The Popes visit to Britain.

[BimboBob]

The reason why a lot of English do slag off Catholicism is because the country has been subjected to it and so directly affected by it. For hundreds of years Europe was oppressed by the Catholic church, and whilst small sections of it did good and kept their holy vows, a whole lot of others did not and are still not. The whole reason (apart from a King's selfish desire to get rid of a wife) why England seperated from Rome was because it was oppressive and corrupt, particularly at the higher levels. They burned heretics, took money to excuse sins, sired children. After the reformation, things took a better turn so obviously a lot of people are going to think that Catholicism is still a bad thing.

Now we are in modern times and things have changed massively. Some religions have changed with the times, others haven't. Islam and Catholicism are ones who refuse to change, and whilst I have no respect for either of their practises and beliefs, I am more likely to target Catholicism because it is situated in Europe where things have progressed vastly yet they still refuse to change with the times. I think it's disgusting that the Pope does not back the ideas of using condoms in Africa, if he knows people are going to be promiscous on a continent where HIV is prominent, what's more important, the life of the person now or the life of someone that might not ever be? I'm not even going to discuss peadophilia in the church, you just can't defend it!

Have you heard the story of the little girl in Brazil who was raped by her stepfather? She was pregnant with twins and had to have an abortion, but the Catholic church condemned those involved for killing a life, when if they hadn't have done the little girl would have surely died. Not only that, but one Bishop said that those who performed the abortion and the girl's mother had committed more of a serious crime than that of the father who had raped a child.
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1883598,00.html

Now I have no problem with every day Catholics, nor do I with Muslims, at the end of the day if it makes them happy to practise their religion and it does not interfer with my life, I don't really care. But I absolutely despise the institution of religions that allow such horrible things to happen. And I know that a lot of religions have bad apples, but the Catholic Church tries to cover it up, and it's just sickening.

Where do you stand on jehova's witness's?

By the front door?

 

[robo the blue]

I can't see the point of it all myself. Who's interested in him? What's his purpose?

What does everybody else think?

well i dont like the thought of peados touring our country at our exspence !!
should burn the bastard.

 

[Matty]

I can't see the point of it all myself. Who's interested in him? What's his purpose?

What does everybody else think?

well i dont like the thought of peados touring our country at our exspence !!
should burn the bastard.

British education at it's finest ladies and gentlemen.

 

[bluevengence]

HYPOCRITES

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=di04_vKfqNw&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

 

[Shands]

Apologies, I’ve not read the rest of the thread so if this post may be going off at an irrelevant tangent.

I’m a Catholic but would freely admit rightly or wrongly that the Vatican is almost an irrelevance to me. At times I don’t see much correlation between the actions of the Vatican and the core principles of the faith they promote. Clearly it has a role to fulfil in setting the doctrine of the faith but when I go to church I listen to the scriptures and I like to think I’m bright enough to draw my own conclusions as to what the message is. I would say this applies to most Catholics I know. The notion that people blindly accept a party line is, in my experience at least, incorrect. For many faith is a personal thing, the church just provides a bit of focus.

Despite my indifference to Rome though it saddens me when I hear people attack the Catholic Church and organised religion. The Vatican may be a figurehead but the real essence of the Catholic Church is the ordinary people worldwide who contribute so much.

When I think of Catholicism, I think of some of the clergy I’ve met over the years who have inspired me with their wisdom, insight, humour and kindness.

I think of sitting in a hospital in Lourdes listening to the elderly and infirm (some non Catholics) talk about how grateful they were to be given the opportunity of a change of scene and the chance to feel part of a group and normal.

I think of when the mother of my best friend (an atheist) died and the comfort he & the family took from the visits of the priest.

I think how happy the old lady along the road is each week to get a visit off my mother brining her communion.

I would never deny that the Church as an organization has its faults from top to bottom and it should by no means be exempt from criticism. At the same time however it also draws a lot of people together in a sense of community and encourages them to do positive work on a local, national and global scale. It provides support and comfort to many in both good and bad times. We all need people on our side in life and sometimes the church doesn’t get the acknowledgment it deserves for this.

 

[Ancient Citizen]

I was mistaken when I took the popemobile for an Ice cream van. I only realised my mistake when I read 'would'nt mind that child' on the back

 

[ElanJo]

Do people in here think Muslims condone paedophillia? The prophet Mohammed had a 6 year old wife and consummated the marriage when she was 9!

That Mohammed is a tosser and a fraud, I would love to brick him, he is a useless paedo prick! If he was around today he would get one between the eyes, and I don't mean the jiz of a twelve year old!

Of course I don't mean this, I have A modicum of respect, but the things I wrote about Mohammed are just a snippet of what has been written about the pope!

Let's hope you have more respect for the chidren being raped than Ratzinger et al did.

 

[typicalcity68]

I'd like to know the story behind Cardinal Walter Kasper pulling out of the trip.
Calling the UK third world & only skirting around what he means is very rude & it's even ruder saying the reason he's not coming is because he's ill.

I reckon he was spot on with what he said.

 

[Damocles]

Apologies, I’ve not read the rest of the thread so if this post may be going off at an irrelevant tangent.

I’m a Catholic but would freely admit rightly or wrongly that the Vatican is almost an irrelevance to me. At times I don’t see much correlation between the actions of the Vatican and the core principles of the faith they promote. Clearly it has a role to fulfil in setting the doctrine of the faith but when I go to church I listen to the scriptures and I like to think I’m bright enough to draw my own conclusions as to what the message is. I would say this applies to most Catholics I know. The notion that people blindly accept a party line is, in my experience at least, incorrect. For many faith is a personal thing, the church just provides a bit of focus.

Despite my indifference to Rome though it saddens me when I hear people attack the Catholic Church and organised religion. The Vatican may be a figurehead but the real essence of the Catholic Church is the ordinary people worldwide who contribute so much.

When I think of Catholicism, I think of some of the clergy I’ve met over the years who have inspired me with their wisdom, insight, humour and kindness.

I think of sitting in a hospital in Lourdes listening to the elderly and infirm (some non Catholics) talk about how grateful they were to be given the opportunity of a change of scene and the chance to feel part of a group and normal.

I think of when the mother of my best friend (an atheist) died and the comfort he & the family took from the visits of the priest.

I think how happy the old lady along the road is each week to get a visit off my mother brining her communion.

I would never deny that the Church as an organization has its faults from top to bottom and it should by no means be exempt from criticism. At the same time however it also draws a lot of people together in a sense of community and encourages them to do positive work on a local, national and global scale. It provides support and comfort to many in both good and bad times. We all need people on our side in life and sometimes the church doesn’t get the acknowledgment it deserves for this.

I like you, I hope you post more in religious topics and discuss your faith. I don't agree with your views necessarily, but I like the way that you state them.

 

[bluemanc]

I'd like to know the story behind Cardinal Walter Kasper pulling out of the trip.
Calling the UK third world & only skirting around what he means is very rude & it's even ruder saying the reason he's not coming is because he's ill.

I reckon he was spot on with what he said.

5 Algerians have just been arrested on suspicion of planning to attack the Pope so i'm assuming he's touched a nerve somewhere with what he said.