Pope Benedict XVI to resign - Page 23

On February 12 2013 14:45 Warlock40 wrote:


I would say that's a general trend in Europe that includes Catholicism as well. In fact, last time I checked, the only religion in Europe that wasn't just losing ground but gaining ground was Islam.

On February 12 2013 15:20 Foblos wrote:


That isn't true. Christianity (Eastern and Western: Protestant and Catholic) is still growing in membership and adherents, but Islam is growing much faster. Part of that reason is because in the places where what we refer to as 'radicals' are spreading the religion by the sword, but that isn't what this topic is about.

On February 12 2013 15:35 Ghostcom wrote:


Inside Europe? I somehow doubt that - the only thing I could find was this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Europe

Do you have any better sources?

On February 12 2013 16:02 Foblos wrote:


I don't have any links ready to give you, but Gallup and Pew Research groups both operate in Europe and poll things along the lines of what you and I are talking about. If you'd like to look, you should be able to find something recent in either of those two places. Europe probably has some of their own polling and societal research groups that you should be able to check with as well, but I'm not aware of any.

On February 11 2013 20:17 lord_nibbler wrote:
Darkforce = Pope = same person maybe?

On February 12 2013 18:58 Golden Ghost wrote:
I don´t know what the numbers are for other European countries but in the Netherlands the numbers are indeed dwindling VERY rapid. Churches closing left and right, almost no new people coming in and a lot of people dieing because well they are very old.

Also if I were a betting man my money for the new pope would be on eather Odilo Scherer (63), the Archbisshop of Sao Paolo or Peter Turkson (63) from Ghana with Luis Tagle (55) from the Phillipenes as an outsider. If there would have been a viable American candidate that would probably be a safe bet but I don´t see real contender amongst their cardinals.

On February 12 2013 21:21 Sandermatt wrote:


When was the last time that a pope was elected who was not a cardinal?

I know in medieval times they once elected a pope that was not even a priest.

On February 12 2013 09:08 lord_nibbler wrote:

He is a lot more left to US liberals than you seem to realize.

He talked about the sins of the modern investment bankers and that societies should strife for fair distribution of wealth.
He went to Lebanon in 2010 and practically called out the US for arming the rebels and enlarging the war.

And they called him a conservative pope...

On February 12 2013 22:23 vividred wrote:


The pope is neither left, right, conservative or liberal. Stop spouting shit

On February 13 2013 00:32 Djzapz wrote:

Explain yourself because you don't get to tell people they're "spouting shit" without any argument. I'd like to remind you that the church has been extremely influential politically. To say that the pope is not anywhere on the political spectrum despite the fact that he influences policy in some countries just makes me confused.

On February 12 2013 09:10 sAsImre wrote:


Pope stance is related to morale, a system which put the economy before the human will never satisfy the church but it doesn't qualify the pope.

On February 13 2013 00:44 vividred wrote:



see:

On February 12 2013 21:30 Sephyr wrote:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaZdmeV56PU

Honestly not sure if it's been posted before but just saw that. I think it's a funny coincidence but it seems the Christians on my Facebook think otherwise..

On February 13 2013 01:13 ZasZ. wrote:


Have an explanation that doesn't seem like gibberish? I don't expect the Pope to lean left or right on economics or fiscal policy, but when people are talking about wanting a "liberal" Pope, they're talking about his stance on gays, contraceptives, female priests, etc. and whether or not the Catholic Church might be more open to discussing reform on these topics. They are by no means obligated to, but one would think they need to keep up with the times if they want to retain their constituency in developed nations, where Catholicism has been dwindling rapidly.

On February 13 2013 01:23 vividred wrote:


Roman Catholic or any other religion is never in the political compass. Just because they oppose contraceptives/premarital sex etc. doesn't mean they are on the opposite side of what you call "progressivism" or "liberalism"

They follow their dogma or the bible or whatever and doesn't mean they're "conservative"

You're like saying jesus christ is a republican.