Holy S**t! Pope resigns

LobsterMobster wrote:

You'd think they'd consider this an act of heresy. I mean, isn't he Pope by the will of God?

I bet he could manage at least a few more years if he wouldn't wear the gigantic golden hat.

It was only supposed to be an interim appointment after John Paul II, he wasn't expected to serve that long, but the unexpected resignation caught just about everybody off guard.

SallyNasty wrote:

Where am I and who are you people?

AND WHERE IS MY SWEET POPE-HAT?!

Jonman wrote:

I was honestly surprised to find that this is such a rare occurrence.

I mean, people are, at some point, going to decline in health and die. Sometimes that's going to happen quickly, sometimes (and increasingly commonly with improvements in end-of-life care in modern times) it's going to be a long drawn-out event. At some point during that, the Pope won't be physically or mentally capable of carrying out the roles of his Papacy.

The fact that this is not a common occurrence suggests that in numerous occasions, the Catholic Church has done just fine without a functioning Pope, which suggests that the Pope is, in fact, superfluous to the running of the Catholic Church.

Which stands at odds with the notion of him being such an important fellow, does it not?

The Church has a resilient bureaucratic structure that has endured through centuries of leadership changes. I would not, however, describe the role of the Pope as superfluous. Call him a figurehead if you must, but the importance and influence of the role of "Pope" should not be underestimated for the millions of faithful around the world. In fact, an extraordinary Pope like John Paul II can attain a legacy of influence that endures and enriches long after death. No, I'd never describe the Pope as superfluous, regardless of how anyone feels about the person currently filling the role.

Well this makes me feel a whole heck of a lot better about who gets elected as the new Pope.

Al wrote:

Well this makes me feel a whole heck of a lot better about who gets elected as the new Pope.

Mahony is the former head of the Los Angeles archdiocese, where he has been barred from public duties by the current archbishop because of revelations about his past handling of clergy pedophile cases. But Mahony otherwise remains in good standing as archbishop emeritus.

Apparently the Catholic church has a really different definition of "good standing" than I do.

IMAGE(http://i.imgur.com/GRMoXqH.png)

Please, please, please, please...

I just found out the Vatican has their own astronomer! WTF does the Vatican have an astronomer for? Is the Pope a big believer in horoscopes?

Bear wrote:

I just found out the Vatican has their own astronomer! WTF does the Vatican have an astronomer for? Is the Pope a big believer in horoscopes?

That's astrology.
I assume they picked one up after the slight mishandling of that whole Galileo ordeal.

MilkmanDanimal wrote:

IMAGE(https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/526659_160673757415708_538643506_n.png)

Oh that is just fantastic. Well done sir.

Tim Minchin said it best:
(somewhat nsfw)

It's directed specifically at one pope, but I think the general message can apply equally to most religious leaders both future and past.

Bear wrote:

I just found out the Vatican has their own astronomer! WTF does the Vatican have an astronomer for? Is the Pope a big believer in horoscopes?

IMAGE(http://morganrlewis.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/sneakerscootysratsemen.jpg)

?

Spoiler:

Someone's bound to get it eventually.

Bear wrote:

I just found out the Vatican has their own astronomer! WTF does the Vatican have an astronomer for? Is the Pope a big believer in horoscopes?

Gotta keep an eye out for bright stars shining over Bethlehem, naturally.

Bear wrote:

I just found out the Vatican has their own astronomer! WTF does the Vatican have an astronomer for? Is the Pope a big believer in horoscopes?

If aliens exist, they may be a different life form that does not need Christ's redemption, the Vatican's chief astronomer said.

Jesuit Father Jose Funes, director of the Vatican Observatory, said Christians should consider alien life as an "extraterrestrial brother" and a part of God's creation.

http://www.catholicnews.com/data/sto...

The Church has had long-standing interests in astronomy, due to the astronomical basis of the calendar by which holy days and Easter are determined. For instance, the Gregorian Calendar, promulgated in 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII, was developed by the Jesuit mathematician Christoph Clavius at the Collegio Romano from astronomical data.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vatican...

boogle wrote:

That's astrology. I assume they picked one up after the slight mishandling of that whole Galileo ordeal.

The Galileo ordeal is certainly a black mark, but not for being an example of a lack of scientific interest on the part of the Catholic Church like it's usually referenced as. In fact, it may come down to, to borrow a line from Goodfellas, some "real greaseball sh*t".

The church is totally backwards on a lot of social issues.. but I don't think you can say that they do not science. The big bang theory was put together by a catholic priest after all... Evolution? officially supported by the church. And then there's the Jesuits. don't confuse the Catholics with the evangelicals and such

not saying they're perfect, or even close to it, but I think sometimes they don't get enough credit

There's an interview with the head of the Vatican Astronomers in Religilous. Good guy, actually.

MilkmanDanimal wrote:
Al wrote:

Well this makes me feel a whole heck of a lot better about who gets elected as the new Pope.

Mahony is the former head of the Los Angeles archdiocese, where he has been barred from public duties by the current archbishop because of revelations about his past handling of clergy pedophile cases. But Mahony otherwise remains in good standing as archbishop emeritus.

Apparently the Catholic church has a really different definition of "good standing" than I do.

I think they have a different definition of a lot of things than I do... but full agreement with you on this one too MD.

The Catholics came accross remarkably well in Religilous.

ringsnort wrote:
Jonman wrote:

I was honestly surprised to find that this is such a rare occurrence.

I mean, people are, at some point, going to decline in health and die. Sometimes that's going to happen quickly, sometimes (and increasingly commonly with improvements in end-of-life care in modern times) it's going to be a long drawn-out event. At some point during that, the Pope won't be physically or mentally capable of carrying out the roles of his Papacy.

The fact that this is not a common occurrence suggests that in numerous occasions, the Catholic Church has done just fine without a functioning Pope, which suggests that the Pope is, in fact, superfluous to the running of the Catholic Church.

Which stands at odds with the notion of him being such an important fellow, does it not?

The Church has a resilient bureaucratic structure that has endured through centuries of leadership changes. I would not, however, describe the role of the Pope as superfluous. Call him a figurehead if you must, but the importance and influence of the role of "Pope" should not be underestimated for the millions of faithful around the world. In fact, an extraordinary Pope like John Paul II can attain a legacy of influence that endures and enriches long after death. No, I'd never describe the Pope as superfluous, regardless of how anyone feels about the person currently filling the role.

I was going to post something similar to what Jonman did. I think his point is you have two avenues.

Stay in job and be sub par which all but confirms peoples criticism that the position of Pope is superfluous.

Or you step down because you don't feel like you can do the job because of your health. That implies that Pope isn't some do nothing title and it isn't superfluous.

So yea. I had the same reaction as Jonman pretty much I think. Along the lines of "wtf? why is this so shocking unless the position is actually a farce"

SallyNasty wrote:

The Catholics came accross remarkably well in Religilous.

True, but they did not dig nearly as deep into Catholics as they could have. Speaking with a Catholic Scientist (Cardinal in charge of the Astronomy department) and some goofy monk really were pretty easy pitches to knock out of the park... especially in contrast to that crazy Evangelical nutjob who runs the Creationism Museum near the Cincinnati area.

Side note, I have stood next to the triceratops with a saddle. I was forbidden by museum security to get on it even for a moment for a photo. Bad end to what was a creepy friggin' day. My wife thought it was really funny when we got there. By the time we left, not so much.

Demosthenes wrote:

Side note, I have stood next to the triceratops with a saddle. I was forbidden by museum security to get on it even for a moment for a photo. Bad end to what was a creepy friggin' day. My wife thought it was really funny when we got there. By the time we left, not so much. :lol:

I'm sorry but that IS most definitely an APPROVED reason to get yourself thrown out, maybe even banned for life. You should have done it. Would have been worth it.

LouZiffer wrote:
Bear wrote:

I just found out the Vatican has their own astronomer! WTF does the Vatican have an astronomer for? Is the Pope a big believer in horoscopes?

IMAGE(http://morganrlewis.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/sneakerscootysratsemen.jpg)

?

Spoiler:

Someone's bound to get it eventually.

Spoiler:

seatec astronomy

Good movie btw

Talked to my sister earlier today, who lives in northern Italy. She hadn't even heard about the Pope resigning, although she doesn't have a TV or read the news much.

IMAGE(http://i.imgur.com/WSygVn4.png)

JC wrote:
Demosthenes wrote:

Side note, I have stood next to the triceratops with a saddle. I was forbidden by museum security to get on it even for a moment for a photo. Bad end to what was a creepy friggin' day. My wife thought it was really funny when we got there. By the time we left, not so much. :lol:

I'm sorry but that IS most definitely an APPROVED reason to get yourself thrown out, maybe even banned for life. You should have done it. Would have been worth it.

A regret I must live with, but we got some good pictures, including a velociraptor hanging out with a lamb and Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden... and a few of me looking uncomfortable around various "facts" about how science is wrong about things like using geological dating to determine the age of fossils as I started to realize people were taking it seriously around me.

boogle wrote:
Bear wrote:

I just found out the Vatican has their own astronomer! WTF does the Vatican have an astronomer for? Is the Pope a big believer in horoscopes?

That's astrology.
I assume they picked one up after the slight mishandling of that whole Galileo ordeal.

Bingo!

I think someone found out the pope is a vampire. He was forced to step down to protect the world from knowing there are vampires amongst us. Don't worry the government is making a android to deal with the vampire problem.

One issue I've not yet seen discussed about this Pope's resignation is his timing. And this fact may make the event even more unique and inexplicable than a simple cursory glance at history might reveal. For the non-Christians out there, we are well into the Lenten Season leading up to Easter (Sunday, March 31, 2013), the single most important day of the Christian calendar. In fact, the Church calendar is already packed with important rites and events, and now they're adding the election of a new Pope on top of all this? Fact is that unless he's on the verge of barfing up a lung, the very idea of a Pope resigning at this particular time is truly unimaginable.

Baron Of Hell wrote:

I think someone found out the pope is a vampire. He was forced to step down to protect the world from knowing there are vampires amongst us. Don't worry the government is making a android to deal with the vampire problem.

Today is Lincoln's birthday. Coincidence?

ringsnort wrote:

One issue I've not yet seen discussed about this Pope's resignation is his timing. And this fact may make the event even more unique and inexplicable than a simple cursory glance at history might reveal. For the non-Christians out there, we are well into the Lenten Season leading up to Easter (Sunday, March 31, 2013), the single most important day of the Christian calendar. In fact, the Church calendar is already packed with important rites and events, and now they're adding the election of a new Pope on top of all this? Fact is that unless he's on the verge of barfing up a lung, the very idea of a Pope resigning at this particular time is truly unimaginable.

Do you mean that we will be well into Lent when he officially steps down? Because in the Roman Catholic Church, it's not Lent until this Wednesday.

They say he's going to step down at the end of February.