Wonder what they're paying food tasters?

He's not going to last long. I'm still shocked every day that I wake up and the president is still alive. But you know they both have huge targets on them.

I think he knows who to look out for and he has a small crew of loyalists who have his back. He's not living in that huge building--he's in a little dorm out back.

They're intellectual and they are revolutionaries. They're not afraid to buck the crowd, or question doctrine.

I think this guy is in the process of turning the carrier, as they say! I don't think he's done changing the conversation, either--time will tell.

Should be fine if they stay out of Texas and other rightwing strongholds.

I figure it must be a Liberal Utopia where you live to make such a statement. When did y'all get rid of all of your right-wingers, exactly?

He eats in the dining room. I hope that he switches plates with some elderly priest, just in case.....

We finally get a public figure with enough courage to condemn a deregulated capitalist system that's destroying the planet and we're already predicting his demise. One thing certain, if we react with fear and cynicism we're paving the way for a continuation of the destructive path we're currently traveling.

I guess the same could've been said about MLK his life didn't "end" well either, but what a hell of an in between!!! And where would this country be without his courageous contribution?

Personally I'm hopeful that the Pope and others with the courage to speak out will eventually light a fire for change...

And that includes five Catholic SCOTUS judges..

I'm quite certain there was more behind Benedict's retirement than we may ever know -- either a looming mega-scandal or a series of lesser scandals that threatened to destroy the Church if they weren't addressed.

The Catholic Church may be misguided in many ways -- but as an institution, it's old enough and self-aware enough to know when it's sick, and Francis is the prescribed medicine.

I'm not an expert on Church history, but you can look back for precedents to the corruption of the 900s, the schisms and Babylonian Captivity of the 1300s, and the notorious Renaissance Popes of the 1400s.

Whoever the real power brokers may be, they rudely thrust Benedict aside and selected Francis to perform a purge of the most corrupt, bloated, and elitist elements of the institution. Perhaps they were worried about losing adherents in Europe -- or more likely they're gearing up to go head-to-head with Islam in parts of Asia and Africa and with Protestant fundamentalism in Latin America. Either way, they knew they needed to get down to fighting weight, and Francis was chosen as someone who could do the job.

With status quo at the Vatican. It's been widely written that the Cardinals, who are a world-wide bunch, were unhappy with the glittering, insular and bone-headed crowd at the Vatican. They want more say in how the church is run, and so far Francis is making that happen. That's one of the reasons he was put in. He has assembled an advisory committee of Cardinals, which is exactly what they wanted.

I'm not saying that the Cardinals' wants and needs are going to dovetail with DUs. But you are right, he was brought in to make changes. And the changes are being made at the highest levels, so it's doubtful they'd show up at the diocesan levels (which frankly are outside the Vatican's immediate control; the church is so top-heavy, and so bureaucratic, that half the time the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing) any time soon, if at all.

The Catholic church finally got a leader who speaks for the teachings in the New Testament on which they claim to base their religion. Compassion for the poor and contempt for the greedy are two of the common themes which seemed to have gone by the wayside until this Pope took the helm.

And it's checkbook.

Not asking for too much. Just enough to survive a few more years.

I wonder where's the waiting line.

You know those hypocritical baggers who cling to God and guns.

so the Kroch brothers can make it look like a best seller.

They'll all be very upset at this.

This guy is all-populist. I approve, but I'd like to see if he's going to offer a tithecut to the working class before passing judgment.

Next thing you'll be telling me there's no Vice Pope in case the reigning Pope for some reason is disqualified from wearing the tiara until the next contest.

But I like this Pope. I'm sure he's aware of the history of the church and it's short term pontiffs just as I remember the the one-month Pope from the 70s.

Maybe he's decided that he's going to do and say what needs saying while he can and to hell with the consequences — well, maybe not "to hell."

Anyway, all power to him and God bless him.

They need those mega-salaries and big bonuses to influence and corrupt the nation, the entire legislative and political process.

But it's nice seeing a prominent Christian actually upholding Christian values. Very unusual.

and I'm really curious to how my ultra right wing fundie nut job catholic nephew squares with this.

heads are imploding.

to see how they balance total loyalty to Rome with a Pope who acts like a Christian!

Went to my inlaws over Thanksgiving. The local Harrisburg, PA newpaper had an article about the pope. If you don't know the area is heavily conservative with a relatively large chatholic population. Was looking to see the quote he had about his (the church's) feelings about "trickle down" (tinkle down) economics figuring that it would certainly be something to get a rise out of the readers. Scanned the article and the paper never mentioned it. Wouldn't be surprised if your relations are totally unaware of what the pope is saying.

Bankrupt Archdiocese Tries To Limit Abuse Claims

http://www.npr.org/2012/02/16/146995458/bankrupt-wis-church-tries-to-limit-abuse-claims


Nine Catholic archdioceses around the country have filed for bankruptcy over the past decade, including the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. In each case, this followed multimillion-dollar claims from victims sexually abused by priests and other church employees.

LEGAL HARDBALL

Milwaukee's case is different from all the others in one important way: The church there is playing legal hardball and trying to dramatically limit the claims of 570 people who say they were abused.

It's Mass at St. Vincent Pallotti Church, and about 200 parishioners sing, pray, and then watch a videotaped appeal from Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki. The church is beginning an annual fund drive. Listecki makes clear that the money will go to programs like Catholic schools and adult day care, and will not be part of the yearlong Chapter 11 bankruptcy case.

"Your gift will be segregated from other assets of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and used solely to support the appeal-funded ministry," Listecki says.

RandomThoughts was the Pope!

to see if he ever got his beer and travel money

I'll bet ole Mittens is sure glad he's got the Mormon Jesus just like the Evangelical "Jesus plus nothing" gang has the Capitalist Jesus.

Between our Marxist president and now the pope, it is a worldwide Marxist Revolution!!!


Peace

But no Satin!

There is no-one, more qualified

The Pope is just giving them heaven and it sounds like hell.

Costco versus WalMart - the owners/heirs of each are very wealthy. But for an extra couple hundred million or so WalMart pays it's workers paltry wages with little or no benefits, Costco pays it's employees a living wage with nice benefits attached.

What kind of person can feel good about accruing unnecessary extra wealth by treating it's employees like dirt? I wonder and it's what makes me hope there really is a Hell or something like that.

EMPATHY - the ability to put yourself in others shoes - seems to be in short supply with WalMart honchos and others.

The kind that grows up in a wealthy and greedy household to begin with. They are not educated the same or in a familiar day-to-day environment like you and I. As Sam Walton is dead, it's his family running things now. They have only ever known a life of wealth. And the people of kind of wealth do not see us as anything more than cogs to be used up and replaced.

I don't know much about the CEO of Costco, but would guess that he had jobs like his own workers at one time and now wants to pay them back, so to speak

-Laelth

Thanks for the thread, onehandle.

Almost enough to go back to church.

Nah.

But he's obviously been watching rich people hijack everything, including religion, with disgust for many years and is wasting no time putting his marker down.