24, 2015 03:07 PM (Cx8hP)

318 I read somewhere that the Vatican had agreed to sponsor 1 family. If I understand Italian Law correctly, they can not actually live on the Vatican. They would have to live somewhere else.

Posted by: Tim in Illinois. Proud owner of Luap Nor's Last Brain Cell and a pocket full of Silver Dimes at September 24, 2015 03:07 PM (dOD0J)

319 I feel the Pope is betraying the legacy of JPII.

Posted by: Iblis at September 24, 2015 03:07 PM (9221z)

320 Posted by: Wyatt Earp at September 24, 2015 02:58 PM (gA69l)

I just wish Prager wasn't on as the same time as Rush.

Although Prager replays his show all day via his website.

Posted by: thathalfrican at September 24, 2015 03:08 PM (R5HRU)

321
A lot of papal positivists are in for a shock next month, when the Pope will move to fulfill a big item on the lefty wish list, communion for those who get remarried without an annulment. Then the cow flop will really hit the propeller.
Posted by: Steve the Pirate

That isn't our problem. This guy and one bishop after another acting like the worst leftist politicians is.

"we're closing schools and churches because of a lack of funds; it's the responsible thing to do"

But,

"We demand that government spend more for cause A,B, and C. We don't give a shit where the money comes from"

"wait one; soak the rich!"

"Of course we care about abortion; that's why we're sitting here like fucking ugly lumps, saying nothing to abortion loving politicians"

"we are against the death penalty, so now we WILL confront politicians, play the race card, lie about ineffective counsel, icky needles and give awards to lawyers for enable murderers."

Posted by: Papist Bograt at September 24, 2015 03:08 PM (326rv)

322 310 Hey, no comparing him to the Borgia poes! The first one was ok, and the second one, while highly political, at least tried to fight the muzzie threat.
It's just that they got trashed by Italian biographers coz they were Spanish.
Posted by: @votermom at September 24, 2015 03:05 PM (oTOny)

The Borgias weren't the worst of them, but they were right up there.

Posted by: St. Margaret Atheling Queen of Scotland, aka tcn in AK at September 24, 2015 03:08 PM (+YMhA)

323 >>>
So you can get an even longer lecture on our duty to turn the country over to an army of illegal invaders?

---
Damn! I forgot that about him. Okay, how about Cardinal George Pell, he's a climate denier. Or Cardinal Raymond Burke. He told Horseface that he couldn't receive communion in the diocese of St Louis

Posted by: L, Elle at September 24, 2015 03:08 PM (2x3L+)

324 Cool letter Sophie Cruz. Want to bring it to The Vatican?

Posted by: Da Pope at September 24, 2015 03:09 PM (fWAjv)

325 Hmmm....

Note... no Pope has ever been invited to Address both houses of Congress before.

IMO? He should not have been invited now.

Posted by: BB Wolf at September 24, 2015 03:09 PM (qh617)

326 308 During their private meeting, I wonder if TFG had a chance to ask the Pope for forgiveness of his pederasty.
Posted by: MTF at September 24, 2015 03:05 PM (TxJGV)

More likely Obama asked the Pope if there was anything he wanted for Obama to forgive him.

Posted by: Max Rockatansky at September 24, 2015 03:09 PM (V8uX9)

327 Boehner became emotional during the beginning of the pope's address, wiping tears from his eyes.
Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at September 24, 2015 02:56 PM (kdS6q

That's nothing. You should see him at home when he has Life Time Channel on.

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at September 24, 2015 03:09 PM (yddCj)

328 "But..... the poverty level in THIS country is at the 95th percentile
of income world wide. From a global perspective, we HAVE wiped out
poverty."

As always needs to be pointed out, _net of debt_, Americans at all income levels are actually a whole lot less well off than current superficial appearances would indicate.

Right now most Americans don't even perceive at all how heavy the debt yoke on their shoulders really is. That will change. Soon. Societies with too much topweight of debt get to the point where new debt has to be incurred merely to pay off old debt. Compounding kicks in viciously. And everyone but the very rich suddenly learn how poor they really are in real net terms.

This is precisely how it worked in Pope Peron's home country, by the way.

Posted by: torquewrench at September 24, 2015 03:09 PM (noWW6)

329 I'm trying to imagine a life so sad that you would constantly change your hash to go to a place where you are not wanted just to get banned again. That's just pathetic.

Posted by: JackStraw

Putin's money is still good all across Russia.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at September 24, 2015 03:09 PM (JmGFJ)

330 Or Cardinal Raymond Burke. He told Horseface that he couldn't receive communion in the diocese of St Louis
Posted by: L, Elle at September 24, 2015 03:08 PM (2x3L+)

The Pope demoted Burke.

Posted by: Iblis at September 24, 2015 03:10 PM (9221z)

331 That's nothing. You should see him at home when he has Life Time Channel on.
Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at September 24, 2015 03:09 PM (yddCj)

You watch the Lifetime Channel with John Boehner?

Posted by: Insomniac at September 24, 2015 03:10 PM (2Ojst)

332 off sock

Posted by: RWC - Team BOHICA at September 24, 2015 03:10 PM (fWAjv)

333 "Boehner became emotional during the beginning of the pope's address, wiping tears from his eyes."

The Pope shouldn't let it go to his head. Agent Orange starts crying when old re-runs of _Cheers_ come on the tube.

Posted by: torquewrench at September 24, 2015 03:11 PM (noWW6)

334 Pope Francis is more than head of the Catholic Church hes also the head of state of the Vatican, which as a government has possibly the most restrictive immigration and citizenship policies of any nation in the world.

Typical Liberal Hypocrite

Posted by: Nevergiveup at September 24, 2015 03:11 PM (gf8BH)

335 I seriously don't get Christian rejection of the death penalty. I have never read a single word in the NT or OT which suggests that the death penalty is in anyway unjust or even a failure of mercy.

Paul did not say, "I've run my race, I've finished my fight, and gosh darn it this whole execution I'm staring in the face is down-right un-Christian!"

The death penalty is a necessary weapon in the arsenal of justice. It is not "mercy" to allow convicted murderers to live long, relatively comfortable lives. It is a *failure* of mercy - because we must consider being "merciful" to those who were victims (or survivors of victims) of such men (and, less often, women).

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) - Fire-hooks and Rock Salt for sale at September 24, 2015 03:11 PM (kff5f)

336 BurtTC, I didn't know that Burke had been demoted. Now I hate this pope even more.

Posted by: L, Elle at September 24, 2015 03:11 PM (2x3L+)

337
Feet up, pat him on the po-po
Let's hear him laugh, ha ha

Posted by: wth at September 24, 2015 03:11 PM (wAQA5)

338 Posted by: torquewrench at September 24, 2015 03:11 PM (noWW6)

LOL

Posted by: thathalfrican at September 24, 2015 03:11 PM (R5HRU)

339 CFB Rumor:

Lane Kiffin to be fired by Alabama; supposedly he was boosting some booster's wife.

Posted by: Country Singer at September 24, 2015 03:12 PM (8hctH)

340 95 81
I don't see you bashing Islam, are you scared of them?

Posted by: Il Papa at September 24, 2015 02:34 PM (vy+Nr)

- - - -

*wipes tear away*

Now that's some funny shit right there.

Posted by: Community Organizer at September 24, 2015 03:12 PM (9VLhN)

341 280 This could have been Reagan "Tear down Planned Parenthood, Mr President"' moment for the worthless tool pope, but instead we get more of the same verbal jackassery.

Opportunity lost. This one is trying to emulate JPII but with a leftist agenda not a Catholic one.
Posted by: L, Elle at September 24, 2015 03:01 PM (2x3L+)

Bingo.

It really makes me despair that at a time when strong, sane leadership is so desperately needed in the world, we have a bunch of idiots and cowards and nonentities who are content to endorse the latest stupid intellectual fads and cliches and bow down before evil or avert their eyes rather than fighting it.

Jollyroger: if the only Catholics you know are of the Latin American variety - well, I can see why you think we Catholics are all statists, although we are not. There is a big split between liberal Catholics and conservative Catholics in the US that mirrors the larger US red-blue divide.

Posted by: Donna and V. (sans ampersands) at September 24, 2015 03:12 PM (u0lmX)

342 Cardinal Burke, who was Archbishop of St. Louis before he went to the Vatican (and was elevated to Cardinal by Benedict), was demoted by this guy. His role was specifically dealing with gay priests, and lesbian nuns, and other various elements of the Church that had gotten off track.

Hence, his demotion. He had some clear words he used last week about the Pope. This is not idle talk.
Posted by: BurtTC at September 24, 2015 03:06 PM (TOk1P)

Cardinal Burke has stones of steel. You can hear them clank together when he walks holding his crozier.

Posted by: St. Margaret Atheling Queen of Scotland, aka tcn in AK at September 24, 2015 03:12 PM (+YMhA)

343 Poll: Majority Of Americans Say They Would Not Vote For A Muslim President

Weasel Zippers

To FUCKIN LATE you idiots...52% already did or the next best alternative...Fucked we are

Posted by: Nevergiveup at September 24, 2015 03:13 PM (gf8BH)

344 You watch the Lifetime Channel with John Boehner?

Posted by: Insomniac

He stained the shit out of my couch. Orange tears. Orange! Who the hell does that?

Posted by: Dang at September 24, 2015 03:13 PM (2oWD2)

345 The Pope shouldn't let it go to his head. Agent Orange starts crying when old re-runs of _Cheers_ come on the tube.

Posted by: torquewrench at September 24, 2015 03:11 PM (noWW6)

That's because he WANTS to be where everyone knows your name... and are GLAD you came...

Posted by: BB Wolf at September 24, 2015 03:13 PM (qh617)

346 It's not a coincidence that South America and Ireland are the only hold outs.

Ireland just approved SSM by referendum.... abortion won't be far behind

Posted by: McCool at September 24, 2015 03:13 PM (TQxRy)

347 I am a non-practicing Catholic. I've strayed ever since Pope John XXIII ruined the Church with Vatican II. I was raised with the Latin Mass. Everything has changed in the Church. The whole Mass is sung now....if I want to sing I'd join the choir. If I want to shake hands, I'll greet people after Mass. Nothing seems solemn anymore. But this Pope has pushed me over the edge. Global Warming?! Anti-Capitalism?! Air Conditioning is evil?! Meet with our prisoners, but not Cuban political prisoners?! Screw you Francis, you commie,....you've now made me decide to leave the Catholic Church. I've been on the fence for years, after being disgusted with the changes over the years, but you've pushed me out of this Church.

Posted by: Bixter at September 24, 2015 03:13 PM (tAPcz)

348 I read somewhere that the Vatican had agreed to sponsor 1 family. If I understand Italian Law correctly, they can not actually live on the Vatican. They would have to live somewhere else.
____________________

LOL, yeah, how very generous of them, right? Meanwhile, we've got tens of millions of illegal aliens living here illegally and costing us hundreds of billions of dollars every year, thousands more coming across the border every day, and the idiots Kerry and Obama planning to import a few hundred thousand more Muslims. And this Marxist hypocrite pope lectures us that WE'RE not doing enough?

These people make me sick.

Posted by: TrivialPursuer at September 24, 2015 03:13 PM (a31sM)

349 CFB Rumor:

Lane Kiffin to be fired by Alabama; supposedly he was boosting some booster's wife.

Please, please, please.

Posted by: Grump928(c) at September 24, 2015 03:13 PM (evdj2)

350 pope strikes me as using plain vanilla liberal tactics. Ignore or oversimplify the issues/aspects that interfere with your agenda. Concern troll conservatives: reluctantly agree to what they believe, but slip in little post modern caveats that eat away at the heart of those beliefs.

The fingerprint, the aura he gives off is just plain vanilla liberal tactics.

Posted by: Caitlyn Jenner at September 24, 2015 03:13 PM (E5UB0)

351 I am curious, just exactly what are Rubio's chops on foreign policy?

Serious question.

Posted by: prescient11 at September 24, 2015 03:13 PM (W7w/T)

352 OTH, I now have a hot new take on Dances With Wolves or as I call it "Dances with xenophobic racists too lazy to do the jobs that migrant white mans are willing to do", the story of a migrant gentle giant community organizer (Col. Dunbar) who tries to assimilate with the immigrants in America who just happened to get there first and loses his vibrant cultural identity in so doing. However, he is quickly reunited with his fellow migrants and in so doing has to make a heartbreaking choice, one which was on the wrong side of history.

Posted by: joe-impeachin44 at September 24, 2015 03:14 PM (ariQ4)

353 You watch the Lifetime Channel with John Boehner?
Posted by: Insomniac

Speaking of Lifetime, in next week's Movie of the Week you can see me getting slapped around by that guy who only ever plays abusive husbands and Republican politicians.

Posted by: Meredith Baxter Birney at September 24, 2015 03:14 PM (awspb)

354 The popes English comments were to give politicians political cover

The popes Spanish comments, tho the same, were spoken more forcefully. He wants more central and South Americans in the United States. That will make the United States more catholic. There is a pragmatic rationale to it.

I don't understand him with regard to the European immigration crisis. France will cease to be a catholic country very shortly. Germany has the lowest birth rate. Eventually, those two nations will have more practising Muslims than Catholics

It's like the Arab birth rate in Israel.

Demographics are destiny

Posted by: ThunderB at September 24, 2015 03:14 PM (zOTsN)

355 356 CFB Rumor:

Lane Kiffin to be fired by Alabama; supposedly he was boosting some booster's wife.

Please, please, please.
Posted by: Grump928(c) at September 24, 2015 03:13 PM (evdj2)

Booster's wife AND/OR SABAN'S DAUGHTER

Posted by: BCochran1981 - Credible Hulk at September 24, 2015 03:14 PM (gW5Vg)

356 >>> He is in fact on the left on every single position he's liturgically permitted to be on the left on.

Ace, some perspective from a Catholic:

This is pretty close to true. But what it also means is that he does not stray from the magisterium of the church. Which is true as well.

And frankly, that doesn't leave much room for him to be a left-winger.

I am disappointed with this pope in his job as communicator of the catholic faith. His priorities seem very wrong to me, and his prudential judgement is very flawed in two areas in particular: macro economics, and environmental degradation (especially global warming).

But those areas are not his job. (And I would agree with you if you were to say: "then he should stay out of it!").

But anyways, the comments here saying that he is a communist, etc. are absolutely ridiculous. If people think that then, they don't know the first thing about him.

Posted by: dan-O at September 24, 2015 03:15 PM (ByqK7)

357
Pope seemed pretty boring in him English delivery. I wish he had an interpreter. If only he could have been fiery like Luther....
Posted by: Draki
.....................

An interpreter, hmmm... does Charlotte McKinney speak Popeanol?

Posted by: wth at September 24, 2015 03:15 PM (wAQA5)

358 Poll: Majority Of Americans Say They Would Not Vote For A Muslim President

-----

Poll: Majority Of Americans Say They Would Not Vote For A Muslim President - For a Third Term

FIFY

Posted by: fixerupper at September 24, 2015 03:15 PM (8XRCm)

359 I seriously don't get Christian rejection of the death penalty. I have never read a single word in the NT or OT which suggests that the death penalty is in anyway unjust or even a failure of mercy.

__________________

It's almost exclusively Catholics and mainly because they no longer get to administer it anymore like in the good old days.

The Bible actually COMMANDS the death penalty for murder, at least in the Old Testament.

Posted by: Coolio at September 24, 2015 03:15 PM (ctq54)

360 >>Putin's money is still good all across Russia.

But to what purpose? It's not like he's winning hearts and minds here. He just comes and tosses out random insults and gets banned.

At least when Putin insults Barry he takes a Crimea or two.

Posted by: JackStraw at September 24, 2015 03:15 PM (OGm46)

361 The Pope also made a visit to The Little Sisters of the Poor.

These are the Sisters in the Obamacare law suit.

Actions are sometimes louder than words.

Xi is also concurrently visiting America maybe some of the message is for him.

Posted by: Fatman at September 24, 2015 03:15 PM (mcm0N)

362 Jollyroger: if the only Catholics you know are of the Latin American variety - well, I can see why you think we Catholics are all statists, although we are not. There is a big split between liberal Catholics and conservative Catholics in the US that mirrors the larger US red-blue divide.

Posted by: Donna and V. (sans ampersands) at September 24, 2015 03:12 PM (u0lmX)

I am sorry if I have offended you.

My secretary is hard right wing and catholic. I made the mistake about asking her what she thought of this leftist Pope and I learned the hard way you do not speak ill of the holy father.

Posted by: Jollyroger at September 24, 2015 03:15 PM (t06LC)

363
Down through the millennia, the Catholic Church has done extremely important things for Christianity and - by extension - all of humanity. Primarily, the Catholic Church has done yeoman's work in spreading the Good News throughout the world. At a distant second, Catholicism has built and preserved powerful, artful Christian iconography which has been instrumental in promoting Christianity's self-concept.

However, the Catholic Church has also established several very unfortunate notions that run counter to the divine lessons and overarching message of Christ.
For instance, the invention (out of whole cloth) that one must confess his sins to a Catholic priest who will then determine what one owes in the way of penance - in order for God/Christ to forgive that person for his sins so that he would be saved. It is an utter, post-Jesus invention that a sinner must confess to a Catholic priest in order to obtain the fruits of Christian forgiveness and salvation.
- That is toxic rubbish. My best guess is that the Catholic Church established this bogus practice in order to establish/solidify itself as a religious authority. And it flies in the face of Christ's repeated criticisms that such authorities (the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Scribes) tended toward corruption. Jesus spoke with authority, but He was not about establishing groups of humans as religious authorities.

Another major problem with the Catholic Church is that it established itself as an actual GOVERNMENT (the Vatican). And this completely contradicts Jesus' proclamation that we should "Render unto Caesar [GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY] those things which are Caesar's and unto God those things that are God's"

Anyway, it's not surprising that the position of Pope inspires a Cult of Personality among its followers. But it is most unfortunate - especially because it is not compatible with Christianity.
In 2015, the Cult of Personality is so strong that even conservative Catholics have difficulty identifying the toxic leftism spewing forth from this Pope's mouth.

Posted by: Trump Super Fan at September 24, 2015 03:15 PM (l2dSQ)

364 "Many Catholics see a vast difference between the death penalty and abortion."

Sadly, many do not. I teach Confirmation at my parish. Last year, the nice but dopey head of Religious Education told me I needed to tell my charges (on Respect Life Sunday) that the death penalty and abortion are the same. I refused and politely explained that the Church teaches that the death penalty may be necessary is some cases, but direct abortion was an intrinsic evil. She looked at me like I was insane.

As a a Catholic, it can be frustrating to put up with the likes of Pope Francis and other ignoramuses. But I'm not going anywhere.

Posted by: Benji Carver at September 24, 2015 03:15 PM (OD2ni)

365 Please, please, please.

Posted by: Grump928(c) at September 24, 2015 03:13 PM (evdj2)

I'll sweeten that with the "I'm not buying it, but the internet will break if it's true" rumor:
"It wasn't a booster's wife, it was Saban's daughter."
Twitter is going crazy with it, and r/CFB has a pretty long thread.

Posted by: Country Singer at September 24, 2015 03:16 PM (8hctH)

366 Posted by: Coolio at September 24, 2015 03:15 PM (ctq54)

The OT is just, like, way too harsh.

So harsh in fact - it harshes my mellow.

Posted by: thathalfrican at September 24, 2015 03:16 PM (R5HRU)

367
Apparently John "Broken Leg" Kerry hasn't run out of pain meds yet.
Dude looked like a cadaver.

Posted by: wth at September 24, 2015 03:16 PM (wAQA5)

368 Lame Kiffin was always a bad fit for an Alabama offense. Bama Ball is run, run, run, punt if you have to, and win in the 4th quarter when the opposing defense is worn out.

Posted by: Grump928(c) at September 24, 2015 03:16 PM (evdj2)

369 "It wasn't a booster's wife, it was Saban's daughter."

----

Soooooooooo..... riding the Sabian Machine????

Posted by: fixerupper at September 24, 2015 03:17 PM (8XRCm)

370 The Pope apparently visited The Little Sisters Of The Poor who are currently suing the Obama Administration over abortifacients, etc. I wonder what that meeting was like. Nuns can't exactly argue with a Pope, but it seems likely they wouldn't agree with this one.

Posted by: Lincolntf at September 24, 2015 03:17 PM (2cS/G)

371 Popeganda

Posted by: Doom Rider at September 24, 2015 03:17 PM (ck8TA)

372 Yeah,fuck him.

Posted by: steevy at September 24, 2015 03:17 PM (sPO3u)

373 Agent Orange starts crying when old re-runs of _Cheers_ come on the tube.

Posted by: torquewrench at September 24, 2015 03:11 PM (noWW6)

He'd blubber over a test pattern.

Posted by: TheQuietMan at September 24, 2015 03:17 PM (493sH)

374 342 I seriously don't get Christian rejection of the death penalty. I have never read a single word in the NT or OT which suggests that the death penalty is in anyway unjust or even a failure of mercy.

Paul did not say, "I've run my race, I've finished my fight, and gosh darn it this whole execution I'm staring in the face is down-right un-Christian!"

The death penalty is a necessary weapon in the arsenal of justice. It is not "mercy" to allow convicted murderers to live long, relatively comfortable lives. It is a *failure* of mercy - because we must consider being "merciful" to those who were victims (or survivors of victims) of such men (and, less often, women).
Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) - Fire-hooks and Rock Salt for sale at September 24, 2015 03:11 PM (kff5f)

The objection to the death penalty is rooted in the life movement, but not quite the way you may think. Catholic theology says that, to prevent the criminal from acting again, the death penalty can be used. The difference is that, since we have stable countries and a nearly 100% chance of continuing incarceration for these felons, we no longer have to kill them to prevent them from doing their deeds again, so the preference is to leave vengeance for the Lord, i.e. let them come to their natural end rather than commit murder. The actual killing of someone who is certain to have committed the crime is NOT the first reason for the death penalty--crime prevention is. The actual death of the criminal is a second effect.

It is like abortion to save the life of the mother. The first reason is to save a life, and the death of the baby is a secondary effect.

It may not matter to many that this difference exists, but it matters to God.

Posted by: St. Margaret Atheling Queen of Scotland, aka tcn in AK at September 24, 2015 03:18 PM (+YMhA)

375 I seriously don't get Christian rejection of the death penalty. I have never read a single word in the NT or OT which suggests that the death penalty is in anyway unjust or even a failure of mercy.
***
it's the culture of life and it was pretty strongly practiced until the laeity said enough and forced govts to start killing some folks.

I read an interesting article on it awhile back.

Posted by: joe-impeachin44 at September 24, 2015 03:18 PM (ariQ4)

376 Posted by: prescient11 at September 24, 2015 03:13 PM (W7w/T

He's on the Senates Foreign Relations committee and the Intelligence committee.

Posted by: Max Rockatansky at September 24, 2015 03:18 PM (V8uX9)

377 368 The Pope also made a visit to The Little Sisters of the Poor.

These are the Sisters in the Obamacare law suit.

Actions are sometimes louder than words.

Xi is also concurrently visiting America maybe some of the message is for him.

Posted by: Fatman at September 24, 2015 03:15 PM (mcm0N)

Where he will tell them that HE sets Policy for the Church, and they need to stay out of it...

Posted by: BB Wolf at September 24, 2015 03:18 PM (qh617)

378
Hey ...... well .... at least Im true to my roots.

Posted by: The bear that still shits in the woods... at September 24, 2015 03:18 PM (8XRCm)

379 100% True Completely Confirmed Twitter Rumors Lane Kiffin OUT At Alabama After Either Fighting Nick Saban, Sleeping With His Daughter, Sleeping With A Boosters Wife, Or Maybe Even All Three (Allegedly)

Good Stuff

Posted by: Nevergiveup at September 24, 2015 03:19 PM (gf8BH)

380 The Unitarian Universalist Church of Brattleboro supports the pro-choice and anti-execution stance of the current Pope. Now we look for his leadership on anti-Zionist activities in search of social and economic justice worldwide.

Posted by: Mary Cloggenstein from Brattleboro, VT at September 24, 2015 03:19 PM (bDmeN)

381 Lane Kiffin to be fired by Alabama; supposedly he was boosting some booster's wife.

Posted by: Country Singer

*secretly hoping rumor is true*

Couldn't happen to a nicer douchebag, IMO.

Posted by: Moderate Salami, weeping for our dead Republic at September 24, 2015 03:19 PM (/Ho8c)

382 >>> Pope Francis is more than head of the Catholic Church hes also the head of state of the Vatican, which as a government has possibly the most restrictive immigration and citizenship policies of any nation in the world.

Ugh. The vatican is about 100 acres in size, in the middle of Rome, and all of it (obviously) developed. To accept an "immigrant" there literally means to give somebody a bed in a dormitory for the swiss guard, or an apartment for the few priests who live there.

Posted by: dan-O at September 24, 2015 03:19 PM (ByqK7)

383 Hey ...... well .... at least Im true to my roots.

Posted by: The bear that still shits in the woods..

I laughed out loud.

Posted by: Grump928(c) at September 24, 2015 03:19 PM (evdj2)

384
LDC, once more, thanks for bringing us the "highlights" of selected public figures, incl. their social media droppings.

Hewitt and Boehner should appear together on MSNBC, they could cry their hearts out with joy over, well, whatever it is that's making them so ridiculous.

Sad thing about Hewitt is, he knows better. Was fascinating, after the 2010 mid-term eruption, for a few days, he actually excoriated the congressional GOP lame-duckers for folding on a budget fight when they held all the cards. You rarely see this actual practical knowledge of how things actually work in DC peak through - because if people knew it, their fury at the Beltway GOP would be even greater, and the apologias for their inaction look even more ridiculous. He calmed down after a few days and no more was ever heard of it.

Speaking of which. Continuing resolution. Again. Sadly few understand the process, if they did, this would be, literally, the last straw. It is impossible to seriously argue that the GOP is trying to do even a fraction of what's easily in their power to, you know, govern, have a say, do "politics". It was implausible before, now these apologetics are firmly in UFO-abduction land as to credibility.

Posted by: rhomboid at September 24, 2015 03:19 PM (QDnY+)

385 If you travel in Latin America you will see/hear otherwise decent, good, kind people who sound--like Francis---raving Commie lunatics.
Be certain, Latinos do NOT know or teach or have the slightest appreciation for capitalism or American style democracy.

Francis reflects the current south of the border Latino state of mind. Perfectly left.

Posted by: Lower Class person whose opinions need to be guided at September 24, 2015 03:19 PM (htXhe)

386 "Jesus spoke with authority, but He was not about establishing groups of humans as religious authorities."

We Catholics would argue that John 20:23 does exactly that with regard to confession. I get that you don't agree with our interpretation, but don't accuse us of inventing things out of nothing.

Posted by: Benji Carver at September 24, 2015 03:20 PM (OD2ni)

387 In the modern US, poor means free housing, free food, free medical care, a boatload of subsidies, and maybe having to rent instead of buy new rims for the Escalade.
Posted by: Insomniac at September 24, 2015 03:02 PM (2Ojst)

Only if you're full-bore gubment assistance. Otherwise, it's doing without hot water for over a year, and living off your kids' leftovers.

No work income = giant stereo system.

Lousy work income = you're on your own, sucka.

Posted by: A person of no particular import at September 24, 2015 03:20 PM (vgIRn)

388 381 How do they jibe that in Europe where single digit sentences for murder are common?

Posted by: steevy at September 24, 2015 03:20 PM (sPO3u)

389 Like the President does not reflect the beliefs of all Americans, Popes do not reflect the beliefs of all or even most Catholics.

Just as there have been a multitude of Progressive US Presidents, and there is a history of less than admirable Popes. I won't bore anyone with names, but I think you get my point. The citizens of the US at least get a vote. Popes are elected in a much different way and yet represent over a billion people.

The Catholic Church is also the oldest institution in the world and the effects they have had on civilization are almost to many to list. Like our calendar, laws, and even the alphabet.

This too shall pass.

Posted by: GBruno at September 24, 2015 03:20 PM (u49WF)

390 Pope Francis is more than head of the Catholic Church hes also the head of state of the Vatican, which as a government has possibly the most restrictive immigration and citizenship policies of any nation in the world.

Forget it, Jake. It's Popetown.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at September 24, 2015 03:20 PM (8ZskC)

391 You want a good strong Cardinal, Robert Sarah. Strong as they come on family values. No weakling on Islam either. Not a fan of the unseriousness that's been infecting the Church.

Posted by: Brother Cavil, down with Eph 6:12-13 at September 24, 2015 03:20 PM (9krrF)

392 Posted by: St. Margaret Atheling Queen of Scotland, aka tcn in AK at September 24, 2015 03:18 PM (+YMhA)

There are over 800 people in prison now for homicide that were previously in prison for homicide before they were released.

Posted by: Max Rockatansky at September 24, 2015 03:20 PM (V8uX9)

393 376 "It wasn't a booster's wife, it was Saban's daughter."

----

Soooooooooo..... riding the Sabian Machine????

Posted by: fixerupper at September 24, 2015 03:17 PM (8XRCm)

#worthit

Posted by: Jollyroger at September 24, 2015 03:21 PM (t06LC)

394 The Pope sounds shrill. Can I say that if he's a man? Gee, I hope that's OK with the Feminsiting crowd.

Posted by: MTF at September 24, 2015 03:21 PM (TxJGV)

395 The death penalty is a necessary weapon in the arsenal of justice. It is not "mercy" to allow convicted murderers to live long, relatively comfortable lives. It is a *failure* of mercy - because we must consider being "merciful" to those who were victims (or survivors of victims) of such men (and, less often, women).
Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) - Fire-hooks and Rock Salt for sale at September 24, 2015 03:11 PM (kff5f)

Exactly. I also cannot fathom the pro-abortion, yet anti-death penalty crowd. On the one hand, the completely innocent unborn child gets no due process, they die at their Mother's legal whim and convenience, while the irredeemable murderer on Death Row gets at least one trial, many appeals, and years of life while their victims molder in their graves and the families of those victims have to attend countless agonizing hours in a courtroom hoping for justice for their dead loved one.

Posted by: Sherry McEvil, Stiletto Corsettes at September 24, 2015 03:21 PM (kXoT0)

396
Agent Orange starts crying when old re-runs of Cheers come on the tube.
Posted by: torquewrench

In Boehner's defense, that's only for episodes from the Coach/Shelly Long era of the show.

John has been known to hold it together for up to minutes at a time during Woody/Rebecca episodes.

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at September 24, 2015 03:21 PM (kdS6q)

397 Ugh. The vatican is about 100 acres in size, in the middle of Rome, and all of it (obviously) developed. To accept an "immigrant" there literally means to give somebody a bed in a dormitory for the swiss guard, or an apartment for the few priests who live there.
Posted by: dan-O at September 24, 2015 03:19 PM (ByqK7)

So? How many of these poor poor immigrants is the Vatican paying to settle somewhere else or improve the conditions in their own Countries so they don't flee? How many protests have they held to discuss the muslim persecution of the Christians in the Middle East?

Posted by: Nevergiveup at September 24, 2015 03:21 PM (gf8BH)

398
Seems like an awful lot of churches like that one.
Posted by: Fa Cube Itches at September 24, 2015 03:07 PM (Cx8hP)

To be fair, an awful lot of the Church's wealth is tied in real estate in Europe - you know, all those beautiful cathedrals? How much is the art in the Sistine Chapel worth, do you think? Heck, there's a Church with priceless art in in every two blocks in Italy.

The Church has to maintain all that real estate. Do you think it should be left to the taxpayers?

Believe me, at the parish level, there isn't a lot of money. The priests I know drive old beater cars and live in crappy apartments - because most parishes are too strapped these days to maintain rectories for them. I've heard about the Church's wealth alot (from non-Catholics) but I've never actually seen any evidence of it.

Posted by: Donna and V. (sans ampersands) at September 24, 2015 03:21 PM (u0lmX)

399 Former member of the Church of Rome here (LCMS Lutheran now)
The Jesuit pope is a Lefty.

Posted by: Non-Purgatorist at September 24, 2015 03:21 PM (p9qVR)

400 He is like the obama of popes.

Posted by: Roland THTG at September 24, 2015 03:21 PM (QM5S2)

401 388 How does he keep getting hired though?He is like one of those GOP consultants.

Posted by: steevy at September 24, 2015 03:22 PM (sPO3u)

402 or instance, the invention (out of whole cloth) that one must confess his sins to a Catholic priest who will then determine what one owes in the way of penance - in order for God/Christ to forgive that person for his sins so that he would be saved. It is an utter, post-Jesus invention that a sinner must confess to a Catholic priest in order to obtain the fruits of Christian forgiveness and salvation.
- That is toxic rubbish.

Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained. John 20:23

Posted by: St. Margaret Atheling Queen of Scotland, aka tcn in AK at September 24, 2015 03:22 PM (+YMhA)

403 Don't fear the Pope--he isn't running for President.

And ace if you tried to speak Italian while doing a movie review....oy.

Posted by: Fatman at September 24, 2015 03:22 PM (mcm0N)

404 By the way google Saban's daughter....it might have been worth it to get fired to have riden the wild Saban

Posted by: Nevergiveup at September 24, 2015 03:22 PM (gf8BH)

405 I'm surprised the pope didn't give a shout out to Ahmed for the amazing clock he invented.

Posted by: Make America Great Again at September 24, 2015 03:22 PM (LXJ1e)

406 The vatican has the most restrictive immigration policy of any territory in the world.

Meanwhile, the U.S. takes in more legal immigrants than every other country on the planet, combined.

And this jerk has the gall to come here and lecture US about "intolerance"? Takes some f*cking nerve.

Posted by: TrivialPursuer at September 24, 2015 03:23 PM (a31sM)

407 Full disclosure: I am a cradle Catholic.

When Pope Francis was first elevated to his position - I held great optimism for what he stood for. He eschewed the elegant and extravagant trappings of papal life. He reached out to the poor as he did throughout his life. More recently announcing a Year of Mercy. Reaching out to the lapsed Catholics. All great stuff.

Yet something changed. Can't necessarily pin it down but it is disturbing nonetheless. A noticeable lurch towards leftist causes. And not the -we must care for the poor, must be charitable type - which we are all called to do - but leftist in the climate change scam, immigration, etc.

The USA is one of the wealthiest (if the the most) nations on earth. We are also the most charitable - both publicly via governmental distribution of wealth - and private charitable donations. We bring in more immigrants into this country than any other country - by multiple factors. Yet we are being scolded? Anybody check the immigration laws of the Vatican city?

Abortion Pro-Life. The Pope missed a HUGE opportunity to make a stand here - and I am heartbroken over it. The timing is perfect to get into our elected leaders face and scold them. With PP so fresh in our minds, with the defunding of PP being debated in Congress - this opportunity will never ever present it self again. There are a LOT of disappointed and pissed off Catholics out there right now. And I am one of them.

Oh, and BTW - next time TFG makes you (the Pope) and your flight do loops in a holding pattern so he can be on the tarmac when you deplane- tell him to GFY. Make him wait. This was nothing but a power play - my dick is bigger than yours type of move you commonly see in business and politics.

Posted by: OurCountryIsScrewed at September 24, 2015 03:23 PM (DlmoZ)

408 THE BALLS ON THIS GUY!

Posted by: Grump928(c) at September 24, 2015 03:23 PM (evdj2)

409 The Jesuit pope is a Lefty.
Posted by: Non-Purgatorist at September 24, 2015 03:21 PM (p9qVR)

Most Jesuits are.

Posted by: St. Margaret Atheling Queen of Scotland, aka tcn in AK at September 24, 2015 03:23 PM (+YMhA)

410 I have never read a single word in the NT or OT which suggests that the death penalty is in anyway unjust or even a failure of mercy.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Also see Rom 13. Paul says it is the role of the state to use the sword. As Greg Koukl said, "Do liberals think it's to paddle people with?"

Jesus also counsels his disciples to buy swords in Luke 22:36. There is nothing in the context to suggest that they are merely convincing pop tart swords designed to deter street thugs.

Posted by: Caitlyn Jenner at September 24, 2015 03:23 PM (E5UB0)

411 And this jerk has the gall to come here and lecture US about "intolerance"? Takes some f*cking nerve.
Posted by: TrivialPursuer at September 24, 2015 03:23 PM (a31sM)

Yup

Posted by: Nevergiveup at September 24, 2015 03:23 PM (gf8BH)

412 Believe me, at the parish level, there isn't a lot of money. The priests I know drive old beater cars and live in crappy apartments - because most parishes are too strapped these days to maintain rectories for them. I've heard about the Church's wealth alot (from non-Catholics) but I've never actually seen any evidence of it.
Posted by: Donna and V. (sans ampersands) at September 24, 2015 03:21 PM (u0lmX)

------------------------

That's what happens when you purposely drive people away from the Church.

Posted by: Make America Great Again at September 24, 2015 03:24 PM (LXJ1e)

413 There are over 800 people in prison now for homicide that were previously in prison for homicide before they were released.
Posted by: Max Rockatansky

Not to mention the threat of the death penalty saves lives. It's a deterrent plain and simple.

You'd be amazed how many will plead out or roll over on people if the death penalty option is taken off the table in exchange. Imagine our society losing that leverage to get a pat on the head from some nun.

Posted by: Coolio at September 24, 2015 03:24 PM (ctq54)

414 The pope embraced Castro and didn't confront him. Yes. This pope is very comfortable with communism.

Posted by: ThunderB at September 24, 2015 03:24 PM (zOTsN)

415 Jesus also didn't tell the Centurion 'You're servant is healed, quit the Army.'.

Posted by: Grump928(c) at September 24, 2015 03:25 PM (evdj2)

416 >>>> 368 The Pope also made a visit to The Little Sisters of the Poor.

----

Yes, and people that were present said he never mentioned the contraception case. This was a token gesture for all his conservative critics to fool and placate them.

Posted by: L, Elle at September 24, 2015 03:25 PM (2x3L+)

417 I'll say one thing for the leftards-

they set their sights on destroying something and do not relent.

They devote years of their life, perhaps their entire life, just to get a shot at damaging some part of traditional culture.

With Obama we get a communist, anti-American President.

With Francis, we get a communist, abortion-minimizing, enviro-loon Pope.

I have to admire their commitment.

Too bad it's a commitment to destruction.

Posted by: naturalfake at September 24, 2015 03:25 PM (0cMkb)

418 The Pope apparently visited The Little Sisters Of The Poor who are currently suing the Obama Administration over abortifacients, etc. I wonder what that meeting was like. Nuns can't exactly argue with a Pope, but it seems likely they wouldn't agree with this one.

And governors who pander against the death penalty love to claim that they "met with the families of victims and had important conversations". They still whored themselves out to the anti death penalty lobby.

Posted by: Papist Bograt at September 24, 2015 03:25 PM (326rv)

419 I've heard about the Church's wealth alot (from non-Catholics) but I've never actually seen any evidence of it.
Posted by: Donna and V. (sans ampersands) at September 24, 2015 03:21 PM (u0lmX)

On the other hand, the Catholic Church is, by far, the single biggest funnel of humanitarian aid and emergency relief of any Christian group out there. She is pretty much everywhere when She is needed.

Posted by: St. Margaret Atheling Queen of Scotland, aka tcn in AK at September 24, 2015 03:25 PM (+YMhA)

420 The pope embraced Castro and didn't confront him. Yes. This pope is very comfortable with communism.
Posted by: ThunderB at September 24, 2015 03:24 PM (zOTsN)

This pope and Liberation Theology are kissing Cousins

Posted by: Nevergiveup at September 24, 2015 03:25 PM (gf8BH)

421 #414 The Pope is still going to Philadelphia for the World Meeting of Families.

Posted by: Fatman at September 24, 2015 03:26 PM (mcm0N)

422 Dude is a Marxist from a corrupt third world country. What could go wrong?

Posted by: Mark at September 24, 2015 03:26 PM (xDI7h)

423 Jesus also counsels his disciples to buy swords in Luke 22:36. There is nothing in the context to suggest that they are merely convincing pop tart swords designed to deter street thugs.
Posted by: Caitlyn Jenner at September 24, 2015 03:23 PM (E5UB0)

----

Yup.... and it wasnt an earpiercing than Roman Legionaire recieved from Paul in the Garden of Gethsemane either....

Posted by: fixerupper at September 24, 2015 03:26 PM (8XRCm)

424 410 Don't fear the Pope--he isn't running for President.
Posted by: Fatman at September 24, 2015 03:22 PM (mcm0N)

- - -

I'm not sure anyone 'fears' him as much as they're disappointed. I'd argue that the Pope has better leverage over something like Cuba than the President does. He completely validated the Castro regime while Cuban citizens were being arrested and thrown into jail.

How amazing would it have been if the Pope had finished his little photo op only to proceed straight to the jail to talk to the disidents.

Castro wouldn't have been able to do a damn thing.

Posted by: Community Organizer at September 24, 2015 03:26 PM (9VLhN)

425 Yes, Episcopals, Methodists and a number of other protestant denominations are so very conservative.

Episcopals aren't but the ones who joined Anglican churches such as the Anglican church in North America ACNA or CANA are. In the Methodists there us a split between conservatives and liberal. Thee largest amount of growth for them is in Africa, very conservative. It is still a worldwide denomination. The only way they can become completely liberal is to ls to split off from the worldwide denomination which votes on the polity; It's not happening yet.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at September 24, 2015 03:26 PM (1+XCd)

426 Posted by: Nevergiveup at September 24, 2015 03:21 PM (gf8BH)

To be fair, the Vatican is taking more refugees than Saudi Arabia is.

Posted by: AmishDude at September 24, 2015 03:26 PM (Xd2w5)

427 I'm also seeing that it could be a fight with Saban, the fight being caused by sleeping with his daughter, i hope all of it's true, but the boring reality is probably that Kiffin is just the sacrificial lamb to ease the grumbling about Bama's problems this year.

Posted by: All Teh Meh at September 24, 2015 03:26 PM (VviqM)

428 Pope is a commie.

So were the IRA in 1918.

So is Obama.

So might be your local City Council and School Board.

Every election counts...

Posted by: setnaffa at September 24, 2015 03:27 PM (BtRXi)

429 Yup.... and it wasnt an earpiercing than Roman Legionaire recieved from Paul in the Garden of Gethsemane either....

Heh.

Posted by: Grump928(c) at September 24, 2015 03:27 PM (evdj2)

430
CNN Breaking News

Senate Democrats block funding bill because of opposition to its anti-abortion provisions.

Good work Pope. Run a lap then hit the showers.

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at September 24, 2015 03:27 PM (kdS6q)

431 So? How many of these poor poor immigrants is the Vatican paying to settle somewhere else or improve the conditions in their own Countries so they don't flee? How many protests have they held to discuss the muslim persecution of the Christians in the Middle East?
Posted by: Nevergiveup

Exactly. O why not build some high rise apartment buildings for them on the Church's dime, that's basically what he's telling us to do.

Oh, but we don't want to ruin the skyline for the tourists and instead want to make it like some Disneyland experience.

Posted by: Coolio at September 24, 2015 03:27 PM (ctq54)

432 Yup.... and it wasnt an earpiercing than Roman Legionaire recieved from Paul in the Garden of Gethsemane either....

Wait. What?

I think you mean Priest's assistant and Peter, there.

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) - Fire-hooks and Rock Salt for sale at September 24, 2015 03:27 PM (kff5f)

433 That scandi girl that slaughtered her mother with her jihadi boyfriend is looking at less than 10 years of prison,the bf something like 15 ,before deductions.

Posted by: steevy at September 24, 2015 03:27 PM (sPO3u)

434 I'm also seeing that it could be a fight with Saban, the fight being caused by sleeping with his daughter

Or for calling a downfield pass when the Ole Miss defense was on it's heels and couldn't stop the run.

Posted by: Grump928(c) at September 24, 2015 03:28 PM (evdj2)

435 Well you are all free to hate The Pope, that is your choice if that is what you want to take from his visit.

Posted by: Fatman at September 24, 2015 03:28 PM (mcm0N)

436 The Catholic Church is also the oldest institution in the world...
Posted by: GBruno at September 24, 2015 03:20 PM (u49WF)

Yessss...of course it is. *sinister reptillianlaughter*

Posted by: Special Agent Jones, Chief Disinformation Officer, Secret Illuminati Headquarters, Area 51 at September 24, 2015 03:28 PM (CMthJ)

437 Been looking....

But I can't find ANY other Religious Leader, who has ever given an address to both Houses of Congress.

So... why now??? Why is this tradition been demolished for a Leftist Pope?

Posted by: BB Wolf at September 24, 2015 03:28 PM (qh617)

438 I wanted to throat punch Kiffin myself.

Posted by: Grump928(c) at September 24, 2015 03:28 PM (evdj2)

439 Before I can weigh in on this "Kiffen boning Saban's daughter" thing, I think I need pics of the young woman in question.

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) - Fire-hooks and Rock Salt for sale at September 24, 2015 03:28 PM (kff5f)

440 It would ironic, more like the start of WWIII, if something bad happens to this pope happens because of a Muslim especially if it's one of his beloved Syrians pilgrims invading his continent.

Posted by: L, Elle at September 24, 2015 03:29 PM (2x3L+)

441 The Catholic Church is also the oldest institution in the world...
Posted by: GBruno at September 24, 2015 03:20 PM (u49WF)

Bitch, please.

Posted by: St. Michael the Archangel, Commander of the Heavenly Host at September 24, 2015 03:29 PM (2Ojst)

442 I think you mean Priest's assistant and Peter, there.
Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) - Fire-hooks and Rock Salt for sale at September 24, 2015 03:27 PM (kff5f)

----

Yup.... dammit..... St Peter. My bad.

Crap. I cursed referring to St Peter too.

Posted by: fixerupper at September 24, 2015 03:29 PM (8XRCm)

443
An extension of my comment #370:

Jesus said: "Render unto to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's."
- Jesus was first to introduce the separation of Church and State.

But by maintaining itself as a GOVERNMENT (known as the Vatican), the Catholic Church wants it BOTH WAYS.
And Jesus made it clear that you can't have it both ways. But don't try explaining that to the Catholic Church.

The State (in whatever form) is about governing the earthly affairs of men.
Rendering unto God is about an INDIVIDUAL'S salvation.
There is no such thing as group salvation.

Posted by: Trump Super Fan at September 24, 2015 03:29 PM (l2dSQ)

444 412 I'm surprised the pope didn't give a shout out to Ahmed for the amazing clock he invented.
Posted by: Make America Great Again at September 24, 2015 03:22 PM (LXJ1e)

- - - -

@TheRealPope
Cool clock, Ahmed. Want to bring it to the Vatican? We should inspire more kids like you to like science.

Posted by: Community Organizer at September 24, 2015 03:29 PM (9VLhN)

445 There are moments when I would sell my first-born for the power of the Force Choke.

Posted by: Grump928(c) at September 24, 2015 03:29 PM (evdj2)

446 John Boehner is a crybaby f----t. Seriously. Is there anything he doesn't weep about? There's something seriously wrong with him. He's either mentally ill or has a severe hormone imbalance but not even a menopausal woman should act like that.

Posted by: Naes at September 24, 2015 03:29 PM (Ypc8j)

447 Gotta give our Leftist Overlords credit, they just wanted it more.

Posted by: CJ at September 24, 2015 03:30 PM (9KqcB)

448 I would pay to see any congressman or senator say this:

Well, I think that women should be priests. The communion wine should be replaced with bourbon. Priests should conduct mass naked while standing on their heads. What? If the Pope can tell us how to run our country, I should be able to tell him how to run the church.

Posted by: Duke Lowell at September 24, 2015 03:30 PM (WiU5D)

449 Bet my atheist, Obama Voter, Spark driving, thrice divorced brother LOVES him some Pope right about now.

Posted by: wth at September 24, 2015 03:30 PM (wAQA5)

450 I think I need pics of the young woman in question.

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) - Fire-hooks and Rock Salt for sale at September 24, 2015 03:28 PM (kff5f)

It'd be worth a punch from Nick.

Posted by: BCochran1981 - Credible Hulk at September 24, 2015 03:30 PM (gW5Vg)

451 Well you are all free to hate The Pope, that is your choice if that is what you want to take from his visit.
Posted by: Fatman

How magnanimous of you. And full of concern.

Posted by: Prince Ludwig the #Problematic at September 24, 2015 03:30 PM (awspb)

452 Liked the long post above from the guy above who's a conservative Ctholic and theologian and can't recall the other thing he called himself, can't find the post now.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at September 24, 2015 03:30 PM (1+XCd)

453 Nood Ahmed

Posted by: rickb223 at September 24, 2015 03:30 PM (+Q7pl)

454 Crap. I cursed referring to St Peter too.
Posted by: fixerupper at September 24, 2015 03:29 PM (8XRCm)

Considering Peter was a fisherman by trade, I doubt he was the delicate flower type.

Posted by: Insomniac at September 24, 2015 03:30 PM (2Ojst)

455 Crap. I cursed referring to St Peter too.

Posted by: fixerupper at September 24, 2015 03:29 PM (8XRCm)

According to my (very lapsed) Catholic friend, it'll be fine - just say 3 Hail Marys and an Our Father and you'll be okay.

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) - Fire-hooks and Rock Salt for sale at September 24, 2015 03:30 PM (kff5f)

456
BF - beyond parody:

BuzzFeed News
These Dogs Dressed Up As The Pope Put The Cute In Catholicism

http://www.buzzfeed.com/stephaniemcneal/pope-dogs

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at September 24, 2015 03:31 PM (kdS6q)

457 Before I can weigh in on this "Kiffen boning Saban's daughter" thing, I think I need pics of the young woman in question.

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) - Fire-hooks and Rock Salt for sale at September 24, 2015 03:28 PM (kff5f)

Just run a search for "Kristen Saban." Side note: she's had some legal issues stemming from getting into a fist fight with one of her sorority sisters and also got married this summer.

Posted by: Country Singer at September 24, 2015 03:31 PM (8hctH)

458 Well blow me down!

Posted by: El Popeye at September 24, 2015 03:31 PM (W5DcG)

459 >>>Posted by: Trump Super Fan at September 24, 2015 03:15 PM (l2dSQ)

So I guess Jesus was lying when He said to His apostles "If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained."

Posted by: Paul at September 24, 2015 03:31 PM (9qDRl)

460 #431 Well I can understand disappointment but commenters have been saying that they hate The Pope which is sad to have that energy against someone who is not in their lives.

Posted by: Fatman at September 24, 2015 03:31 PM (mcm0N)

461 Well you are all free to hate The Pope, that is your choice if that is what you want to take from his visit.
Posted by: Fatman at September 24, 2015 03:28 PM (mcm0N)

If popie stuck to matters of faith, I'd welcome him with open arms...Once he ventures over into the realm of Politics all bets are off..Not to mention he is allowing himself to be used by Fredo...so Hate him? Yeah OK thanks I will

Posted by: Nevergiveup at September 24, 2015 03:32 PM (gf8BH)

462 @414... I felt exactly the same way. He is a HUGE disappointment.

Posted by: jewells45 at September 24, 2015 03:32 PM (l/N7H)

463 My friendsh, we have nothing to fear with Francis in then Papacy.

Posted by: Juan McCain at September 24, 2015 03:32 PM (S7x7a)

464 Well you are all free to hate The Pope, that is your choice if that is what you want to take from his visit.
Posted by: Fatman

And feel free to hate the head of the Westboro Baptist Church. I certainly won't be offended being a Baptist and all.

Glad I don't have to bite my tongue if I want to call out some idiot that wants to use his Church title to lecture me on politics and can call a spade a spade.

Posted by: Coolio at September 24, 2015 03:32 PM (ctq54)

465 The Bible actually COMMANDS the death penalty for murder, at least in the Old Testament.

====

But this is the Present Testament

Posted by: Bigby's Press-on Fingernails at September 24, 2015 03:32 PM (3ZtZW)

466 Fatman, I don't want to hate him. I try to love my church but he makes it awfully hard. I just want him to quite like Benedict. No way that will happen. He loves his job as much as JPII. He's just not good at defending the church or inspiring any one except democrats and Marxists

Posted by: L, Elle at September 24, 2015 03:32 PM (2x3L+)

467 *the Papcy

Posted by: Juan McCain at September 24, 2015 03:32 PM (S7x7a)

468 There are over 800 people in prison now for homicide that were previously in prison for homicide before they were released.
Posted by: Max Rockatansky at September 24, 2015 03:20 PM (V8uX9)

So, the failure of the secular authorities is a good reason to kill people? Good to know.

I guess because a lot of people get divorced these days we should allow gay marriage, too.

Generally, the Church does not take relativity into consideration when pronouncing upon the truths of God, but YMMV.

Posted by: St. Margaret Atheling Queen of Scotland, aka tcn in AK at September 24, 2015 03:32 PM (+YMhA)

469 >>I've heard about the Church's wealth alot (from non-Catholics) but I've never actually seen any evidence of it.

The Catholic Church is one of the top property owners in the world. They are YUGGEE in property.

Posted by: JackStraw at September 24, 2015 03:32 PM (OGm46)

470 So I guess Jesus was lying when He said to His apostles "If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained."
Posted by: Paul at September 24, 2015 03:31 PM (9qDRl)

See, the thing is, the apostles are all dead.

Posted by: Insomniac at September 24, 2015 03:33 PM (2Ojst)

471 Anybody ask him if he had teh Boink with Cristina Kirchner?

Posted by: wth at September 24, 2015 03:33 PM (wAQA5)

472 Catholic charities are wonderful. They were the first in after Katrina and did the best work, by far.

I think this pope is weak on despots and weakness is provocative in a government or in the Catholic Church

Posted by: ThunderB at September 24, 2015 03:33 PM (zOTsN)

473 442 I'm not hearing that he leads us away from Christ, just that he would disagree with Ronald Reagan on most things. He did drag Obama from under his rock to lie about protecting religious freedom.

Posted by: Chris Balsz at September 24, 2015 03:34 PM (kTWS+)

474 Posted by: Jollyroger at September 24, 2015 03:15 PM (t06LC)

It's alright, jollyroger.

I suspect your secretary's reaction is tribal in part - "It's OK for 'us' to criticize the Pope, but not outsiders!"

That's an instinct that obviously is not limited to religion . I'm a bit more objective about this Pope - I recognize that he's a fool about politics and economics. But many Catholics do probably feel it is disloyal to say anything negative about him, even if they have private qualms. Ironically, that's probably truer of conservative Catholics - I recall that Catholic liberals had no problem whatsoever denouncing Benedict or JP II. (I guess I do get touchier when I think it's gone past bashing the Pope to bashing the religion as a whole - after all the Protestant-Catholic wars of religion are long in the past, thank God, and I have no wish to refight them.)

Posted by: Donna and V. (sans ampersands) at September 24, 2015 03:35 PM (u0lmX)

475 Thank God for ... Ace!!

The only network that isn't pure socialist propaganda is apparently spending the whole day carrying on about His Holiness, and how wonderful it is that he had 9 comments that the Right hate, plus 9 that the Left hates. "Fair and Balanced"!

What crap!!! As though Catholicism requires an even hand, trying to walk the line between left and right. Such RIDICULOUS pandering to their religious viewers, who want to think well of the Pope (Catholic or not).

It got so bad - even on the BUSINESS network - with all this nutty talk of people crying because they're so moved (about WHAT!?! - the guy hasn't said or done anything new or different) that I switched over to "Top Gear"! Top Gear? During the DAY? It's madness!!!

Posted by: Optimizer at September 24, 2015 03:35 PM (/q6+P)

476 Episcopals aren't but the ones who joined Anglican churches such as the Anglican church in North America ACNA or CANA are.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

PB Katherine Jefferts-Schori+++ is a marine biologist by trade.

I hope that Obama invited her in order to school Franky on ocean acidification.

She specialized in cephalopods. What I don't understand is, if you have a PhD to study cool things like cephalopods and you are basically an atheist, why would you give that up to become the leader of an organization whose tenets you do not believe in?

Posted by: Caitlyn Jenner at September 24, 2015 03:35 PM (E5UB0)

477 The Catholic Church is one of the top property owners in the world. They are YUGGEE in property.
Posted by: JackStraw at September 24, 2015 03:32 PM (OGm46)

Well, yeah. I said that, didn't I?

Posted by: Donna and V. (sans ampersands) at September 24, 2015 03:35 PM (u0lmX)

478 So, the failure of the secular authorities is a good reason to kill people? Good to know.

I guess because a lot of people get divorced these days we should allow gay marriage, too.

Posted by: St. Margaret Atheling Queen of Scotland, aka tcn in AK at September 24, 2015 03:32 PM (+YMhA)

-----------------------

No someone taking the life of another is a just reason to kill that person.

Posted by: Make America Great Again at September 24, 2015 03:36 PM (LXJ1e)

479 "The African Church tends to be pretty damn conservative, actually. I'd
have been much happier with a couple of the candidates from there. It's
Latin America that's infested with the "liberation theology" wankers."

Amen, Tenth Amendment.

The Anglican churches in Africa are still stoutly defending sacramental marriage, while the Episcopal Church in the USA has that wanker Gene Robinson, homosexual who divorced his wife, then later divorced his "husband," as archbishop.

The angels weep.

BTW: didn't Pope Benedict write an encyclical or something about the Marxist "liberation theology" being a HERESY? And could that be why the old guy was encouraged to resign? (popes, if I understand it correctly, NEVER "resign," they die in office like monarchs).

And yes, "Liberation Theology" is a heresy: a substitution of Man for God. "And Man will now make all things right, because God did such a lousy job," is their idea. The oldest temptation of all, according to Whittaker Chambers: as Satan said to Eve in the Garden, "Ye shall be as gods."

Posted by: Beverly at September 24, 2015 03:36 PM (0QYBy)

480 So, the failure of the secular authorities is a good reason to kill people? Good to know.

Posted by: St. Margaret Atheling Queen of Scotland,

But you said the Church condemns the death penalty because murders are no longer a threat to others once they get caught.

So yeah, the State's failure in this regard absolutely should make a difference if that's what this teaching is based on, that innocent life is no longer in danger from these people, when it most certainly is.

Posted by: Coolio at September 24, 2015 03:36 PM (ctq54)

481 Neva gonna do it without your Fez on.

That's what I am.

Please understand.

I want to be. A. Holy Man.

Posted by: Pope Francis at September 24, 2015 03:36 PM (O7MHB)

482 we've got the troll in for ban, but sometimes it takes a while

Posted by: ace at September 24, 2015 03:37 PM (dciA+)

483 >>>Posted by: Nevergiveup at September 24, 2015 03:32 PM (gf8BH)

This is the same as liberals always saying religion shouldn't influence politics. A man's religion IS his philosophy, his view of the ultimate nature of reality and his answer to the question "what ought to be done". It is impossible to separate them.

Posted by: Paul at September 24, 2015 03:37 PM (9qDRl)

484 @470 "My friends, we have nothing to fear with Francis in the Papacy. - Juan McCain"

Heh.

Posted by: Optimizer at September 24, 2015 03:37 PM (/q6+P)

485 Well you are all free to hate The Pope, that is your choice if that is what you want to take from his visit.
__________________

I don't hate the pope, but I am angered by his blatant hypocrisy.

It is unseemly in a person who claims to be a man of God.

Posted by: TrivialPursuer at September 24, 2015 03:37 PM (a31sM)

486 "I've tried to not speak much about the Pope due to 1, respect for my
Catholic readers, 2, my complete lack of knowledge of the sorts of
things Popes typically say, and 3, generally not caring, but it seems
impossible at this point to continue to indulge the optimistic
wishcasting of right-leaning Catholics that Francis is merely "complex"
and sometimes "misunderstood."

COUGH*Ed Morrissey* COUGH

Posted by: LeBron Horowitz at September 24, 2015 03:38 PM (SnIuD)

487 Jesus said: "Render unto to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's."
- Jesus was first to introduce the separation of Church and State.

But by maintaining itself as a GOVERNMENT (known as the Vatican), the Catholic Church wants it BOTH WAYS.
And Jesus made it clear that you can't have it both ways. But don't try explaining that to the Catholic Church.

The State (in whatever form) is about governing the earthly affairs of men.
Rendering unto God is about an INDIVIDUAL'S salvation.
There is no such thing as group salvation.

Posted by: Trump Super Fan at September 24, 2015 03:29 PM (l2dSQ)

I think you are drawing the wrong conclusion from this story. Jesus was cleverly answering a question designed to get him thrown in jail or lose all jewish support. The Jews hated paying taxes to the Romans, so it was asked whether it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not. Jesus' answer was brilliant, and the correct conclusion to draw is that we ought to submit to the Government because God has allowed the government dominion for the current time. His answer was not posed in order to introduce a new type of government or system separating the church from the political government. That is a non-sequitor.

Posted by: Sambo at September 24, 2015 03:38 PM (9UV3C)

488 This is the same as liberals always saying religion shouldn't influence politics. A man's religion IS his philosophy, his view of the ultimate nature of reality and his answer to the question "what ought to be done". It is impossible to separate them.
Posted by: Paul at September 24, 2015 03:37 PM (9qDRl)

Yeah? I think the US COnstitution has something to say about that, but thanks for the Civic's Lesson?

Posted by: Nevergiveup at September 24, 2015 03:38 PM (gf8BH)

489 #TwoWeeks... and at prevailing wage.

Posted by: unionized TB3K at September 24, 2015 03:38 PM (S7x7a)

490 Posted by: St. Margaret Atheling Queen of Scotland, aka tcn in AK at September 24, 2015 03:32 PM (+YMhA)

How do reconcile the just war logic with the opposition to killing those that have killed the innocent?

Posted by: Max Rockatansky at September 24, 2015 03:38 PM (V8uX9)

491 489 we've got the troll in for ban, but sometimes it takes a while

Posted by: ace at September 24, 2015 03:37 PM (dciA+)

Bet Ahmed can make it more efficient.

Posted by: RWC - Team BOHICA at September 24, 2015 03:39 PM (fWAjv)

492 When Paul had an audience with the worldly authorities, he took the opportunity to preach Christ, despite the fact that his life was on the line.

I guess we've come a long, long ways.

Posted by: Hal at September 24, 2015 03:39 PM (nzmxZ)

493 Nevergiveup

Hope you can work out that TDY paperwork.

Damn it I was hoping you would enjoy Okinawa.

Ya should have went diving like I recommended!

Posted by: Your friendly Danube River Guide at September 24, 2015 03:40 PM (mcm0N)

494 >>Well, yeah. I said that, didn't I?

Well that's where their wealth comes from. You said you didn't understand.

Here's proof.

http://tinyurl.com/qdwwbsr

Posted by: JackStraw at September 24, 2015 03:40 PM (OGm46)

495 The Bible actually COMMANDS the death penalty for murder, at least in the Old Testament.
====
But this is the Present Testament
Posted by: Bigby's Press-on Fingernails

And it's anybody's guess what will be in the Future Testament.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at September 24, 2015 03:40 PM (W5DcG)

496 >>>Posted by: Nevergiveup at September 24, 2015 03:38 PM (gf8BH)

Umm, it really doesn't. Nowhere does it say your religion can't influence your political decisions. All it has to say on the subject is that Congress can't make a law "respecting an establishment of religion". To borrow an SJW phrase, you seem to have internalized the leftist anti-religion narrative.

Posted by: Paul at September 24, 2015 03:41 PM (9qDRl)

497 To be fair, an awful lot of the Church's wealth is tied in real estate in Europe - you know, all those beautiful cathedrals? How much is the art in the Sistine Chapel worth, do you think? Heck, there's a Church with priceless art in in every two blocks in Italy.

========

The new, Middle-Eastern barbarian hordes will soon relieve them of that burden.

Posted by: Bigby's Press-on Fingernails at September 24, 2015 03:41 PM (3ZtZW)

498
With all due respect to Benji Carver @ comment # 393,

Are you talking about the Gospels or John's Epistles? (Or something else?)

It doesn't seem like you were talking about the Gospels because in John 20:23, Jesus is in the process of being crucified, and in this section He does not speak.

If you are talking about the John's Epistles, then you are making a reference that is post-Gospel.

Posted by: Trump Super Fan at September 24, 2015 03:41 PM (l2dSQ)

499 Hope you can work out that TDY paperwork.

Damn it I was hoping you would enjoy Okinawa.

Ya should have went diving like I recommended!

Posted by: Your friendly Danube River Guide at September 24, 2015 03:40 PM (mcm0N)

I had a great time on Okinawa...it's the Navy Pay Office I have a problem with

Posted by: Nevergiveup at September 24, 2015 03:42 PM (gf8BH)

500 I have likened the Pope's finding common cause with socialism and communism to the Japanese in WWII, who allied themselves with White Supremicists.

Posted by: Optimizer at September 24, 2015 03:42 PM (/q6+P)

501 Of course you also don't want to consider the murders of the prison guards or other inmates while incarcerated. I suppose you want them to be in solitary confinement with no human contact to solve that 'failure'.

Posted by: Max Rockatansky at September 24, 2015 03:43 PM (V8uX9)

502 And it's anybody's guess what will be in the Future Testament.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at September 24, 2015 03:40 PM (W5DcG)

Mandatory gay marriage and abortion.

Posted by: RWC - Team BOHICA at September 24, 2015 03:43 PM (fWAjv)

503 From my ancestors to your ears, Mr. Pope: Liever Turks dan Paaps.

Posted by: Naes at September 24, 2015 03:44 PM (Ypc8j)

504 To borrow an SJW phrase, you seem to have internalized the leftist anti-religion narrative.
Posted by: Paul at September 24, 2015 03:41 PM (9qDRl)

Internalized? Because I don't want some foreign non citizen religious leader telling me how to run my own Country and spend my own Money? That's not internalizing, that's common sense and being a good citizen and not a fuckin idiot

Posted by: Nevergiveup at September 24, 2015 03:44 PM (gf8BH)

505 Nevergiveup

AF has that problem too, for years now --it's pretty gross.

Posted by: Your friendly Danube River Guide at September 24, 2015 03:44 PM (mcm0N)

506 But you said the Church condemns the death penalty because murders are no longer a threat to others once they get caught.

So yeah, the State's failure in this regard absolutely should make a difference if that's what this teaching is based on, that innocent life is no longer in danger from these people, when it most certainly is.
Posted by: Coolio at September 24, 2015 03:36 PM (ctq54)

Yes, I did say that. As I said, the state can and should keep murderers, rapists, et. al. locked up. The Church cannot do that part--it can only explain why it should be so.

Defense of innocent life is incumbent upon anyone who thinks the 10 Commandments actually mean something. That includes the secular authorities. Thou Shalt Not Kill is the basis of our secular law, like it or not. It is the secular authorities' job to prevent murderers and rapists from acting again, not the Church's.

That is why the death penalty is NOT expressly forbidden by the Church--it acts to protect innocent life, not to protect murderers.

However, the failure of the secular authorities to carry out their God-given duty to protect innocent life is hardly a reason to change Church Doctrine.

I did not say that the authorities ALWAYS KEPT MURDERERS LOCKED UP, but that they are supposed to do so. That they don't always do so does not change the preference for retaining vengeance to the Lord.

Posted by: St. Margaret Atheling Queen of Scotland, aka tcn in AK at September 24, 2015 03:44 PM (+YMhA)

507 Francis's revenues increase when more of his South American compatriots have higher paying jobs in North America.

There is that to consider.

Posted by: Who Knows at September 24, 2015 03:45 PM (W+Itt)

508 Posted by: Trump Super Fan at September 24, 2015 03:41 PM (l2dSQ)

That commenter is probably long gone, so I'll speak up. Um, no.

John. As in Mathew, Mark, Luke, JOHN. Chapter 20. Verse 23. King James version.

"Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained."

Posted by: BCochran1981 - Credible Hulk at September 24, 2015 03:46 PM (gW5Vg)

509 This Pope needs to ask Congress why they want to keep all the black and brown people out of GOD DAMN!! America, the worst place in the world.

Posted by: Most High Rightly Reverend Jeremiah Wright at September 24, 2015 03:47 PM (O7MHB)

510 Posted by: St. Margaret Atheling Queen of Scotland, aka tcn in AK at September 24, 2015 03:44 PM (+YMh

It's thou shall not murder. Or again you would be condemning our military.

Posted by: Max Rockatansky at September 24, 2015 03:48 PM (V8uX9)

511
With all due respect to Benji Carver @ comment # 393,

The best I can determine is that you may have been referring to the First Epistle of John 2:23. (This might be due to a mistake on my part, but the only John 20:23 that I can find is in the Gospel of John.)

The First Epistle of John 2:23 does not seem to be quoting Jesus during His life.

If that's the passage by which the Catholic Church claims that Jesus was establishing groups of humans as religious authorities, it seems erroneous to me.

Posted by: Trump Super Fan at September 24, 2015 03:48 PM (l2dSQ)

512
Posted by: Trump Super Fan at September 24, 2015 03:41 PM (l2dSQ)

[21] He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent me, I also send you. [22] When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost. [23] Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.

I don't know what Bible you are reading, but that's in the Gospel According to John.

Posted by: St. Margaret Atheling Queen of Scotland, aka tcn in AK at September 24, 2015 03:49 PM (+YMhA)

513 It's thou shall not murder. Or again you would be condemning our military.
Posted by: Max Rockatansky at September 24, 2015 03:48 PM (V8uX9)

In what way are our military not defending innocent life? Defense is a perfectly acceptable reason to kill, or am I misunderstanding your reasons for wanting to use the death penalty?

Posted by: St. Margaret Atheling Queen of Scotland, aka tcn in AK at September 24, 2015 03:50 PM (+YMhA)

514 Rhomboid.
You are aware that the Pope has already warned that there may be terrorists posing as refugees and because of that caution must be taken, right?
Of course you do! After all, he did say that, some time ago.
And that the Pope has said that nations of course have the right to control their borders, limit immigration, and determine who does and does not get sanctuary, right?
Of course you do! He has said it more than once, of course. Plus, since his original comments were in the context of such controls it was implied, anyway.
See, one thing that really amuses me is people who take a part of one speech in isolation and think it is an entire policy or position. the Pope isn't a politician, he isn't running for office - you need to pay attention to all that he says because he doesn't use sound bites.
"statist suppression of economic freedom"
You mean his multiple denunciations of Socialism and communism in writings in his encyclicals?
You *DO* know he has strongly condemned both Socialism and Communism in his encyclicals, right? Or did you read a blurb from someone who said he's a Commie and not check?

Posted by: Richard at September 24, 2015 03:51 PM (WEu8/)

515 Then there was the inane nonsense where the Fox people literally suggested that the Pope might think differently about capitalism after he sees the beautiful cathedral that capitalist wealth rebuilt in NYC.

The same Pope that has foregone his palatial quarters.

The desperation with which they were trying to defend this commie makes me want to barf.

Posted by: Optimizer at September 24, 2015 03:52 PM (/q6+P)

516 I have likened the Pope's finding common cause with socialism and communism to the Japanese in WWII, who allied themselves with White Supremicists.

It was okay, Der Fuehrer deemed them "Yellow Aryans".

Posted by: Grump928(c) inventor at September 24, 2015 03:52 PM (evdj2)

517 I shouldn't hear a Catholic that thinks this Pope deserves a modicum of respect say anything bad about Jim and Tammy Faye Baker or Jimmy Swaggart. They never went to Congress to tell our representatives that America is a selfish, racist hell-hole that needs to redeem itself by letting anyone across our border.

Posted by: Minuteman at September 24, 2015 03:53 PM (O7MHB)

518 508 Of course you also don't want to consider the murders of the prison guards or other inmates while incarcerated. I suppose you want them to be in solitary confinement with no human contact to solve that 'failure'.
Posted by: Max Rockatansky at September 24, 2015 03:43 PM (V8uX9)

Of course the Church considers the prison guards and other inmates. Why would you think otherwise? They have every right to be defended by the state at every turn, and if it is not possible to protect them and keep the murderer alive, then by all means, the murderer needs to die.

The point is that killing when it is not necessary is not protecting anyone, so it is murder. That is vengeance, which properly belongs to the Lord, not to you or I.

Posted by: St. Margaret Atheling Queen of Scotland, aka tcn in AK at September 24, 2015 03:54 PM (+YMhA)

519
Thank you, BCochran @ # 515,

Let me go check out the passage in context, and then I'll respond.

Posted by: Trump Super Fan at September 24, 2015 03:55 PM (l2dSQ)

520 Rhomboid,
Also:
" illogical self ad hominems"
That isn't how you properly use 'illogical' or 'ad hominem'.

Posted by: Richard at September 24, 2015 03:56 PM (WEu8/)

521

Sorry, about that. I was mistakenly reading the chapter before 20 in the Gospel of John. My mistake.

Will take some moments to review, and then comment.

Posted by: Trump Super Fan at September 24, 2015 03:57 PM (l2dSQ)

522 The desperation with which they were trying to defend this commie makes me want to barf.
Posted by: Optimizer at September 24, 2015 03:52 PM (/q6+P)

I don't think anyone here is defending the Pope's political views. The problems of pigeon holing the Pope on politics is that his views are shaped, right or wrong, by his background. Honestly, none of us buys the crap spewed by your average S.A. leftie, so why would we listen to the Pope on the same topic?

Catholics listen to the Pope on matters of faith and morals.

And remember, charity is not charity if you are always concerned about what the recipient might do with your alms. It's that old right hand not knowing what the left hand is up to. Doesn't mean you have to be a fool and give bourbon to a drunk, but it does mean that serving those in need usually supercedes knowing the recipients' political views.

Posted by: St. Margaret Atheling Queen of Scotland, aka tcn in AK at September 24, 2015 03:59 PM (+YMhA)

523 I must say that that nowadays it isn't hard to be more Catholic than the Pope.

Posted by: Minuteman at September 24, 2015 03:59 PM (O7MHB)

524 524 I shouldn't hear a Catholic that thinks this Pope deserves a modicum of respect say anything bad about Jim and Tammy Faye Baker or Jimmy Swaggart. They never went to Congress to tell our representatives that America is a selfish, racist hell-hole that needs to redeem itself by letting anyone across our border.
Posted by: Minuteman at September 24, 2015 03:53 PM (O7MHB)

Of course, because your average televangelist has the moral standing of the Pope in Rome.

Posted by: St. Margaret Atheling Queen of Scotland, aka tcn in AK at September 24, 2015 04:00 PM (+YMhA)

525 284 Your Protestant take religion Serbia was founded by pedophiles and rapists.

FTFY
Posted by: A Croatian at September 24, 2015 03:01 PM (FwRqg)

Ace: thanks so much for allowing personal attacks

Posted by: the Butcher at September 24, 2015 04:02 PM (fUjxW)

526 487 So, the failure of the secular authorities is a good reason to kill people? Good to know.
Posted by: St. Margaret Atheling Queen of Scotland,

I'm a daily communicant and have read the Gospel of Life 3 times asking God to set me straight if my support of the death penalty is wrong. In that encyclical the distinction between innocent life (unborn baby, old person) and guilty life is made. I believe part of the confusion in our church is that the commandment is always quoted as "thou shalt not kill". That is incorrect. The actual translation should be "thou shalt not murder". The state has a role that is different from the church and the family. The state is to protect the public. The notion that keeping a fiendish murderer alive (think Bittaker) is justice is an offense to any thinking person. You are going to collect taxes from hard-working people, and provide food, shelter, health services and entertainment to a brutal murderer? That blows my mind! And you have to pay someone to monitor (guard) this person? Are you aware that murder in prisons has risen since the death penalty is by and large not implemented? Additionally, in former times the death penalty acted as a deterrent in that criminals were careful to not take the lives of those they were assaulting, robbing or kidnapping in order not to face a capital offense. Now, be sure to kill the witness carries the day. Pro-life indeed!

Posted by: Sharon W at September 24, 2015 04:03 PM (Xhsh5)

527 Of course, because your average televangelist has the moral standing of the Pope in Rome.

Unless you're Catholic, pretty much.

Posted by: Grump928(c) at September 24, 2015 04:04 PM (evdj2)

528 And I should know better than taking a story from Douchebag Pundit at face value. I read the speech and there are numerous references to life and abortion which are clearly appeals.

I don't agree with some of what the Pontiff suggests. But I'm a bit tired of the duplicity and outright mendacity from people who have a bone to pick with Christians and organized religion in general.

Posted by: Marcus T at September 24, 2015 04:06 PM (zXvqP)

529
I stand corrected.
I apologize to Catholics (and others) who were offended at my erroneous claim that there was nothing in the Gospels to justify the Catholic Church's tradition of priests absolving repenting sinner's of their sin.

John 20:23 does in fact provide good reason for believing this.

While I have a different take on the meaning of this passage - I'll refrain.
It's going to take a little while to get the fresh taste of shoelace out of my mouth - especially since I managed to stuff several heaping servings of it in there.

Posted by: Trump Super Fan at September 24, 2015 04:07 PM (l2dSQ)

530 499 When Paul had an audience with the worldly authorities, he took the opportunity to preach Christ, despite the fact that his life was on the line.
I guess we've come a long, long ways.
Posted by: Hal at September 24, 2015 03:39 PM

Point well taken.

Posted by: Sharon W at September 24, 2015 04:11 PM (Xhsh5)

531 Posted by: Marcus T at September 24, 2015 04:06 PM (zXvqP)

What speech did you read because it certainly was not the one he delivered to Congress.

Posted by: Max Rockatansky at September 24, 2015 04:13 PM (V8uX9)

532 191 When the Pope talks about anything other than religious and moral issues, he's just another celebrity.

Posted by: Myiq2xu at September 24, 2015 02:49 PM (5fSr7)

Pope Kardashian I

Posted by: Minuteman at September 24, 2015 04:14 PM (O7MHB)

533

In addition to my crow-eating apology, I also say thanks to the several commenters who patiently and politely took the time to correct my claims.

Despite embarrassment (of my own making), I always ultimately appreciate being disabused of ignorance.

Posted by: Trump Super Fan at September 24, 2015 04:16 PM (l2dSQ)

534 Another cradle [and practicing] Catholic here.

I don't particularly like this Pope. There are Catholics being slaughtered and raped in the Middle East, and he harps on about "global warming."

[eyes rolling]

This morning, I was on the phone chatting with a client who is Baptist. He was watching the Pope. I was not. Don't plan on it either.

Very much appreciate that fact that you are trying to be respectful Ace, it is appreciated.

Posted by: shibumi, RIP USA at September 24, 2015 04:30 PM (Zy+ZM)

535 "after all the Protestant-Catholic wars of religion are long in the past, thank God, and I have no wish to refight them"

"Amen!" -- the French Huguenots

Posted by: Beverly at September 24, 2015 04:35 PM (0QYBy)

536 Heh. I just got a Pope T-shirt. I work in a print shop and we printed commemorative trading cards for a guy who is going to sell them to tourists this weekend. When he came to pick up his order, he gave us all a T-shirt.

Posted by: rickl at September 24, 2015 04:41 PM (zoehZ)

537 " 515 Then there was the inane nonsense where the Fox people literally suggested that the Pope might think differently about capitalism after he sees the beautiful cathedral that capitalist wealth rebuilt in NYC.

"The same Pope that has foregone his palatial quarters.

"The desperation with which they were trying to defend this commie makes me want to barf."

Fox is beyond parody at this point, as is NRO. On Fox and Friends, some cleric said "this pope may be somewhat socialist but isn't Marxist." The stooge hosts nodded furiously, mouths agape.

Posted by: Mother T's ghost at September 24, 2015 04:42 PM (6gR7l)

538 "Amen!" -- the French Huguenots

Posted by: Beverly at September 24, 2015 04:35 PM (0QYBy)

Quite right.

Posted by: St. Thomas More at September 24, 2015 04:55 PM (u0lmX)

539
I'm not Catholic. I never have been Catholic nor have any family members that I am aware of been Catholic. I don't know if that means I am entitled to a position on the Pope or not. I am an Evangelical, and speak from that prospective.

My question is this: Why, with the whole world watching, does not this Ambassador for Christ preach the simple straightforward Gospel. We are talking about people's eternal souls here.

Why would you waste that opportunity and instead speak about flavor-of-the-month social-worker stuff?

Did Paul get beheaded for talking about the lousy conditions in the seedy areas of Damascus? Did Peter get crucified because he thought donkeys were farting too much and messing up the atmosphere?

Jesus said, GO. And PREACH. And make DISCIPLES.

All I can say is Billy Graham would have been calling sinners to repentance, not talking about how many Mexicans get a ticket to Houston or why you shouldn't buy an air conditioner.

Posted by: grammie winger, waiting for the trumpets at September 24, 2015 04:58 PM (dFi94)

540 I wonder if the Catholic Church...the cardinals that select the Pope....knew they were getting a committed leftist and socialist. I think I'd rather hear a scolding from the great religious leader, Jeremiah Wright. At least the good reverend was more lively while giving his speeches.

Posted by: rodlang at September 24, 2015 05:01 PM (CmDWk)

541 grammie winger: this Catholic completely agrees with you,.

I am very, very disappointed with this Pope.

Posted by: Donna and V. (sans ampersands) at September 24, 2015 05:05 PM (u0lmX)

542 Of course, because your average televangelist has the moral standing of the Pope in Rome.
Posted by: St. Margaret Atheling Queen of Scotland, aka tcn in AK at September 24, 2015 04:00 PM (+YMhA)

When the Pope is a Commie he has no moral standing. His standing is alongside of Peron and the Castros.

Posted by: Minuteman at September 24, 2015 05:06 PM (O7MHB)

543 Maggy-

You may want to disconnect your faith in this failure of a pastor. He is leading his flock into the desert amongst the wolves.

Posted by: Minuteman at September 24, 2015 05:09 PM (O7MHB)

544 Oh, and BTW - next time TFG makes you (the Pope) and your flight do loops in a holding pattern so he can be on the tarmac when you deplane- tell him to GFY. Make him wait. This was nothing but a power play - my dick is bigger than yours type of move you commonly see in business and politics.
Posted by: OurCountryIsScrewed at September 24, 2015 03:23 PM (DlmoZ)
* * * * *

You are absolutely right! Obama is forever doing things like this. He's like the obnoxious, bratty little kid we all knew in grade school who's always sticking his finger in your eye and going "Nyah-nyah-nyah-nyah-nyah!" Always giving everybody the middle finger, but sneakily. He's NASTY.

Posted by: Kathy from Kansas at September 24, 2015 05:09 PM (AcTdG)

545 Did anyone read the actual transcript of the address? Or did everyone's conclusions come directly from reading a Hot Air articles -- thus forming an opinion from an opinion piece?

As for the actual transcript: yes, the Pope does bring up immigrants (and says to treat them like humans, which is probably a good thing to do)...but he never says "do this" or "do that"...so?
As for the environment: he says we need to find ways to preserve what we have and care for the planet (in this I suppose one could make the case that the Pope is hung up on environmental concerns, but he never said support cap and trade or global warming ala Gore...there is a difference). He never says "do this" or "do that" again.
The piece about abortion is tied to family and our young, and these are the concluding paragraphs (which a student of rhetoric will tell you means that they hold significance due to their placement). And here he does change up and pretty much say "do this", in the sense that "you should take better care of the importance of family and shouild guard the young". So, rhetorically he is very much emphasizing this above all others -- it is not the same as the rest; it holds a higher seat.
And he says some nice things about business (ergo capitalism) and people being seen as more than just tax cattle too...albeit the reducing of things down to business transactions only, and the elevation of greed as a virtue is dangerous (ehem, haven't you all been talking about the GOPe here lately??). And again, no "do this"/"do that", except for the "don't break everything down to money and money alone, and don't be greedy" snippets, which is again, pretty good advice and perhaps shows where the true message is (rhetorically speaking).

So, there are two things that the Pope will not debate: the sanctity of life and the resisting of greed (both of which are kind of big deals in Catholicism) rest is very much up for debate, and that is left up and open to...us.

So, wherein lies the problems with any of these?

Posted by: unknown j. at September 24, 2015 05:25 PM (XLVQK)

546 So, wherein lies the problems with any of these?

Posted by: unknown j. at September 24, 2015 05:25 PM (XLVQK)
==================

How many times did he bring up Jesus?
Serious question. I have not read the transcripts.

Posted by: grammie winger, waiting for the trumpets at September 24, 2015 05:35 PM (dFi94)

547 I thought it was funny that he asked us 'not to fear foreigners as we were all foreigners once'.

Ignoring that this is obviously nonsense it is extraordinarily rich coming from an Argentinian. A country where foreigners brutally butchered and eventually wiped out the native inhabitants.

Posted by: STV at September 24, 2015 05:41 PM (4mFtM)

548 Grammie winger--while I may feel disappointment in the Pope's address to Congress, he was speaking to a political body, as a guest in their country. And as unknown j. points out (as did Ramesh Ponnuru in a Bloomberg View piece), the Pope really didn't say anything offensive or unchristian. His address to the Bishops and his homily at the consecration Mass were excellent. And I assure you that Christ was promulgated emphatically.

Posted by: Sharon W at September 24, 2015 05:57 PM (Xhsh5)

549 He merely brings up the Golden Rule (which is rather attributable to Jesus) to be honest, I didn't do a word count. However, does the Pope need to mention Jesus every time he speaks? Is that like some magic password?

On the environment: you know, the door has been opened to go after Hillary thanks to the Pope: who has made big stacks from the likes of Monsanto; how about those solar and wind powered companies? who scratched whose backs there AND have they truly been good for the environment (a quick look at the environmental fiasco that is Germany's wind program and the hideous environmental pollution caused by solar panel production could lend some clues here).
As for the illegal immigrants: which is more brotherly? To take them all in (never said) or to brook no nonsense with the corrupt hell holes they come from? This could be a conservative talking point. He mentions treating everyone like humans, and that governments have an obligation to their people...your mileage may vary on that, but it is worth considering as a debate point.

As for the money thing: with the donor class complaints that have been arising out of conservatives lately? Are you not tired of being treated as vote and tax cattle? Do you not want and deserve more from your elected officials? Is this not also something the Democrats have been oh so guilty of? (heck, you could argue that the left is expressly NOT treating immigrants as humans in expressly these ways! so have the donor class period!).

And giving into fear is the last thing one should do: it makes you not think of proactive things (like putting your foot down with the horrifically corrupt Mexican government as a way to actively deal with the illegal problem for instance....which nobody in government seems to want to do). It makes you turn yourself into a victim and a loser before the game has even begun. And well, you conservatives haven't been winning much lately (hint: you have already conceded the field...to the point that the only one who seems to want to fight for you is: a political liberal; forget holding your political champions to any sort of standard....you haven't even been demanding of them that they fight...long overdue I should think).

Posted by: unknown j. at September 24, 2015 06:10 PM (XLVQK)

550 Just a thought: Is there a majority RC state that's not a blue state? Massachusetts was a red state until the WASPS were out-bred. As well as NH, VT, etc. The long march through the institutions. . . .

Posted by: plum at September 24, 2015 06:12 PM (vxuDM)

551 547 And I found his piece about the Indians interesting: what was one of the things that caused their downfall? (besides, disease, which might be something we should consider too)
Lack of unity -- we start thinking about America first, demand that our political "betters" do as well...or we may very well indeed face the same fate ("do onto others" works in many different ways -- it isn't applicable only in one instance; we owe it to our countrymen to think of them too).
And again one could view it from a sense of history: if our own forefathers had been treated more justly by their homelands, would they have wanted to come? Perhaps, but many would have stayed put (the Indians did not have the luxury of doing anything about that, but perhaps we do, and there is perhaps a lesson to be gained here...which is also most probably highly Catholic, but that digresses).

It's worth at least some consideration.

Posted by: unknown j. at September 24, 2015 06:20 PM (XLVQK)

552 550 well yes, that too: give up on children because you want to "live your life" and in the end there will only be extinction (so much for the life part)
We have had a hand in our own undoing on that part. We have liked our individual money, playthings, and adventures far too much for our own good. A quick look at our society shows how the "me first" and "you can have it all" mentality can quickly go to absolute rot.

Posted by: unknown j. at September 24, 2015 06:23 PM (XLVQK)

553 However, does the Pope need to mention Jesus every time he speaks? Is that like some magic password?

=======================

**** knocks head into wall ****

Posted by: grammie winger, waiting for the trumpets at September 24, 2015 06:25 PM (dFi94)

554 I've never understood the argument that some non-Catholics attempt to make that the Church is somehow deficient in taking care of the poor because they control a lot of assets(real estate, art, etc.) The argument seems to be that they should sell off these assets to help the poor, even though the Church has always led the way in taking care of the poor through the various ministries that the Church sponsors. Those ministries are funded by voluntary current contributions of the current members of the Church. The large size of the legacy assets that the Church controls are due to the fact that the Church has existed for over 2000 years, and that benefactors have seen fit to voluntarily give gifts to the church over that long period of time. The Catholic Church has no taxing powers, nor does it have any way to compel its members to give anything whatsoever. It seems to me that some one making this argument should also support death taxes on family farms and businesses. That doesn't seem to be a conservative argument.

Posted by: KayJay at September 24, 2015 06:35 PM (LiXtn)

555 The reason you can't pigeonhole this pope is because he speaks contradictions every other sentence. It's almost like a rap, first line left, next one right.

Intelligent, he is not.

Posted by: LePope at September 24, 2015 06:50 PM (Uq9ly)

556 549 He merely brings up the Golden Rule (which is rather attributable to Jesus) to be honest, I didn't do a word count. However, does the Pope need to mention Jesus every time he speaks? Is that like some magic password?
Posted by: unknown j. at September 24, 2015 06:10 PM (XLVQK)

He ought to in this instance, given the magnitude of the opportunity and the breadth of the audience. I mean, all the things he brought up are fine things to be concerned over, whether we agree on the particularities or not. But Jesus? Jesus is the thing, the only reason any of it matters! To believe in Jesus is to believe that he was the lamb of God, the willing sacrifice to atone for the sins of mankind, that we could stand in the presence of God not as guilt-stained sinners, but covered in his mercy and righteousness.

Jesus asked, "What does it profit a man to gain the world but lose his soul?" We can house every immigrant, heal the environment, find justice and mercy all the world over for the poor and indigent, but what will it gain them if the message of Christ is ignored and buried in the name of "civility?" When Jesus met the woman at the well (John 4), she asked for help getting water. Jesus offered her living water. The distinction here is stark.

No, as a man who claims to be the leader of the world's Christians and Christ's representative on Earth, he owed his audience more than what he gave them.

Posted by: Hal at September 24, 2015 07:05 PM (nzmxZ)

557 Dammit. Entire post went poof. Too tired to repeat but am not impressed at all with Mr. Pope's Nose. And can just see my near-senile MIL nodding and soaking it all in as she is glued to teevee. Justifying her parroting of global warming and gay marriage agenda spelled out to her by her liberal family (this, after barely accepting me, a redneck WASP, decades ago. pfft).

Mr. Pope's Nose is part of the UN agenda and global governance until sharia. Fat chance this infidel will submit.

You'd think, other than the non separation of religion and state, that a POPE could say the word abortion. A POPE could condemn ISIS and the torture and beheading of Christians in the world. Oh, no, peace, pilgrims,and pope mobile. It is all such a head fake.

He appeared to be ok at first, no? Anti-gay marriage. Freaking out liberals, so, I liked him. Then things appeared to be lost in translation, so I gave him a pass. No more. Oh, and Mr. Pope? I can speak any language better than you. My French is better and I don't sound like I took Quaaludes when I painfully say "globul warming." What the heck? It was like playing an old record in slow speed. pfft. Done.

Charles Martel, where are you?

Posted by: ChristyBlinky, aging supermodel Redneck Queen at September 24, 2015 07:51 PM (LJ4iV)

558 So I take it we have to use the Son of God's name in every address, because it's some magical password?

Which means of course that anyone who says "Jesus" enough times is doing it right?

Maybe the Pope isn't the stupid one -- I have seen conservatives throwing a fit every time this one religious leader doesn't pull their party line for them, but they miss the opportunities that this same leader hands out. It's better to be a victim I guess (which means you have completely lost because you buy the leftist victimhood ideology). Your own elected majority Congress will not fight to defund the disgusting Planned Parenthood, and you are going to do what? Go along with more of the same, next time will be better?
You could take this address and run with it (the Monsanto thing links back to Hillary by the way, and it also involves quite a bit of corporate statism/attacks on individual liberties as well as the nasty stuff they get away with environmentally....why don't you ask your political leaders to go with that? where are your journalists and bloggers on this?). The migrant crisis? Why don't you go after the Obama administration from a humanitarian standpoint? Is it compassion to go along with foreign policy and hobnobbing with foreign governments that create these human waves? Because I don't see how one can truly say they are doing unto others or keeping their brother when they won't get the to root problem -- which will cause misery in more than just one place (did you not complain about how Syria and Lybia were messes that we should not be involved in, should not be led by Europe into...and now we are getting blamed for it all; where are you to push back against that?) Why aren't your politicians going after it? Where are your journalists, your bloggers?
No, you'd rather sit back and whinge that the Commie Pope is being a big old meanie to poor little you (that doesn't affectively combat the situation by the way) when if you really wanted to follow what has happened (and what he has brought up) down the rabbithole -- the real Commies were the ones who created all of these issues (with a little help from fascists and our own stupid hippies, yuppies, and sybarites who consider themselves beautiful people, but again, digression). Why are you not taking that ball which has been presented to you and playing hard with it? Why?

Posted by: unknown j. at September 24, 2015 10:14 PM (XLVQK)

559 I have one last thing to say: after today's PP vote, why should this Pope (or any Pope) do anything for so-called conservatives in this country? They have only the Church to be concerned with mostly anyway; which means in the end they have to turn their eyes to the Catholic (and Orthodox). Conservatism is a sham in this country (look at your politicians) -- gay marriage? allowed, PP? allowed; some pretty personal attacks on the Church itself (and a lot of petty sniping)? encouraged at times.

No, they owe conservatives nothing, and conservatives with their track record as of late should not be asking for anything, unless so-called conservatives have no shame.

Come to think of it, the American people owe so-called conservatives nothing as well. Because it is not conservative, and it doesn't even want to stand up for its own country and people. It's merely liberals on the other side, and nothing is owed to any of it, by anybody.

Posted by: unknown j. at September 24, 2015 10:23 PM (XLVQK)

560 I've been reading the Papal encyclicals of the 20th century. It seems like EVERY pope has been "in fact on the left on every single position he's liturgically permitted to be on the left on." Abortion is mentioned relatively little; actual liturgical matters more so; international relations, income equality, and the (expletive deleted) UN get much more air time.

Admittedly I have not in fact read the global warming one for purposes of comparison.

Posted by: Jobey in Error at September 24, 2015 10:42 PM (dGWLp)

561 So, Pope Frankie-Goes-To-Hollywood... taking you at your word on immigration... if I sneak into Vatican City, I can count on you to make me a citizen and force someone to give me a good job, right? Without even knowing who I am? And you won't mind me sending money back home, right?

"Ah," you might say. "That's different, because Vatican City is not a nation of immigrants, while the United States is." To which, I respond... Vatican City is pretty much always ruled by an immigrant, is it not?

How many Popes were actually born in Vatican City, you big stinkin' hypocrite?

Posted by: Prothonotary Warbler... Trump/Cruz 2016! at September 24, 2015 10:49 PM (wKc1L)

562 Oh, and if carbon emissions are such a big deal to you, Pope Frankie-Goes-To-Hollywood, I look forward to you banning the Papal Council from releasing smoke into Mother Earth's atmosphere when they eventually name your successor.

Posted by: Prothonotary Warbler... Trump/Cruz 2016! at September 24, 2015 11:02 PM (wKc1L)

563 I have read the papal global warming treatise. It actually is only 10% about global warming per se and just repeats the trite basic 'world is ending' IPCC story line. It was written FOR him by an alarmist, news reports tell us.

But 90% of it is various and sundry attacks on how man has mismanaged various things and it struck me as one of the 1970s evniromentalist pap tracts 'we are turning the world into garbage!' No, we are not.

And that's the problem with the papal address. On moral issues, in asking us to consider the human element and the yearning for people and their needs not just for material well-being but spiritual as well, The Pope has standing. But he's not a scientist nor economist nor ... well, an expert anything that's not a 'God' question. So he can tell us whatever he wants, but he's a leftwing Argentinian who happens to be running the catholic church right now.

Posted by: Saint Francis is a Sissy at September 25, 2015 01:00 AM (yTnTP)

564
"I was surprised when arguing against the ACA just how many people of
faith I was arguing with. Because they cared about the sick, or wanted
the poor to get health care. Superficial understanding of government,
but there are plenty that seem to associate government of some kind of
enforcer of their good intentions."

Yes.

The proper words for such people is 'well-meaning idiots'.
The road to hell is paved with statist madness driven by 'good intentions'.

Posted by: Keep Calm Cruz On at September 25, 2015 01:05 AM (yTnTP)

565 This Pope is no John Paul II.

Global Warming? Good g*d!

Posted by: Case, Mors Semper Tyrannis at September 25, 2015 01:05 AM (j2xmV)

566 "So I guess Jesus was lying when He said to His apostles "If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.""

That isn't what he meant.

Fact: The earliest confessions in Christian churches were to the *entire* church. Private confession was something that came in the sixth century.

http://1catholicsalmon.com/2012/07/31/confession-2-the-history-of-confession/

So when Jesus gave the authority to forgive sins, he was NOT giving it to the apostles or to priests, but to the *church as a whole*.

That's why he also taught us that we were not to call any man "father" -- because no human stands in the place of God to us ; we are all brothers in Christ (Matthew 23:9). We can forgive each other's sins; we are not required to appear before a man and have him give forgiveness or withhold it , depending on whether we say the proper number of prayers or not. Instead, we have one intercessor in heaven for us, Jesus Christ, and his forgiveness is not granted upon condition of penance, but on *repentance*.

That's why my ancestors broke off from the Catholic church, and why I'm not a member today. I confess a certain temptation to 'cross the Tiber' due to the sterling example of Pope JPII, but Pope Francis had cured me of that .

Posted by: Brian Pendell at September 25, 2015 10:51 AM (GDDIu)

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