Pope's Will

[netibiza]

I know I should wait for the official statement, but I heard that the Pope left a 15page will - was he allowed to have private property and if so I suppose he can leave it to anyone he likes.  I thought Nuns etc had to give up most of their personal wealth - but I may be wrong!  Was the Pope paid to be Pope? I just assumed that his personal things came out of the Vatican shopping purse.

[slimfandango]

Big debate over where exactly 'contraception' falls, but officially the pope is 'infallible' when speaking 'ex cathedra' (as the bishop of Rome) on faith and morals. Some say 'Humanae Vitae' of Paul VI was infallible. It would look a bit daft if someone overruled it.

But basically what the pope says goes. He can change a lot of policy. Whether that gets carried out...

[El D]

And yet many 'Catholics' would not be able to

1. identify him

2. recognise his policies

3. say anything about him

despite his place as gods representative . . . why dont they just admit they are not catholics?

[netibiza]

You are so right -El D over her in Spain a catholic country - they go to church because they have to - once there they chatter and laugh and all but smoke then leave and feel cleansed and righteous but haven't a clue what it was all about!!

[Fritz Klyka]

El D - the same could be said about many Americans with respect to President Bush.

Many Americans would not be able to

1. identify him

2. recognise his policies

3. say anything about him

despite his place as the representative of the American people.... why don't they just admit they are not americans?

[MargeB]

I lived in America for 10 years and have never read so much **** in my life. What do you mean many americans would not be able to recognize him? How many do you think would not understand his position on terrorism or Iraq? And even if they didn't, why would that make them any less american?

[El D]

In addition to the point that I would probably disagree with 2 of your points, the analogy is flawed. Americans are not an homogenous group, they are united only by dint of their nationality - they can be white, muslim, black, hindu, with all the different interests and cultures those associations bring.

 

Catholics are united by one thing, and one thing only, their faith and belief in God. To Catholics, the Pope represents god on earth. His word is virtual law because it carries with it divine authority. Americans can disagree with or ignore Bush if they want, they are not bound to him, they may not even support him. Catholics are intrinsically bound to the Pope - how can you submit to a religion where God literally speaks to you through the most senior representative of your religion, your contact with the divine, and yet not even be able to identify him. It's laughable to even pretend they follow any form of Catholicism, which is heavily dependant on central authority. Catholics are bound to and by their faith, and if they do not follow the teachings of the Catholic church how then can they be catholics?