[karajorma]

nuke the entire site fro orbit, its the only way to be sure.

Which one? Rome? Or the Vatican City?

Edit: Errr... I mean... just the Vatican City? Or the whole Rome?

Nerve gas would be better. There a lot of cool artwork and architecture in the Vatican. No sense in letting it be lost to future generations.

[Luis Dias]

All of this talk about how the Pope selection is terrible news for the gays and for the Argentinian government (really el magnifico, I'm getting tired of your tirades on the subject, but shouldn't you be pleased the guy you dislike is going out of your country?), and for the paedophilia problems and so on.

And no word for the problem regarding women in the church and how they are completely discriminated?

Come on guys, this is the perfect thread to start another feminist war, let's not waste the opportunity

[deathfun]

nuke the entire site fro orbit, its the only way to be sure.

Which one? Rome? Or the Vatican City?

Edit: Errr... I mean... just the Vatican City? Or the whole Rome?

Nerve gas would be better. There a lot of cool artwork and architecture in the Vatican. No sense in letting it be lost to future generations.

I concur
Problem will come down to who gets to control it all though. Nerve gassing it is one thing, keeping it from becoming ruined is another

[Aesaar]

All hail Pope Frank!

Also, first non-European pope since 731.  That's... pretty long.  Obvious why, but still.

[Mobius]

Now I know why the name Bergoglio sounds familiar: he was second during the previous conclave and posed a serious threat to Ratzinger's election until some of his supporters decided it was better to vote for the German.

Well, at least according to the anonym cardinal who monitored the previous conclave and wrote all results of the votes on papers.

[MP-Ryan]

The Catholic Church will either change with the times or preach itself right out of existence.  This guy seems to actually get some of that.  We'll see what he does.  Not every Pope does what they are expected to do.  The hypocrisy in the Catholic Church in general on wealth would be a good place to start.  He can't do much on same-sex marriage, contraception, abortion, etc but who knows, maybe this fellow will indeed shake things up and consider female clergy, or allowing priests to marry.  This whole 'forced celibacy' thing was always a myth in the past anyway, and now has led to a huge crisis in sexual abuse.  Time to be rid of it.

Alas, the era of Darth Pope jokes is coming to an end, though.

[Luis Dias]

The Catholic Church will either change with the times or preach itself right out of existence.  This guy seems to actually get some of that.

Does he now? Nor do I think that it will "either change with the times or preach itself right out of existence". Its conservatism is probably what keeps it afloat right now.

but who knows, maybe this fellow will indeed shake things up and consider female clergy, or allowing priests to marry.

AHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHHHAHAHHAHA F ABbafasbdvs  grgrgrnanahagagnegw bllaaaaaaaahhhhgggg

[Suongadon]

Thank god he's not from the US.

...  He can't do much on same-sex marriage, contraception, abortion, etc but who knows,

He might not be able to change the positions the church holds, but he could drop them off the list of things to rage against and focus the church's time and money on poverty and medicine and education.

Doubt it will happen anymore than female clergy or allowing married priests, but I think it's a bit closer to the realm of possibility.

[Mobius]

He said horrible things about homosexuals, I don't think he will do much unless he changes his mind on the subject.

[Suongadon]

He said horrible things about homosexuals, I don't think he will do much unless he changes his mind on the subject.

Well, how powerful is Martini's* faction of the church? (I know he's dead) I was under the impression his views were a godsend to (at least) the American Catholic left, but pretty much 'that's nice, shut up now' among the church powerful. Without them having power, I don't think there is going to be much hope of ever getting a pope that hasn't said horrible things about homosexuals.


* He wrote (in) a book supporting civil unions, advocated the church change with the times, etc.

[The E]

Mobius, no matter who became the new Pope, the only thing he could have done would be to not talk about homosexuals and concentrate on other matters. There is no way whatsoever for someone who even approaches a moderate position to these issues to be elected to Popehood, or to the Cardinal level for that matter.

[deathfun]

Mobius, no matter who became the new Pope, the only thing he could have done would be to not talk about homosexuals and concentrate on other matters. There is no way whatsoever for someone who even approaches a moderate position to these issues to be elected to Popehood, or to the Cardinal level for that matter.

Which is a real shame. Why is the common trend that of clinging to antiquated ideals? Seems pointless

[The E]

Well, to use modern marketing speak, the current RCC leadership is concentrating on the core identity of their brand. They assume that by going too far in appealing to the values of the current pop culture, they'll lose those followers they still have.

Also, there's the little thing of papal infallibility, and centuries of church theology preaching those core values. The roman catholic church is one of the very few institutions that have lasted 1500 years and are still somewhat recognizably the same thing; I suppose that's something to consider.

[Apollo]

Well, to use modern marketing speak, the current RCC leadership is concentrating on the core identity of their brand. They assume that by going too far in appealing to the values of the current pop culture, they'll lose those followers they still have.

Also, there's the little thing of papal infallibility, and centuries of church theology preaching those core values. The roman catholic church is one of the very few institutions that have lasted 1500 years and are still somewhat recognizably the same thing; I suppose that's something to consider.

Well they don't kill people or run Europe anymore. That's a pretty significant change.

[Dragon]

Methods have changed somewhat, influence has shrunk, but the core principles and ideas remained the same. You could look at the Church in 15th century and you'll instantly be able to tell it's the Church. The same can be said for a very few other organizations, most of them very niche (mostly very old, very traditional brotherhoods).

[Turambar]

Mobius, no matter who became the new Pope, the only thing he could have done would be to not talk about homosexuals and concentrate on other matters. There is no way whatsoever for someone who even approaches a moderate position to these issues to be elected to Popehood, or to the Cardinal level for that matter.

Which is a real shame. Why is the common trend that of clinging to antiquated ideals? Seems pointless

This is the Catholic Church.  Clinging to antiquated ideals is the entire point.

[yuezhi]

That's right, even if they conflict with even more antiquated ideals.

wealth for one.

[Luis Dias]

Look people you are just expecting too much. The Catholic Church is an institution that excommunicates you if you dare to divorce! And of course you can't "remarry" anyone else.

Let that simple fact sink in.

You really expect such an institution to start accepting gays, married priests and women priests and so on when they are so backwards in things we as a secular society have long past reached a consensus?

[JCDNWarrior]

This guy apparently was involved in the 'dirty war' in South America that led to the destruction of Argentina's economy..  http://www.businessinsider.com/pope-francis-has-links-to-dirty-war-2013-3?

I'm curious what the implications of this is, what others think of it or if it's even fair to link the guy to it since the waters of history are often muddied.

[Grizzly]

married priests

Actually, quite a few branches of the catholic church have married priests. They just can't advance to the rank of bishop. Doesn't change a lot 'bout your point though.