I for one think we should a black pope.
This is a comment, someone close to me said, and it is racist (I think) but.
The chruch needs some color.
Seriously it does. I think after 2000 years of white dues, there should be a black pope by now.
A female Pope would be good...... :wink:
As a Methodist minister once said to me: At the next Vatican Council the Pope will turn up with his wife. At the one after that the Pope will turn up with her husband. :wink:
Well I didnt expect that outcome...a Pope who was in the Hitler Youth, a controversial choice indeed.
Well I didnt expect that outcome...a Pope who was in the Hitler Youth, a controversial choice indeed.
This isn't good news... But, he's 78. He'll be dying before you know it, and we'll be back to the same situation in no time, and then, who knows, maybe they'll elect a more liberal Pope. Or an even more conservative one.
He's two years below the age limit, so maybe they should have elected a yonger pope.
Yeah they should have but apparently they had a long list of reasons especially health to not consider the other candidates too.
Well I didnt expect that outcome...a Pope who was in the Hitler Youth, a controversial choice indeed.
Amy, my father was in the Hitler Youth as well. He was no Nazi. Not all Germans were Nazis! He had no choice, his parents forced him. Besides, kids who refused to be in the Hitler Youth were persecuted by their teachers and other kids, and the whole family was suspect and watched.
Do you think this new pope had, at the age of 14, much choice? As it said in the biography I read about him, his parents made him be in the Hitler Youth. It doesn't speak for or against him. It is just an unfortunate fact.
That said, I really couldn't care less about who the new pope is, as what the Catholic church does is of no interest to me for the most part.
From the Independent on Sunday's business section, 24/4/05.
Catholic mission statement: Pope is urged to think outside the box
By Clayton Hurst
It's in danger of doing a "Sainsbury's" - ignoring the competition and confusing the product offering. It needs to reform its management structure and develop a succession plan. And it has to improve shareholder value.
But these are not the words of a City report on a faltering FTSE company. They are the conclusions of RSM Robson Rhodes on the problem facing the Roman Catholic Church.
The management consultancy has kindly produced, for nothing, a six-point action plan for Pope Benedict XVI to help him revive his church's fortunes.
The report warns that the rise in secularism and religions such as Islam "has attacked the Catholic Church's traditional domestic market in Europe". But its declining market share, argues the consultancy, is self-inflicted as it has partially lost sight of its customers.
Point one of the plan is to explore growth opportunities in the emerging markets of South America and Africa, although RSM warns the Church not to "over-trade" in these countries.
Point two is to shore up its domestic profit sanctuary in Europe. "Should the Church consider major cross-border consolidation? Should it revisit the demerger decision pushed by Martin Luther some 500 years ago?" asks RSM.
The Church must also "keep on message". So RSM's third recommendation is that the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger follow his predecessor's "back to basics" call and avoid "diluting the brand promise".
The new Pope must also bring the priests "on board". So point four is a "risk management strategy" to address past scandals that have dogged the Church.
Point five would require a break from tradition, but RSM says the 78-year-old Pope should start succession planning to "secure continuity and prevent infighting".
Finally, the new Pope must enhance shareholder value. This is more than just getting bums on pews, says the consultancy. For its stock to rise, the Church needs to improve levels of commitment and depths of belief.
Malcom McKenzie, author of the report, said he was happy to offer his services to the Pope, but conceded: "I still await the call."
Uschi said "Amy, my father was in the Hitler Youth as well. He was no Nazi. Not all Germans were Nazis!"
I didn't mention the word Nazi. I used to live in Germany, and have german relatives, I certainly know that they are not all Nazis. I just feel that it is a controversial choice if you consider the leaders of the world. They seem to get criticism for vague connections to anything dubious.
Arnold Schwarzeneger was hounded by press for having a relative who was a Nazi, obviously that is well beyond his control, as have members of the Royal Family in the UK.
From what I have heard, he was enrolled without his knowledge along with all other boys when membership became compulsory. When he discovered it, he tried to get taken off the rolls. He was drafted into the German army, assigned to an anti-aircraft unit, and deserted as soon as he could and ended up taken prisoner of war by American troops.
I don't particularly like his views (he's pretty much in the same vein as JP2, and JP2 is partly why I left the Catholic church), but the tarnishment with the Hitler Youth and German army associations is unjustified.
In my experience, people who call themselves humble actually aren't. :lol:
"but the tarnishment with the Hitler Youth and German army associations is unjustified."
If it is a fact though, it should be shown the same way as any other fact. He may choose to speak about it and clarify the situation and talk about his opposition. I think that would be a positive move.
Anyone in the public eye has their past looked at, so it is certain to happen for him too.
"but the tarnishment with the Hitler Youth and German army associations is unjustified."
If it is a fact though, it should be shown the same way as any other fact. He may choose to speak about it and clarify the situation and talk about his opposition. I think that would be a positive move.
Anyone in the public eye has their past looked at, so it is certain to happen for him too.
Yes, it is a fact, but is it truth? It is a fact that I dislocated my son's shoulder when he was two by yanking his arm, what impression does that fact leave without context? If I were in the public eye and someone wanted to discredit me they could say quite factually that I purposely yanked his arm violently knowing that there was a very good chance that he might end up with a dislocated shoulder or even a broken arm. We all know that the simple statement of that fact would create the impression in the minds of most people that I was a child abuser. It's quite easy to use facts to create an untruth.
AFAIK, there is nobody who opposes him on the basis of the Hitler Youth and German army associations and he has addressed the issue many many many times in the past, and all independent sources of information confirm his accounts. I don't think these are the source of any controversies. They might be getting used by those who oppose him for other reasons and who are willing to use any means to discredit him. I am not happy at his election, but I'm not willing to use dishonest tactics like that.
I have never heard any account of it from his side, I never heard anything about him until he was actually elected, maybe he will make new statements.
My only comment is that the catholic church is well known for having dodgy individuals in the priesthood.
<insert various references to the covering up of molestation in the church>