Comments on: What Pope Benedict XVI actually said at World Youth Day

By: David Rubie

David Rubie — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 09:31:09 +0000

“The male has a 1 1/2m penis it uses like a nail gun,” Dr Norman explains. They are cannibalistic, so mating rapidly and escaping is a very good idea for the men.

Pilgrim doing stations of the cross? No! Giant Squid

(ok, I thought it was funny, with all the nailing to crosses, heavenly host munching and suchlike)

By: Paul Burns

Paul Burns — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 08:05:03 +0000

And besides, with the Vatican Diplomatic Service, the Pope is probably one of the most well-informed piople on earth.

By: Paul Burns

Paul Burns — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 07:52:28 +0000

On a slightly more serious level, Silkworm, I would suggest this Pope seriously cares about the environment. I don’t know enough about his theological stance to comment on that part of it with accuracy, but I do know he regularly returns to Germany. It would seem, if he had not already been aware of the world environmental problems, it would have been impossible for him not to be after the widespread environmental action in his home country over the past few years. And it seems he is from his speech - you could read it -

By: Adrien

Adrien — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 07:06:14 +0000

You don’t have to care about the planet, you just have to care about yourself and not be ignorant, obstinant or obtuse. Of course many popes have been all three.

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 07:05:35 +0000

Look, we know you don’t like religion, silkworm. Surprising as it may seem, that doesn’t absolve you from having to justify your assertions with arguments and evidence. Particularly if you claim they are “fact”.

By: silkworm

silkworm — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 07:03:05 +0000

His caring for the planet is the same as his caring for the victims of sexual abuse.

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 06:58:38 +0000

That’s a “fact”, is it, silkworm?

By: silkworm

silkworm — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 06:41:18 +0000

The fact is the Pope really doesn’t give a stuff about the planet.

By: Paul Burns

Paul Burns — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 06:08:38 +0000

silkworm @ 28,
POPE: “Flying to Australia from Rome it dawned on me the planet is pretty stuffed. Never mind George Pell. I know he’s a bit of a goose, but I didn’t make him a Cardinal, so don’t blame me. Oh, and I really like the Australian bush - what I’ve seen of it.”

By: silkworm

silkworm — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 05:03:50 +0000

Could someone paraphrase for me what the Pope’s message is on climate change?

By: silkworm

silkworm — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 04:36:28 +0000

No the closest thing to ancient paganism in the Western world is, um, Catholicism.

Bingo!

By: Adrien

Adrien — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 04:22:04 +0000

I’m not sure whether this is on or off-topic but I met a priest last night who was on a bender and took me with him. We discussed things like the Catholic sexual code and he had views that were sophisticated, nuanced and progressive! True.
.
Of course he was way down on the hierarchy and not a happy camper.

“You’re confusing us modern atheists with ancient pagans. We’re not the same.”

No the closest thing to anceint paganism in the Western world is, um, Catholicism.

By: joe2

joe2 — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 02:36:43 +0000

“You’re confusing us modern atheists with ancient pagans. We’re not the same.”

Are you saying “modern atheists” have cut out all the fun parts? Like nekked dancing at full moons and stuff.

Spoil sports!

By: silkworm

silkworm — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 02:10:02 +0000

I cite the Old Testament, when Moses came down from the mountain with the ten commandments and found the people happily worshipping the golden calf, a pagan prototype about as godlike as shit and air, God’s protest to Moses was that–how could they, after He had brought them out of Egypt?

You’re confusing us modern atheists with ancient pagans. We’re not the same.

You also need to tone down your language, otherwise you will look hysterical.

How could they, after He parted the Red Sea for them and bound up Pharoah’s army in the waves? How could they?

How could they? They didn’t - it’s just a story. Do a little research and you will find that the Exodus never happened. In fact most of the “Old Testament” never happened. The Hebrew religion didn’t start until the 9th century BCE.

By: Paul Burns

Paul Burns — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 00:23:47 +0000

Adrian @ 12,
Having had the grave misfortune to have bog-Irish variety Catholics like Shanahan in my early life, I know3 from sad expewrience that there’s only two ways to deal with them - Have nothing to do with them, ot tell them to get stuffed.
btw, this is no slur on the Irish, simply a reflection on the spiritually brutal and very nasty reality that many Australian-Irish Catholics were brought up with. I’m actually quite stunned to still see it in full flower.

By: Frank Calabrese

Frank Calabrese — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 20:18:58 +0000

Actually I found a better colour clip in Stereo
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=jHRlsykrTpU&feature=related

By: Frank Calabrese

Frank Calabrese — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 20:12:27 +0000

Who needs Guy Sebastian’s turgid theme song when Murray Head with a song written by Sir Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd-Webber (before he went all mushy) summed up yesterday’s events in 4 minutes and 5 seconds
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=qRyoRKRPE04

By: Jan

Jan — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:58:14 +0000

Those who protest the assumption by religious believers that non-believers can do no good have forgotten one thing. The primary good deed is to render to God what is God’s–thanks and praise and adoration. These are owed God the Creator in justice. Even ‘good deeds,’ even deeds of real heroism, are, when done for mankind alone, or for one’s honor alone, or even for love of one’s family–alone–are not as pleasing in God’s eyes as when these actions are done in God’s name. I cite the Old Testament, when Moses came down from the mountain with the ten commandments and found the people happily worshipping the golden calf, a pagan prototype about as godlike as shit and air, God’s protest to Moses was that–how could they, after He had brought them out of Egypt? How could they, after He parted the Red Sea for them and bound up Pharoah’s army in the waves? How could they?

This God of the Judeo-Christian revelation is a jealous God and One who wants our love. And that’s good! What love that is worth it is not like that, hmmm? So when religious people cop that attitude, what they are saying is, you’re missing something, and without it you are merely a do-gooder. Merely.

By: smokey

smokey — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:44:39 +0000

I didn’t care less about WYD until Iemma declared I’d be arrested and fined $5,500 if I so much as annoyed the poor dears.I’m now going to the No To Pope protest tomorrow.

As for the happy clappy Pilgrims, I was unfortunate to have a group of them moaning some chant/song as they approached the ATM I was trying to withdraw money from in peace the other day. Had this bizarre banner they were holding with a pontif pic saying “come to me”. By the time I got my money they were at the ATM and I could take it no more, and shouted “Does your Priest wear condoms?” (they looked quite stunned btw)

By: David Rubie

David Rubie — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:38:00 +0000

“How can it be,” the pope asked, “that the most wondrous and sacred human space – the womb – has become a place of unutterable violence?”

Just how seriously ignorant are these people about the mechanics of conception and childbirth? About the percentage of naturally unviable fertilisation? There are plenty of creatures roaming the planet with far better methods of conception and foetal rearing, yet somehow by interfering with what is naturally a horrifyingly hit and miss, potentially dangerous system like mammalian pregnancy and birth, we made it worse? All because some “just so” story in his bible decrees that women must undergo painful childbirth ’cause Eve screwed up with the tree of knowledge?

It’s pretty clear to me that these guys don’t need drugs for a psychadelic experience. That must be some hot-shit heavenly host they’re munching on.