The Pope's chair

sbsquarepants

GarIT wrote: »

Going off a rough estimation the Pope could sell his chair and feed 80,000 African children for 10 years. Given that the bible says that you should sell your possessions and give to the poor why doesn't he?

I think the simple answer is cos he's a <mod edit>cantaloupe.</snip>

Statistician wrote: »

Anyone that doubts the wealth of the Catholic Church should take a stroll around St Peter's one day.

My visit helped me not want to be a Catholic. For me, the whole place seemed evil. Full of priceless artwork and dripping with gold.

I was disgusted with the the place myself. Nero's bath was a particular eye opener. It must weigh a couple of tons and the material it's made from (porphyry) costs more than it's weight in gold! The vatican actually own practicaly all the porphyry in the world.

Galvasean

Sarky wrote: »

I was trying to appeal to a younger generation. I guess that was a mistake :pac:

So much for us atheists being fashionable teens rebelling against their parents.

GO CONQUER! :pac:

stoneill

JP1 was murdered (allegedly) as he wanted to sell off all the Vatican loot and use the money to help the starving people around the world.

Not my theory just in case the secret Vatican police are monitoring Boards

Galvasean

stoneill wrote: »

Not my theory just in case the secret Vatican police are monitoring Boards

They are. They aren't all that secret about it though.

Percyhale1

Although I couldn't find it's exact worth, it definitely isn't a real gold chair; it's gilded. The Catholic Church does more to aid the poor than any other private organization already. This points out that the argument isn't about the poor or what the "riches" of the Catholic Church, but about the heart of men. The total Vatican budget is about $365 million. Most large universities have this budget several times over.
Now ask yourself, how much money have you given to the poor?

coffee_cake

"don't look at us look over there OVER THERE"

People are perfectly entitled to ask why worshipers of someone who said "give up all your riches if you want to enter heaven" are surrounded by riches

Particularly since they like registering themselves as charities

Dades

Percyhale1 wrote: »

The total Vatican budget is about $365 million. Most large universities have this budget several times over.

At least universities educate people with facts and applicable life skills.

That's a far bigger contribution to society than the RCC spending their donated money indoctrinating impoverished Africans.

magicbastarder

Percyhale1 wrote: »

Most large universities have this budget several times over.

so?

magicbastarder

the complaint is about assets, not about budget. it's about an organisation wallowing in luxury preaching about the virtue of abstinence and poverty.

Penn

Percyhale1 wrote: »

Now ask yourself, how much money have you given to the poor?

I'd prefer to ask a few different questions:

a) Where does the Catholic Church get its money? (I presume a lot of it is donations, which mean the Catholic Church doesn't give to the poor, it distributes the money of other people to the poor)
b) How much money does the Catholic Church save considering it's tax exempt in numerous ways and locations?
c) How much money has the Catholic Church given to the poor in areas which don't follow Christianity or adhere to most Christianity ideals?
d) How much more money could the Catholic Church give considering its huge and largely unnecessary expenditures?
e) How much money have you given to the poor?

robindch

One of many, many, many possible images.

GarIT

magicbastarder wrote: »

so?

They spend it on education people rather than investments and buying companies that sell porn.

GarIT

Percyhale1 wrote: »

Although I couldn't find it's exact worth, it definitely isn't a real gold chair; it's gilded. The Catholic Church does more to aid the poor than any other private organization already. This points out that the argument isn't about the poor or what the "riches" of the Catholic Church, but about the heart of men. The total Vatican budget is about $365 million. Most large universities have this budget several times over.
Now ask yourself, how much money have you given to the poor?

Do you have any evidence of the Catholic Church aiding the poor?

I have given nothing to the poor, I don't want to either, The government already gives €200 per person in Ireland to charity per year. What I wan't to know is why the Church is so rich and tells people to do things for charity but does nothing itself.

Sarky

Percyhale1 wrote: »

Now ask yourself, how much money have you given to the poor?

With a decade of charity conventions and university society events under my organisational belt, approximately 2.3 metric f*cktonnes more than yourself I'm quite willing to bet.

robindch

Sarky wrote: »

With a decade of charity conventions and university society events under my organisational belt, approximately 2.3 metric f*cktonnes more than yourself I'm quite willing to bet.

Funny you should mention that.

Having lost an argument with a religious friend of mine many years ago, I spent around five years working one night a week for a well-known inner-city charity. And, to a greater or lesser extent, enjoying every minute of it. Over the years, there were perhaps fifteen people who rotated through my shift and of those, I recall only two who ever said they were catholic. Of those, one had lost a dinner argument one evening, but to his infinite credit, had subsequently stuck to his word and joined up.

Don't even get me started on the door-to-door we did one year and how that broke down along religious lines.

pauldla

robindch wrote: »

Don't even get me started on the door-to-door we did one year and how that broke down along religious lines.

Oh go on, tell us! I want to hear what happened...

Galvasean

Percyhale1 wrote: »

Now ask yourself, how much money have you given to the poor?

*looks at sig*
Turn up and Saturday and we can find out.

Penn wrote: »

I'd prefer to ask a few different questions:

a) Where does the Catholic Church get its money? (I presume a lot of it is donations, which mean the Catholic Church doesn't give to the poor, it distributes the money of other people to the poor)
b) How much money does the Catholic Church save considering it's tax exempt in numerous ways and locations?
c) How much money has the Catholic Church given to the poor in areas which don't follow Christianity or adhere to most Christianity ideals?
d) How much more money could the Catholic Church give considering its huge and largely unnecessary expenditures?
e) How much money have you given to the poor?

f) How much does it cost to dress a Bishop?

5 grand per Bishop

I think this one d) How much more money could the Catholic Church give considering its huge and largely unnecessary expenditures? is quite important. What was that part in the Bible where Jesus mentioned how good your charity work is not related to the total sum you donate, but in relation to how much you have to spare?
While it's obvious that the Catholic Church (as a vast organisation) gives more to charity (let's just pretend for a minute that all of their donations are selfless ones) than I (as an individual person), I wonder who gives more in terms of percentage of expendable capitol (not to mention precious time)?

Bannasidhe

Sarky wrote: »

With a decade of charity conventions and university society events under my organisational belt, approximately 2.3 metric f*cktonnes more than yourself I'm quite willing to bet.

I suppose I could ask my local VdeP to tot up my donations for the last decade or so but tbh I think they have better things to do, as do Cork Penny Dinners and Share.

Does volunteering on helplines count?

What about animal welfare? I'm sure West Cork Animal Welfare, Animal Rescue Cobh and Munster Pets Lost and Found would put in a good word for me.

Sarky

Well holy balls, it almost sounds like we godless heathens are actually really quite charitable. And without a demanding god or threats of eternal agony, too.

Isn't that just mad, like?

Bannasidhe

Sarky wrote: »

Well holy balls, it almost sounds like we godless heathens are actually really quite charitable. And without a demanding god or threats of eternal agony, too.

Isn't that just mad, like?

Maybe, and this is a bit out there, its because some of us Godless heathens are concentrating on this life and not focused on trying to buy our way into some promised afterlife.

pauldla

Bannasidhe wrote: »

Maybe, and this is a bit out there, its because some of us Godless heathens are concentrating on this life and not focused on trying to buy our way into some promised afterlife.

No no no, it only counts as charity if an omnipotent being is threatening you with divine retribution if you don't contribute to relieving the misery he created. Any other motivation for giving is obviously base and insincere.

joseph brand

robindch wrote: »

One of many, many, many possible images.

Lady Gaga ain't got nothin' on the pope. He looks fabulous. Who is he wearing? Don't tell me, it's Gaultier isn't it?

Bannasidhe

pauldla wrote: »

No no no, it only counts as charity if an omnipotent being is threatening you with divine retribution if you don't contribute to relieving the misery he created. Any other motivation for giving is obviously base and insincere.

Ah. Thought my suggestion was a bit mad. I was tired, long day and all that. Apologies.

Now I must be base and insincere and go through the mountain of kids clothes grandchildren never wore and dump them on the VdeP to make space for the mountain of clothes my family will buy said kids for Xmas.
May I emphasise I am doing this only to make space and so I can lord it over the locals when I pull up in my 7 seater bourgeois-mobile, double park, throw the stuff at those people who do what ever it is they do in the shop while arranging to have lunch with my gal pals on the blackberry (iphones are sooo common dontchaknow).

I would sell them on ebay but I'm too damn lazy... I mean the kids obviously - as a matter of interest would I get more for them if they are wearing 'Next', 'Marks' or 'Abercrombie and Fitch'?

Bannasidhe

joseph brand wrote: »

Lady Gaga ain't got nothin' on the pope. He looks fabulous. Who is he wearing? Don't tell me, it's Gaultier isn't it?

Versace unless I am mistaken. Too much bling for Jean-Paul and he would sooo have had the Harlequins Swiss Guard in a skirt to try and butch the look up a bit. Likes a bit of butch does Jean-Paul.

pauldla

Bannasidhe wrote: »

Versace unless I am mistaken. Too much bling for Jean-Paul and he would sooo have had the Harlequins Swiss Guard in a skirt to try and butch the look up a bit. Likes a bit of butch does Jean-Paul.

I thought he liked Hugo Boss? :pac:

Bannasidhe

pauldla wrote: »

I thought he liked Hugo Boss? :pac:

I see what you did there.

Curly Judge

Billy Connoly's take on it .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKMQKgSnGy8