Have to run off just now, alex

I'll get some pertinent links when I come back......

later.... for now.

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> He has already issued some 'edicts' that indicate to me that the inquisition
> of some will continue as before.
>
> Amid signs purported to show a 'change of heart', hardline dogma still shines
> through.
>
> I am not Catholic, but the devisiveness of the Catholics doesn't appear to me
> to be anything which will be eased under the new pope.
>
> There is a definite schism within the Catholic community and it has been
> causing many to leave the Catholic faith.
>
> I find it hard to reconcile that the head of the organization doesn't appear
> to recognize the loss.
>
> (but then, that's just me.... eh?)
>

Well, I'm in Germany right now, so I get to watch a lot about this new papal election on German television. One of the things they talk about is how the new Pope might modify the opinions that he had as cardinal here. From what I gather from all the news, he's a real humanitarian, but the real sticky points are about things like abortion, women in the priesthood, and contraception.

He has already issued some 'edicts' that indicate to me that the inquisition of some will continue as before.

Amid signs purported to show a 'change of heart', hardline dogma still shines through.

I am not Catholic, but the devisiveness of the Catholics doesn't appear to me to be anything which will be eased under the new pope.

There is a definite schism within the Catholic community and it has been causing many to leave the Catholic faith.

I find it hard to reconcile that the head of the organization doesn't appear to recognize the loss.

(but then, that's just me.... eh?)

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> The pope has announced that he has an email account.
>
> After publicizing the account address.....
>
>
> .....he's been the recipient of a merciless 'spam' attack from Nigerian
> cardinals.
>

He looks like a nice man to me. But I wonder how hard he's going to come down on these cardinals.

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The pope has announced that he has an email account.

After publicizing the account address.....


.....he's been the recipient of a merciless 'spam' attack from Nigerian cardinals.

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the veil of secrecy is lifted .... here's how it went..


And almost before the electors knew it, the grave atmosphere of the conclave was over, and they were singing Latin songs, eating chicken cordon bleu and toasting the new pope with spumante.

deeper look

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> They're not they ony ones... Look at the Mormons... It's a business these
> days! The mormons have LARGE inverstmet holdings, and they also preach that
> the way "to get into heaven" is to have a boatload of kids! (Or in more
> correct terms, to expand the members!)

Hi pal :) Thanx for the image - mention lots of kids then "expand the members" in the same sentence....

New image: field of daffodils, field of daffodils... going to my happy place...

> I always thought that the smoke and incense was a carry over from Judaism,
> where animals and grains were sacrificed because they "make an odour pleasing
> to the Lord"... of course, this is Judaism of 2 millenia ago, which is VERY
> different (in terms of ceremony and such) from the Judaism of today.
>

No, it came about at the time that the "church" was trying to make enroads in Druid territory. Thats why other "christian" religons don't have the same practices. (well, Lutherians kind of......)


As Rome was trying to take over the known world, religion came into play, and things were adopted to make the locals happy... Not much different from today's politics, huh?

The smoke stuff is a definate impact of the druids....

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> "The female pope story is generally regarded as a fabrication. "Pope Joan,"
> who supposedly served from 855 to 858, was said to be an Englishwoman who
> disguised herself as a monk to be with her cleric boyfriend. She went to
> Rome, where she so impressed others with her learning that she was elected
> pope. Her secret was discovered when she gave birth during a procession,
> whereupon she was slain. The story is false, although it was possibly
> inspired by actual events"

How remarkably christian. First someone must have known she was a chick unless she was the second immaculate conception. And then when she has her kid to slay her, presumably because she tricked them all. How compassionate.

Thank God I was christened catholic. I don't think I would have any morals otherwise. Pfft.

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Kolch - Crunching for the BOINC@Australia team since July 2004.
Search for your own intelligence...

I always thought that the smoke and incense was a carry over from Judaism, where animals and grains were sacrificed because they "make an odour pleasing to the Lord"... of course, this is Judaism of 2 millenia ago, which is VERY different (in terms of ceremony and such) from the Judaism of today.

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> > You notice that the Vatican doesn't even acknowleges that they had a
> female
> > pope back in the first century I think Mary was dead by then....
>
> First century would be year 1 to year 100. Theoretically Mary was alive then.
>

Sorry, sould have said the first millenium.... (I heard it was in the 700-900ad timeframe). They didn't know she was female until she had a kid... So much about that "stay a virgin" thing.....

I notice that no one has commented on the "smoke" and Druid thing however!

Where did "smoke and incense" come from, if not the Druids? Also, I see no reference in the bible to electing a CEO! (maybe I don't have the version of the bible with the book of Enron!) This was clearly an invention of what was becoming a major business unit!

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> You notice that the Vatican doesn't even acknowleges that they had a female
> pope back in the first century I think Mary was dead by then....

First century would be year 1 to year 100. Theoretically Mary was alive then.

> I thought he was referring to Mary...
>
AZ Said:
You notice that the Vatican doesn't even acknowleges that they had a female pope back in the first century I think Mary was dead by then....

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I thought he was referring to Mary...

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http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_139.html

"The female pope story is generally regarded as a fabrication. "Pope Joan," who supposedly served from 855 to 858, was said to be an Englishwoman who disguised herself as a monk to be with her cleric boyfriend. She went to Rome, where she so impressed others with her learning that she was elected pope. Her secret was discovered when she gave birth during a procession, whereupon she was slain. The story is false, although it was possibly inspired by actual events"

Good reading here...
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~pardos/PopeJoan1.html
More
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/doubleissue/mysteries/pope.htm

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AZWoody in the Cafe? Time to buy my Lotto ticket.

The whole "white smoke" "black smoke" thing, along with buring incense is a direct result of the Catholic Church trying to bring the Druids into the fold way back when.. No bibical references at all on these! The "smoke" and "buring stuff" was a political move to try to get converts.

The ban on contraception is also the way that the Catholics can increase there numbers - more Catholic babies, the therefore, more Catholics! Why allow it, as that would decrease their growth!

You notice that the Vatican doesn't even acknowleges that they had a female pope back in the first century?

The Catholic Church is the biggest land owning orginization in the world. A new pope wasn't elected... A new CEO was....

They're not they ony ones... Look at the Mormons... It's a business these days! The mormons have LARGE inverstmet holdings, and they also preach that the way "to get into heaven" is to have a boatload of kids! (Or in more correct terms, to expand the members!)

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I wonder if he lost his Hitler Youth pins?
Apparently was conscripted into the Nazi army, but fled (AWOL).

This is the same organization that waited until the 1980s to issue a decree officially acknowledging that Galileo was right and the Earth revolves around the Sun.
It's also the same organization that hasn't reckoned with its actions (or lack thereof) during the World Wars.

In both cases, I'd like to know the whole story. I doubt that B16 will resolve those questions... maybe his successor?

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