Pope Benedict has died...

Sandor Clegane

Surprised not to see a thread on this, I no religion and it's hold on society has all but vanished but still, he was an important figure be it for good, or for bad.

I don't think anyone known as "gods rottweiler " is going to be remembered too fondly by modern standards, sure he'll have a few ultras behind him and I suppose that's fitting because that's what he was, an ultra-conservative who gave the impression of being very cold and harsh, he had an us against them attitude and such a high opinion of the Church that I think it blinded him to the horrors going on under his nose, by all accounts before he was pope he worked directly in a department that dealt with sex abuse claims and such, so in all honesty he can't hide from it or claim ignorance due to the sheer scale of abuse that was going on, defender will say as pope he did act on it but was it too little too late considering his previous position? I reckon most would say yes.

Thoughts?

Goldengirl

Meh... Not a fan but RIP

bassy

Zzzzzz zzzzzzzzz

DEFTLEFTHAND

Probably one of the greatest minds the Roman Catholic Church ever produced.

He wasn't afraid to challenge his beliefs and be open. Some of his work in fairness got me thinking again about life and death and why we're here.

Rest in peace Joseph Ratzinger and I hope Heaven is everything that you ever wished it to be.

Quantum Erasure

I wonder will it be long before the current incumbent steps aside? will he observe a respectful mourning period and stay on till after easter?

Run Forest Run

What do you expect?

He died in the same week as Pele.

He was a man of god (whatever that even means anymore).

While Pele was an actual living god! 😁

StevenToast

Pele brought joy to billions and will be remembered forever....

Alot more than any pope will ever do.

Jim_Hodge

@Sandor Clegane Surprised not to see a thread on this

You didn't look too hard. But then again you probably didn't think of the obvious Religion & Spirituality Forum.

Personally I could take or leave Benedict. I never warmed to him.

Graces7

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120051822#Comment_120051822

Your supposition is untrue. Joy has many forms. Pele I had never heard of until now whereas A good Pope can bring more than joy as well as joy.

Jequ0n

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120051961#Comment_120051961

True. There seem to be a lot of people rejoicing in the death of the former pope, so he appears to have brought some joy to the world after all.

Fr Tod Umptious

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120051853#Comment_120051853

Places like Religion are not the place for this.

People have to remind us how much they hate the Catholic church by posts in a thread here in Current Affairs.

Thus the OPs surprise that no one had started venting about the Catholic church already.

JayRoc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120051853#Comment_120051853

Search doesn't work on boards anymore, so hardly his fault.

elperello

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120051992#Comment_120051992

I doubt you will find many rejoicing in the death of a frail 95 year old who retired almost 10 years ago.

On the other hand many millions of people all over the world will pray for him in churches today.

Donald Trump

He definitely leaves behind a legacy in the form of the egg-based breakfast he invented

Fr Tod Umptious

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120052132#Comment_120052132

Ah come on.

You don't need the search utility to find that there is a Religion & Spirituality Forum around here.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120052280#Comment_120052280

The R&S forum is a crock of shte for anyone but the pius and a craic vacuum even by CA standards. We wouldn't be allowed have any sort of balanced debate over there.

Sandor Clegane

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120052046#Comment_120052046

Its not about hating the church or venting, he was an important figure and one with a lot of power and standing within the church, it's only fair to talk about and discuss his legacy, be it good or bad, it kind of comes with the territory when you hold positions of power.

Sandor Clegane

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120052280#Comment_120052280

I'm aware there is a religion and spirituality forum on boards but I personally think a pope dying is worthy of a thread here.

Strumms

Gods Rottweiler and the Panzer Cardinal was another one….

You hardly attain such appellations by being a mild mannered, well thought of nice sort of individual.

i wouldn’t say Benedict will be long in following him, either into retirement or to the end of his life.. mostly wheelchair bound and I’m seeing is 86…and is looking it all of a sudden.

Oscar_Madison

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120056143#Comment_120056143

It wasn’t his personality that got him that nickname- he was actually reported as being very kind and quite shy in real life- it was his dogged conservatism and knowledge and implementation of canon law that got him Gods Rottweiler title, long before he became pope.

He was a pope for another time- like maybe 50 years ago or more- he didn’t understand the modern world nor did he wish to. He was much happier being an academic, writing papers and being behind the scenes.

Pope Francis is a different kettle again- he’s moved away from the dogma that has ruined the Catholic Church and simply ignores the fact that the church still has such controversial teachings around homosexuality divorce etc In some respects I’d respect Benedict more- while I didn’t agree with his views I respected him staying true to his beliefs- Francis is playing games- he’s giving catholics false hope that their religion is becoming more understanding of the human condition but in reality nothing will change -that’s actually quite cowardly

ancapailldorcha

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120051992#Comment_120051992

There aren't. You're just using a man's death to take shots at people you dislike.

He sat on a golden throne while lecturing people about charity and he ran an organisation that protected child molesters. I'm not glad he's passed but I'm not going to pretend that he's some sort of saint either.

Dyr

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120058856#Comment_120058856

Indeed, Frankie is the first Anglican pope.😂

Oscar_Madison

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120059026#Comment_120059026

I think he’s trying to be all things to all people but that’s not what people want- I reckon next pope will be much more conservative.

Sandor Clegane

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120058856#Comment_120058856

What you said is all true, but even though Benedict was true to his beliefs and church dogma, one could argue that Francis is just being more practical in an ever changing world, the truth is the churches influence and power is waning and they all no it, Francis presents a more tolerant figure I think to prevent them becoming totally irrelevant, the harsh conservativism that Benedict adheres to simply wont wash in todays society, an approach like that would continue to further alienate the church, and today more so than ever harsh church dogma is yoo hard to swallow knowing how sullied the churches hands are, taking moral advice and listening to them condemn homosexuals, condom usage, divorce etc when they themselves have committed countless genuine atrocities just isn't going to wash.

Although I have read Benedict accepting this and suggesting a smaller church is now needed to keep it's message alive and true to its roots.

Badly Drunk Boy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120052132#Comment_120052132

I just did a basic search for 'Pope Benedict' and got the following results (1-10 of 679):

Ham_Sandwich

cathaholic church has had its day break it down and sell off all the treasiures they have to pay for the abuse victims

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120051602#Comment_120051602

Did you hear about the new nazi? Used to be a pope : Doug Stanhope 😂

corner of hells

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120060353#Comment_120060353

I'd like to make a bid for this , it'd look good in my front garden.

squidgainz

Each pope will be less conservative than the last , as the church desperately try to cling on to whatever power they have left.

Goldengirl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120060465#Comment_120060465

As long as those selecting every new pope are a crowd of 70 and 80 year old cardinals nothing will change... self interest in perpetuum.

Oh and did I mention.. all male?!

AllForIt

If there was anything impressive he done it was to resign, and I don't mean that as an insult. I know the Vatican warpped that up due to him not being able to cope but we all know why he really resigned.

squidgainz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120062302#Comment_120062302

I'd say that all male lark will finish soon, it has to , they need new people.

Strumms

The only time when they allow women priests will be when not having women priests becomes a direct threat to the existence of the church itself. Then again, my guess they will allow male priests to marry before that transpires.

There are approximately 414,000 priests worldwide.

the church believes it is globally around 30,000-40,000 short…

my own local church once had 4 priests, all full time, now has 1 priest full time and one part time / semi retired priest…in his late sixties or early seventies …

something has to give…

Oscar_Madison

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120060003#Comment_120060003

And don’t get me wrong, I welcome a more inclusive and caring church- and I had big hopes that Francis could deliver on that- but seemingly there’s a lot of red tape in the Vatican even if you are pope- it really felt that Francis was opening a door to something special and new but likely that will now be slammed shut with the next pope who will likely be Benedict part 2.

Dyr

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120062663#Comment_120062663

One the weird things about the no marriage rule is that it stripped away a lot of Europes potential at the height of the churches power. The men who became clergy were often the elite of the population, educated , very intelligent and motivated but they became genetic dead ends and didnt pass their potential on to the next genenration.

ohnonotgmail

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120062384#Comment_120062384

We do?

ELM327

Just to point out, he was not pope benedict anymore, he was pope emeritus. The title of Pope is bestowed only on one man at a time. Pope (regnant) is very different to pope emeritus.

Donald Trump

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120063441#Comment_120063441

The favourite son would become a doctor, and the idiot brother would be sent off to the priesthood.

ohnonotgmail

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120065257#Comment_120065257

You're right the title of pope is only bestowed on one man at a time. It is not, however, bestowed on Francis. The current pope is Tawadros II

studefromtrinners

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120063441#Comment_120063441

Their egos and self inflated power got the better of them. I'd say a lot of them never followed their holy book.

I can see how a lot of serious Christian people convert to Islam or are born again christians.

I ain't religious but I have an interest in religion, God and the contradictions in Christianity. The Torah and Koran seem to be more pure in their view than the bible.

ELM327

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120063441#Comment_120063441

It was done for a very specific reason though, to avoid the church wealth being diluted by inheritance. It also kept one family getting too strong.

In a time when religions had no shortage of members this policy made sense.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120072664#Comment_120072664

Eastern churches are not part of the RCC so don't count.

I should point out at this point I am an atheist and beyond the church of FSM, my interest in this topic at hand is solely of a titular basis

ohnonotgmail

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120072697#Comment_120072697

still the only person with the title of Pope. Francis has many titles, Pope is not one of them

ELM327

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120072721#Comment_120072721

List of popes - Wikipedia

Dslatt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120073030#Comment_120073030

Yes Francis is the pope but Pope isnt actually his official title

ohnonotgmail

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120073030#Comment_120073030

Wikipedia can call him what they like. Francis's title according to the Vatican (and I think they would the authority on this) is Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of the Prince of the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Primate of Italy, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province, Sovereign of the State of Vatican City, Servant of the Servants of God. No mention of Pope.

JP Liz V1

RIP

Hotblack Desiato

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120060003#Comment_120060003

The point, which you appear to have missed, is that Francis projects a much nicer fluffier PR image, but nothing has actually changed nor will it.

BaywatchHQ

Many people of the Irish Republic hate the Catholic church yet the same people tell northerners to forgive the British. I think they need to work on their own forgiveness issues before telling others what to do.

Yurt2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120073076#Comment_120073076

If you're having theological problems I feel bad for you son, I got nintey-nine titles but the Pope ain't one.