Is this really breaking news?

Fuck the Pope and the Catholic church.

pwnt.

Bad experience, Zekyl? jk

Nah, never been Catholic. Its just all a big political thing (internal politics, not U.S. politics). Organized religion is pretty much a sham. My favorite part is "Thou shalt have no false idols" yet the catholic church is just stuffed full of these false idols, every saint they pray to, the Virgin Mary, etc.

Way to go, Zek. You are about to turn this into a debate about religion!

I'm not Catholic, but I'm really having a hard time finding the fascination the press has covering his every move.

He's a head of state (even if it's only on a technicality) and a the figurehead of one of the world's major religions. Newsworthy.

They don't do breaking news segments and follow other heads of states around like this.

Other heads of state aren't heads of religions too. At least not major ones anyway. Trust me, if the prime minister of Israel was the jewish equivalent of the pope, he'd get the rock star treatment too.

There are a gazillion practicing catholics, another gazillion non-practicing catholics and a couple bajillion non-catholic christians of various stripes all interested in what he has to say when he's here.

Then there are sagans of non-christians who follow what he says and does just so they'll be up to speed on what the Joneses are doing.

I may believe that christian mythology is a bunch of hooey, but on a practical and political level, the pope is still very relevant.

Speaking of his hatness...

Vatican Hints at Changes in Church Laws on Abuse (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/19/us/nationalspecial2/19abuse.html?_r=1&ref=nyregion&oref=slogin)

You know, I'm not even going to bother quoting the article. Seriously. What part of "stop diddling little boys" is so hard for the catholic church to grasp and make part of the rulebook? How many rules and technicalities could there possibly be to haggle over?

Are soap-on-a-rope sales up in the wake of this Pope's visit?

Well I voted no, but after seeing the crowds, I'd say I'm wrong.

Speaking of his hatness...

Vatican Hints at Changes in Church Laws on Abuse (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/19/us/nationalspecial2/19abuse.html?_r=1&ref=nyregion&oref=slogin)

You know, I'm not even going to bother quoting the article. Seriously. What part of "stop diddling little boys" is so hard for the catholic church to grasp and make part of the rulebook? How many rules and technicalities could there possibly be to haggle over?
You have to consider the cognitive dissonance at work here. By coming squarely face-to-face with the child sexual abuse problem, the Church would be quietly acknowledging a bigger problem.

That problem is this: if you have tons of faith, and dedicate yourself wholeheartedly to a life of service to God, you've done absolutely nothing in terms of making yourself a better person. Not even the most committed members of the Catholic Church are more likely to experience any kind of genuine spiritual transformation than you or me, and possibly even less likely.

Does the Pope really shit in the woods?

You have to consider the cognitive dissonance at work here. By coming squarely face-to-face with the child sexual abuse problem, the Church would be quietly acknowledging a bigger problem.

That problem is this: if you have tons of faith, and dedicate yourself wholeheartedly to a life of service to God, you've done absolutely nothing in terms of making yourself a better person. Not even the most committed members of the Catholic Church are more likely to experience any kind of genuine spiritual transformation than you or me, and possibly even less likely.

I dont know about that Swam. I don't normally defend the Catholic church but I think one could get his/her spiritual needs met (whatever you want to call it) by the sermons on Sunday, reading the bible and other members of your church while you Pastor is 'diddling boy' behind the scenes.

I get what your saying though.

Followed quickly by a spiritual crisis when you hear (in Paul Harvey voice) "...the rest of the story."

Priest and altar boy... as done by Warner Bros....

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