Pope Benedict XVI to resign

[RK_Striker_JK_5]

I saw this earlier. Lots of 'firsts' with this guy.

[Teaos]

Looking at this guys record he is rather anti gay marrage... and only a year younger than Benny was, although he looks to be in better shape.

[Mikey]

Looking at this guys record he is rather anti gay marrage

Wait, let me go find my "surprised-face" emoticon... a Catholic priest who's anti-gay marriage? Who would have thought?

[IanKennedy]

Looking at this guys record he is rather anti gay marrage

Wait, let me go find my "surprised-face" emoticon... a Catholic priest who's anti-gay marriage? Who would have thought?

Yes, on average they seem to prefer young boys.

[McAvoy]

Looking at this guys record he is rather anti gay marrage

Wait, let me go find my "surprised-face" emoticon... a Catholic priest who's anti-gay marriage? Who would have thought?

Are there any of them that are not anti-gay?

[Tyyr]

Some of the more liberal individual churches might just not gay bash but I don't think a major territory of the church could say, "Be gay, it's ok!" and not get yanked back into line real fast.

[Teaos]

There is one or two Cardinals who are loud supporters of "God loves everyone equally" which as as close as they come to saying "gay pride"

[Deepcrush]

It varies a lot. Catholics and Baptists are still very angry about... everything. Most of the other Christian groups have taken the "free will" stance.

[Tsukiyumi]

It varies a lot. Catholics and Baptists are still very angry about... everything. Most of the other Christian groups have taken the "free will" stance.

"Hate the sin, love the sinner." - My uncle.

That's still a rather presumptuous attitude regarding the will of God.

[Deepcrush]

Trying to figure the will of anything or anyone is a rather presumptuous attitude. But that is why there is such a violent collision between faith and religion.

[Mikey]

It varies a lot. Catholics and Baptists are still very angry about... everything. Most of the other Christian groups have taken the "free will" stance.

"Hate the sin, love the sinner." - My uncle.

That's still a rather presumptuous attitude regarding the will of God.

Umm, that quote might just predate your uncle.

Of course it seems presumptuous to those if us who don't follow it. To pious Catholics, however, the pope and to a lesser extent the other clerics are specifically called and empowered - by G-d - to interpret the will of G-d. I'd call it presumptuous that the Church has crucifixes with the image of Jesus on the cross... considering, you know, the concrete and explicit message of commandment #2... but obviously all sorts of Christians worldwide don't have an issue with it.

[Deepcrush]

The Cross as long as its not meant to depict God himself and isn't the item of worship but merely the symbol of worship isn't a problem. However, the problem comes when some religions use the Cross and Christ as the very items to worship towards rather then their symbolic connections.

[Mikey]

I get that it's symbolic; but many Catholic and Orthodox rituals involve specific veneration of a crucifix, cross, book, or relic. My own faith's interpretation of the 2nd Commandment is that it is both prohibited and impossible to make a depiction of G-d, no matter the purpose; since the Nestorian view of diaphanysis was branded heretical, Catholic dogma must unquestioningly consider a depiction of Jesus to be the same as a depiction of G-d.

The point, however, isn't that I give damn how Catholics choose to worship - it's that what seems contrary to every established tenet to one person or group may seem commonplace and necessary to another.

[Deepcrush]

Catholics never made much sense to me anyways. Being gay is a sin but child rape is okay... Never claim divine guidance, unless you really want too... Live for each other, unless it costs money then to hell with it...

[McAvoy]

Worshiping he cross isn't as bad as basically 'worshiping' ancient relics from the Early Christian era. Like praying to bones of martyr. Or a fragment to an object.

That is just me. Always thought it was odd.