John Paul

[LUDICROUS]

About 20 minutes ago, Pope John Paul died.

RIP

[Zilverzmurfen]

As most people on this forum might suspect I am not a religious person. I don't mean to be offensive to any catholic or religious person out there, but i really think he should have been replaced years ago and spent his last days out of the 'limelight'.

I am not interested in who will replace him, I just think it should have been done years ago.

[strongbad94]

Instant Pope! Just add water!



(staff not included)

[lochinvar]

The Pope is dead! Long live the Pope! There'll be another one along any minute now.

Honestly, I'm sorry he's dead, but I think it was overdue. At least we didn't have to witness a sordid public tussle over whether he;s dead or not, a la Terry Sheivo...

[LUDICROUS]

I'm not religious either, and I kind of agree with Zmurfs sentiments. Ah well, the Pope DID do good things though....

[mrbiggs]

Instant Pope! Just add water!



(staff not included)

HOLY water, man, HOLY water.

By the way, does anyone know the process we go through to choose a new pope? I'm Catholic, but I spent what education I got learning why gay people are going to hell instead of how a new pope is chosen.

[Moonitic]

It's so nice to see how religiously tolerant people are on this board. How nice everyone is to those who are not of your own personal belief system. How respectful. How caring.

How hypocritical.

May you not receive the same treatment when you die, but rather may your memory be treated with some dignity, & much more kindness. May your loved ones not have to listen to people gripe, or make crass jokes about you when they've just lost you. May you not reap what you've just sown.

I've seen low on this board. Never thought I'd see it THIS low.

[BrianH]

I've seen low on this board. Never thought I'd see it THIS low.

I totally agree, Moonitic. More laudatory posts about Mitch Hedberg than the man revered as a religious leader by 1,100,000,000 humans? And that's just the Catholics. Many non-Catholics, indeed many non-religious people, recognized him as a man of character and principle, even if they disagreed with some of his actions.

Thanks, Moonitic, for being so sensitive to the sadness many people are feeling this day.

[keith]

How hypocritical.

not really, no one is celebrating his passing. He chose to be a controversial pope, which raised ire and support in equal measure - and some of his pronouncements certainly put me in the Ire camp. But only people who fail to challenge others get nothing but plaudits and platitudes.

[Moonitic]

not really, no one is celebrating his passing. He chose to be a controversial pope, which raised ire and support in equal measure - and some of his pronouncements certainly put me in the Ire camp. But only people who fail to challenge others get nothing but plaudits and platitudes.

Actually, yes. They are very hypocritical. If a Buddhist leader died, no one would say anything derogatory. Any other religious leader...nothing bad. If someone did, they'd be tarred & feathered. Yet Christian? It's open season. The same people saying rotten things now are the ones that ASSURED this entire board that there is no dislike for Christians.

Thank you for proving my point.

The Pope chose to do what he thought was right by God, & to stick with his decisions, not letting others influence him. Liked or disliked, NOW is not the time to "get back" at the man, or people who believed the same.

[keith]

Actually, yes. They are very hypocritical. If a Buddhist leader died, no one would say anything derogatory. Any other religious leader...nothing bad. If someone did, they'd be tarred & feathered. Yet Christian? It's open season. The same people saying rotten things now are the ones that ASSURED this entire board that there is no dislike for Christians.

utter tripe, for a variety of reasons. What rotten things have been said in this thread? None. I can't quite recall the commentary on the death of the Ayatollah Khomeini but I suspect the odd bad thing was said. Please feel free to dispute this.

Thank you for proving my point.

Uhm I said the man lived by his convictions and in doing so angered many and pleased many. Personally I don't see how this is offensive.

In fact;

The Pope chose to do what he thought was right by God, & to stick with his decisions, not letting others influence him.

Isn't this what I said? - sheesh.

Liked or disliked, NOW is not the time to "get back" at the man, or people who believed the same.

No offence deary but you really need to lie in a quiet dark room.

[Moonitic]

If you can't see the rude comments made in this thread about a recently deceased person, then I'm afraid YOU need to go sit in a dark room. Or perhaps get out of the dark room you're already in.

Since you merely "suspect" something was said about someone else, there is no need for me to dispute anything, is there? I didn't see the thread on Khomeini, but a death is a death. I am sad to see someone pass.

I'm also truly sad that people would think it's okay to make jokes at a time like this. Feel free to disagree with the Catholic beliefs, but have some respect for those who are mourning right now.

With that, I'm done. I'm truly disgusted by this display of "tolerance" & "decency."

[Epee_Pox]

Hear hear, Moon.

[Svidrigailov]

The pope's continued refusal to support condom use in africa is responsible for a lot of deaths...

It'd be really funny if all those africans were waiting for John Paul when he died. Only they're probably in heaven, and the condom thing, decrying gay rights, and supporting the opus dei, I'm not sure John Paul is going there...

Did you know they stopped Serie A soccer in italy (along with all other professional sports) and municipal elections to mourn the pope's death? If I was italian, I'd be very angry. Since my own country only declared four days of official mourning, I'm not angry but again, quite bemused by often mysterious ways of my countrymen...

[esskreemr]

As the headpiece of the Catholic Church, The Pope is a lightning rod for its policies, beliefs, and general infrastructure. Since I'm not Catholic, to me he was basically another politician with the rather grandiose distinction of having a powerful intitution declare him as God's mouthpiece. Not a belief that I hold.

I'm sure he did many great things, some I would agree with some I wouldn't. I agree with his stance on war:

" War has never been and never will be an appropriate way to solve problems between nations!"

I didn't follow the exploits of the Pope because they don't interest me as a non-Catholic. He lived a full and abundant life and died at the age of 84. I hope he died with the dignity and grace befitting of a man/woman of his intelligence, ability, and dedication. I also hope that he did not suffer in his final hours and that he finds happiness in whatever the afterlife holds for him.

John Paul II died just as hundreds of thousands of other people do each day. Each will be mourned in a different manner, some not at all. A man has died, the Papacy moves on. I'm not celebrating his death, but I also won't ripping my hair and rending my flesh.

[BrianH]

I hope he died with the dignity and grace befitting of a man/woman of his intelligence, ability, and dedication. I also hope that he did not suffer in his final hours and that he finds happiness in whatever the afterlife holds for him.

Well said, esskreemr.

[mrbiggs]

It's so nice to see how religiously tolerant people are on this board. How nice everyone is to those who are not of your own personal belief system. How respectful. How caring.

How hypocritical.

May you not receive the same treatment when you die, but rather may your memory be treated with some dignity, & much more kindness. May your loved ones not have to listen to people gripe, or make crass jokes about you when they've just lost you. May you not reap what you've just sown.

I've seen low on this board. Never thought I'd see it THIS low.

I'm sorry if you took any of these comments the wrong way. I don't think anyone was trying to be disrespectful of your religion. (Mine, too, actually.)

I think that many of the jokes being made, on and off this board (more off than on), are more reflective of the fact that he is a celebrity, and not because anyone hates Catholics. The same happens when anyone of this sort dies, the President, an actor, whoever. The pope is more vulnerable to humor, though, because many don't respect religion. But that doesn't mean that all who attempt to add levity to the sad situation are trying to be hateful.

Personally, I think that the death is a happy thing. Not because I want to see the pope die, but because I think he lived a happy, and very full life, and that it's over now. And I'm excited to see what the next step will be for the Catholic church.

[ThatReallyHurt]

I myself am very sad about the Pope's death. I know that he's been ill for quite some time, and that there have been repeated calls for his resignation, but he was (and in many ways, still is) one of those people that you could always count on. That's not exactly the wording I'm trying to say, but it's the best I can do, sorry. You know, one of those solid fixtures in your life that you can take comfort in because it's always there... until it isn't. Then it's a shock. I would watch the news and see articles on the Pope and notice over the years how he'd been deteriorating - I felt horribly for him, he had to be in a lot of discomfort or pain for a long time, yet he kept touring, giving masses, making appearances right up to the end. Outstanding dedication to his beliefs. I mean, we're not talking the Rolling Stones here - he did this every day of his life since October 16, 1978

John Paul II worked very hard to do an awful lot to improve relations between people of different countries and faiths. The amount of time that man spent travelling and trying to make the world a better place is incredible. Yes, he had a firm stance on some values like birth control and abortion, but everyone will run their ship their own way, and the Pope is no different.

I am very saddened by this event and can only hope that the next Pope will work half as hard to bring about peace and better relations. I'm sure that there will be some rough times for a little while, but it will smooth out quickly.


Mrbiggs - in Catechism class, we were told there were two ways you could look at how the Pope was chosen. It all depends on whether you're a cynic or not:
1) The non-cynical way. All the Cardinals meet and vote for who they think is the best of them all to spread the messages of the Church.
2) The cynical way. All the Cardinals meet and vote for themselves. Usually one Cardinal is dumb enough to vote for someone else - the Cardinal with two votes becomes Pope.

I think Father Stan gave my Catechism teacher a bit of a talking-to about that.

[mrbiggs]

Mrbiggs - in Catechism class, we were told there were two ways you could look at how the Pope was chosen. It all depends on whether you're a cynic or not:
1) The non-cynical way. All the Cardinals meet and vote for who they think is the best of them all to spread the messages of the Church.
2) The cynical way. All the Cardinals meet and vote for themselves. Usually one Cardinal is dumb enough to vote for someone else - the Cardinal with two votes becomes Pope.

I think Father Stan gave my Catechism teacher a bit of a talking-to about that.

Isn't there something about being locked somewhere? And 15 days? And smoke? I'm confused.

[AntonioDelMonte]

As someone who grew up i n a religously diverse family i can say that if you look beyond the religous issues of what the pope stands for he did many things to influance the way the world has progressed in the last 26 six years and his message of peace is something that the world needs to hear. i am saddened to hear that a great man who did many things to further the mission of world peace has passed i hope we can all take a little of his hope for the betterment of the global community we live in and make this little floating rock we call earth a better place