To be a Pope.
Imagine the monumental attention and heralded pomp
and circumstance that follow his every step.I'm sure Popes
have well-deserved quiet time and much needed time alone
not just for reflection,which is a huge part of a Pontiff's life,
but also to keep from losing his perspective.His,because there
has never been a Female {her} and may never even be a female
Priest.The Catholic Church has stood,like the Marble rock it is,because
of such Staid,unyielding tenets and the Glory of exalted words
heralded by choirs and grand organs,singing praise and giving
thanks for and to The Almighty.
The Pope is the Vicar of Christ.The living reminder of what God's
nature upon Earth has reaped and demands.The demands are simple
and pure,like the Pope's vestments.Due the Lords work and be
good to your fellow man,sin not,want not and behave at all times
within the bounds of fellowship,Virtue and good cheer.
The Pope smiles quite a bit.
I detect,not a trace of Bitterness.
That is Foreign to a Pope,at least in this and preceeding Century.
The Pope is Universal.

I was reading during the week that some analysts think the United States may have the most devout Catholics on Earth, what ya think Foolie.

I was reading during the week that some analysts think the United States may have the most devout Catholics on Earth, what ya think Foolie.

The Catholic Church is diminishing in Europe.And has to some
credible degree in the U.S. But in many other Countries
it is flourishing.Due to the Great lengths our previous Pontiff
{ Pope John Paul } Pontificated too.
I feel and will always that Catholics are truly a special breed.
When the going gets tough,they appear to shine.

In Ireland the church used to send priests on missions to Africa and the like.

Now days theres only a few young men training down at Maynooth for priesthood.

Our parish is getting its new priest from Poland.

I've heard recently that the Latin American immigrant population is the only thing preventing a huge decline in the U.S. Catholic church.

Maybe thats who the article I was reading was referring to.

Another reason to keep them south of the border :D

I've heard recently that the Latin American immigrant population is the only thing preventing a huge decline in the U.S. Catholic church.

Chaulk it up to LOVE of the cushy job,the Fast buck.
And the internet age.

I've heard recently that the Latin American immigrant population is the only thing preventing a huge decline in the U.S. Catholic church.



Here where I live,the Catholic church my brother and sister in law belong to have a Mexican priest and he holds 2 masses every Sunday,one for the Mexicans and one for everyone else.

Here where I live,the Catholic church my brother and sister in law belong to have a Mexican priest and he holds 2 masses every Sunday,one for the Mexicans and one for everyone else.

Mexicans are good catholics.Have been for a long time.
Their History is abundant with Catholicism.
Many folk don't realize the sheer number of Bishops,who pass
thru St.Peter's Basilica,and are other than Very White Guys.
The Catholic Church is Universally fair-minded.

Mexicans are good catholics.Have been for a long time.
Their History is abundant with Catholicism.
Many folk don't realize the sheer number of Bishops,who pass
thru St.Peter's Basilica,and are other than Very White Guys.
The Catholic Church is Universally fair-minded.


Can't disagree with this Fool.

Although I have to question a Catholic church that refuses to allow anyone but a white guy be a priest.

The Catholic Church is Universally fair-minded.
Unless you happen to be a molestation victim of one of their priests.

Can't disagree with this Fool.

Although I have to question a Catholic church that refuses to allow anyone but a white guy be a priest.

The Catholic Church CERTAINLY doesn't REFUSE Anyone,based on Race.
Clarence Thomas { Black Supreme Court Justice } entered the
Seminary and decided to chose another field.The Seminary is rigid
and boring.Not for most.It's not the Catholic Church's Onus to
see to it who's decided to become a priest.
Few Blacks in the United States are Roman Catholic.
Even fewer are given to a life of Dedication,such as a Priest.
Alan Keyes is a Catholic.He lost to the Bama.
See what bein a Catholic can do.

I didn't say all of them Fool. Was actually speaking of one in particular. The one my daughters fathers family and my fathers family belongs to have never had a priest that wasn't white.

Unless you happen to be a molestation victim of one of their priests.

Yeah...sure.That's ALL the Catholic Church does is Molest.
Throngs of Molester types,just gleeful that the Church is
chock full of Molesters.
The More Molesters the merrier.
Is all.

Yeah...sure.That's ALL the Catholic Church does is Molest.
Throngs of Molester types,just gleeful that the Church is
chock full of Molesters.
The More Molesters the merrier.
Is all.
Where did i say thats all they do? I just used that as an example of how "universally fair minded" i find the catholic church to be.

Where did i say thats all they do? I just used that as an example of how "univerally fair minded" i find the catholic church to be.

I could say that knowing how monumentally HUGE the Catholic Church
IS,would automatically predicate an assumption that in everything
Big,there constitutes anomaly.

I could say that knowing how monumentally HUGE the Catholic Church
IS,would automatically predicate an assumption that in everything
Big,there constitutes anomaly.
Do you really want to get into this fool? I mean, how bout the inquisition? Was that an anomoly? Was that a part of your "universally fair minded" example?

I didn't say all of them Fool. Was actually speaking of one in particular. The one my daughters fathers family and my fathers family belongs to have never had a priest that wasn't white.
maybe because there's nothing but white ppl way out there in BFE? heck, even the mexicans that have been moving in are kinda pale.:@@:

Do you really want to get into this fool? I mean, how bout the inquisition? Was that an anomoly? Was that a part of your "universally fair minded" example?

Well if you wanna go back a few Century,what was goin in
the Unexplored United States.Injuns bloodily turf ranging.
The Black Plague was scourging Europe.
There were FOUR Different Inquisitions.
More Women accused of Witchcraft died in the Protestants countris
than under the Inquisition.
Bee 4 Real.
That's the problem with you Lefties.
Ya just can't have intelligent discourse with Hell's Belles Liberals.

maybe because there's nothing but white ppl way out there in BFE? heck, even the mexicans that have been moving in are kinda pale.:@@:


This church isn't around here,it's in Sterling Heights

Well if you wanna go back a few Century,what was goin in
the Unexplored United States.Injuns bloodily turf ranging.
The Black Plague was scourging Europe.
There were FOUR Different Inquisitions.
More Women accused of Witchcraft died in the Protestants countris
than under the Inquisition.
Bee 4 Real.
That's the problem with you Lefties.
Ya just can't have intelligent discourse with Hell's Belles Liberals.Well that got a good chuckle out of me. I wonder if everyone who thinks the catholic church are a bunch of hyporcrites are "lefties" in your world. I would guess yes.

For what its worth fool, everyone knew what i was talking about with the word "inquisition". Your arguement is lame. Go figure.

To go back to an earlier discussion here... the great MAJORITY of Mexicans now living in my city are NOT Catholics, but protestants. In fact, I've noticed that the Catholic churches haven't expanded at all while many huge, formerly vacant buildings have been turned into spanish-speaking protestant churches.

*POOF*

There goes another stereotype...

Maybe Texas isnt a good place to be a left footer then.

More Women accused of Witchcraft died in the Protestants countris
than under the Inquisition.
.

Can you cite a source for this, please?

It was always my understanding that the women ( they were mainly women, tho there were a good many men as well as children) who were prosecuted for witchcraft were accused in either Germany or France, two countries that were/are about split half and half in terms of Catholics and Protestants.

Here's something interesting I found from the website A Brief History of Witchcraft Persecutions Before Salem:


Outbreaks of witchcraft hysteria, with subsequent mass executions, began to appear in the early 1500s. Authorities in Geneva, Switzerland burned 500 acccused witches at the stake in 1515. Nine years later in Como, Italy, a spreading spiral of witchcraft charges led to as many as 1000 executions.

The Reformation divided Europe between Protestant regions and those loyal to the Pope, but Protestants took the crime of witchcraft no less seriously--and arguably even more so--than Catholics. Germany, rife with sectarian strife, saw Europe's greatest execution rates of witches--higher than those in the rest of the Continent combined. Witch hysteria swept France in 1571 after Trois-Echelles, a defendant accused of witchcraft from the court of Charles IX, announced to the court that he had over 100,000 fellow witches roaming the country. Judges responding to the ensuing panic by eliminating for those accused of witchcraft most of the protections that other defendants enjoyed. Jean Bodin in his 1580 book, On the Demon-Mania of Sorcerers, opened the door to use of testimony by children against parents, entrapment, and instruments of torture.

Over the 160 years from 1500 to 1660, Europe saw between 50,000 and 80,000 suspected witches executed. About 80% of those killed were women. Execution rates varied greatly by country, from a high of about 26,000 in Germany to about 10,000 in France, 1,000 in England, and only four in Ireland. The lower death tolls in England and Ireland owe in part to better procedural safeguards in those countries for defendants.

''The lower death tolls in England and Ireland owe in part to better procedural safeguards in those countries for defendants''.

Hmm, maybe in England Ren. In Ireland they just hanged people they found near trees, for being Irish, no 'witchcraft' bullshit. Simply throw a rope up.

Well that got a good chuckle out of me. I wonder if everyone who thinks the catholic church are a bunch of hyporcrites are "lefties" in your world. I would guess yes.

For what its worth fool, everyone knew what i was talking about with the word "inquisition". Your arguement is lame. Go figure.

There wasn't just a single " Inquisition ".
Admit when you've made an A$$ a yerself ... Pally.
Just like the " Middle Ages " encompasses quite a lot.

There wasn't just a single " Inquisition ".
Admit when you've made an A$$ a yerself ... Pally.
Just like the " Middle Ages " encompasses quite a lot.
Fool, generally i enjoy your posting when you stumble across a coherent thought. Im sorry you took such offense to my negative comments about the catholic church. However, truth sometimes hurts.

Take your head out of the sand. The catholic church is nothing but a money making venture.

The catholic church is nothing but a money making venture.


I have nothing personal against Catholic church or those that attend them,but I have to agree they just want money,money,money and when the collection plate is passed at a funeral,you know something isn't right.

Fool, generally i enjoy your posting when you stumble across a coherent thought. Im sorry you took such offense to my negative comments about the catholic church. However, truth sometimes hurts.

Take your head out of the sand. The catholic church is nothing but a money making venture.

yeah ...yeah... I can see dat now.
Explains why thousand upon thousands travel at their own
expense to get a free glimpse of the Vicar.
You can talk down to me.I'm a big boy.
But doing so,against the Catholic Church,just defines yer
abject ignurance.
Yer animadvert opinion on secular matters rises just a tad above
a slobbering moron,who hasn't eaten all day,and smells Turkey
with giblet gravy.

Fool, generally i enjoy your posting when you stumble across a coherent thought. Im sorry you took such offense to my negative comments about the catholic church. However, truth sometimes hurts.

Take your head out of the sand. The catholic church is nothing but a money making venture.

Actually, you need to take your head "out of the sand", HaVok.

What has you so uptight about the "Catholic" church? Don't you realize that the Baptist, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Jewish, etc., all do the same? They make their income from those who believe in what they teach.

The Catholic Church is no worse then any of the others but it has been around longer as it is the ORIGINAL. All the others are take-offs depending on what they disagreed w/the Catholic teachings.

Jesus Christ started the Catholic religion and designated Peter as His assessor and he became the first Pope. No other religion has that link, only the Catholics.

And I don't want any CRAP about the sex scandals, etc. ALL churches have those and so does the freaking Public School System in this country! So why is no one carrying on about them?

Enough. This is a FREE country and people are free to believe what they choose despite people like you.

oh shut up nomad,he never said anything about no one else not being able to believe what they want. I happen to agree with him that the Catholic Church is insane and money hungry.
And how is mentioning the highly publicized sex scandals "carrying on"? I bet you aren't saying the Pope is carrying on about them by saying something needs to be done. I dare you to go to the Pope and tell him to pull his head out of the sand and stop carrying on about sex scandals in the church when they happen all over.:slap:

oh shut up nomad,he never said anything about no one else not being able to believe what they want. I happen to agree with him that the Catholic Church is insane and money hungry.
And how is mentioning the highly publicized sex scandals "carrying on"? I bet you aren't saying the Pope is carrying on about them by saying something needs to be done. I dare you to go to the Pope and tell him to pull his head out of the sand and stop carrying on about sex scandals in the church when they happen all over.:slap:

Glad you agree w/him MG but you need to SHUT UP. The Catholic Church is no worse then any other when it comes to money. Everyone donates what they want just like in the others so get a freakin life!

No the Pope is not "carrying on" about them but he has made his point that it is not acceptable. Having said that I don't find it acceptable in the PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM either and therefore I have a huge issue w/folks who put the Catholic Church down for what happens EVERY DAY in our PUBLIC SCHOOL Systems, as well as OTHER churches.

By the way...your pic and whatever says it all about you... just some young kid who doesn't have a clue...

So SLAP yourself if you must but I won't. I don't condone such behavior in ANY INSTITUTION!

Wow.....you have real issues with people who don't toe your line don't you?
Instead of accepting I don't agree with you and don't agree with anything ANY church does,you choose to attack me because of a picture.


Sex scandals happen everywhere,so what? One person mentions it's happened in your precious Catholic church and you go ballistic? Take a freaking pill,have a drink,whatever helps you calm the heck down and face that not everyone is going to bow down and kiss all the churches feet because you say they should.




And for the record,read my profile dingbat,I'm no kid. :thumbs:

Actually, you need to take your head "out of the sand", HaVok.

What has you so uptight about the "Catholic" church? Don't you realize that the Baptist, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Jewish, etc., all do the same? They make their income from those who believe in what they teach.

The Catholic Church is no worse then any of the others but it has been around longer as it is the ORIGINAL. All the others are take-offs depending on what they disagreed w/the Catholic teachings.

Jesus Christ started the Catholic religion and designated Peter as His assessor and he became the first Pope. No other religion has that link, only the Catholics.

And I don't want any CRAP about the sex scandals, etc. ALL churches have those and so does the freaking Public School System in this country! So why is no one carrying on about them?

Enough. This is a FREE country and people are free to believe what they choose despite people like you.
Despite people like me? I didnt say you dont have the right to be fleeced. I was among the flock for years. Episcopalian raised. They are closet catholics.

However, dont expect me to look the other way at the perversions performed by your followers just because the mother church decides to do so. I call a spade a spade and really dont care what you think about it. Enjoy your delusion.

Jesus Christ started the Catholic religion and designated Peter as His assessor and he became the first Pope. No other religion has that link, only the Catholics.



That is not correct. Christ spoke of the brotherhood of all believers, and never designated any particular human to be his successor. In effect, he founded Christianity, not just Catholicism. Luther and Calvin's reforms were intended to bring the bloated Catholic hierarchy back to the original simplicity of Christ's church or brotherhood.

That is not correct. Christ spoke of the brotherhood of all believers, and never designated any particular human to be his successor. In effect, he founded Christianity, not just Catholicism. Luther and Calvin's reforms were intended to bring the bloated Catholic hierarchy back to the original simplicity of Christ's church or brotherhood.


http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=5358

Might be more then what you want to read but read it before making your next statement...

PETER was Christ designator...

Your claim cannot be proved...

http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=5358

Might be more then what you want to read but read it before making your next statement...

PETER was Christ designator...

Your claim cannot be proved...

Peter never walked on the water, Nomad.

Christ HAS no sucessor.

The quote "Thou art Peter and upon this rock I shall build my church" merely means that, a church being a brotherhood of believers, and ALL equal, that Peter would merely be one member of that brotherhood...and that Peter should recruit more into that brotherhood. Jesus never passed along his godlike traits to Peter--if he had done so, there would have been a second coming of another Savior within a few years after Jesus' own crucifixion.

PS. You may start a thread on this in the religion forum if you like.

Peter never walked on the water, Nomad.

Christ HAS no sucessor.

The quote "Thou art Peter and upon this rock I shall build my church" merely means that, a church being a brotherhood of believers, and ALL equal, that Peter would merely be one member of that brotherhood...and that Peter should recruit more into that brotherhood. Jesus never passed along his godlike traits to Peter--if he had done so, there would have been a second coming of another Savior within a few years after Jesus' own crucifixion.

PS. You may start a thread on this in the religion forum if you like.
whenever you have 2 ppl in a room, either one of them leads, or you have chaos.

whenever you have 2 ppl in a room, either one of them leads, or you have chaos.

What about 2 pissy pissant philistines who sat at bar
and quaffed way too many fresh draughts and had to go like
pee-pee ...really bad.

What about 2 pissy pissant philistines who sat at bar
and quafed way too many fresh draughts and had to go like
pee-pee ...really bad.
who went into the men's room 1st? you or your sister?

who went into the men's room 1st? you or your sister?

Leave me sis out of it er I'll gladly have her put on the
gloves and give yuz a good beatin.

Leave me sis out of it er I'll gladly have her put on the
gloves and give yuz a good beatin.
some guys pay for that....so i hear:bike:

some guys pay for that....so i hear:bike:

Juts drink yer wine cooler in the glass w/little umbrella and
maybe nibble on some puffed rice cakes.
If'n you don't mind.

whenever you have 2 ppl in a room, either one of them leads, or you have chaos.

????:confused:

What about a Congregational Church?
No chaos there.

oh shut up nomad,he never said anything about no one else not being able to believe what they want. I happen to agree with him that the Catholic Church is insane and money hungry.
And how is mentioning the highly publicized sex scandals "carrying on"? I bet you aren't saying the Pope is carrying on about them by saying something needs to be done. I dare you to go to the Pope and tell him to pull his head out of the sand and stop carrying on about sex scandals in the church when they happen all over.:slap:

Glad you agree w/him MG but you need to SHUT UP. The Catholic Church is no worse then any other when it comes to money. Everyone donates what they want just like in the others so get a freakin life!

No the Pope is not "carrying on" about them but he has made his point that it is not acceptable. Having said that I don't find it acceptable in the PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM either and therefore I have a huge issue w/folks who put the Catholic Church down for what happens EVERY DAY in our PUBLIC SCHOOL Systems, as well as OTHER churches.

By the way...your pic and whatever says it all about you... just some young kid who doesn't have a clue...

So SLAP yourself if you must but I won't. I don't condone such behavior in ANY INSTITUTION!

O THIS IS HAWT!

Would it be wrong to say that I'm getting turned on by this?

????:confused:

What about a Congregational Church?
No chaos there.
independent in theory, interdependent in practice. they still merge and join councils with other churches.

what I mean, mike, is at their services, there is no leader.
Here is more on them:

from wikipedia:

According to the congregationalist theory of the history of the Christian Church, the early disciples of Jesus had little or no organization. Congregationalists believe that in the centuries after the spread of Christianity, attempts to gain influence over all the churches were made by leaders in centers like Rome, Antioch, Alexandria, Byzantium, and Jerusalem.


Here's more from one of their own church's websites:

http://www.first-church.org/

PS The Pilgrims of Plymouth were congregationalists. There was no church leader of their congregation.

O THIS IS HAWT!

Would it be wrong to say that I'm getting turned on by this?
Cat fight! TAKE OFF YOUR SHIRTS!! :D

what I mean, mike, is at their services, there is no leader.
Here is more on them:

from wikipedia:

According to the congregationalist theory of the history of the Christian Church, the early disciples of Jesus had little or no organization. Congregationalists believe that in the centuries after the spread of Christianity, attempts to gain influence over all the churches were made by leaders in centers like Rome, Antioch, Alexandria, Byzantium, and Jerusalem.


Here's more from one of their own church's websites:

http://www.first-church.org/



PS The Pilgrims of Plymouth were congregationalists. There was no church leader of their congregation.

somebody has to give the sermon (http://www.first-church.org/FromTimAhrens1.htm). :p

Cat fight! TAKE OFF YOUR SHIRTS!! :D
Hey! that's mah line!:lolhit:

Yes, it could be that brother in Christ, or any other member of their congregation.

All are free to speak, or not speak, as the case may be. Sometimes they just sit in silence or take turns doing Bible readings, or they discuss the Lord and his work.

Of all the churchs i've attended in my life, theirs is the closest to Christ's own church, IMO. It is beautiful in its simplicity. :)

Yes, it could be that brother in Christ, or any other member of their congregation.

All are free to speak, or not speak, as the case may be. Sometimes they just sit in silence or take turns doing Bible readings, or they discuss the Lord and his work.

Of all the churchs i've attended in my life, theirs is the closest to Christ's own church, IMO. It is beautiful in its simplicity. :)
ok, they take turns...there's still a leader, just in a shorter term.

Cat fight! TAKE OFF YOUR SHIRTS!! :D

:woohoo: Glad to know I wasn't the only one thinking that! :drinktoth