Pope Palpatine Speaks!

[Aaron]

Linky Dinky

Pope Benedict XVI in his annual peace message on Thursday attacked campaigns in some developing countries that are aimed at limiting birth rates to help economic development, particularly campaigns that he said promote abortions, Reuters reports. In his message, "Fighting Poverty To Build Peace," the pope criticized international campaigns to reduce birth rates that he said "sometimes [use] methods that respect neither the dignity of the woman, nor the right of parents to choose responsibly how many children to have." He added, "Graver still, these methods often fail to respect even the right to life. The extermination of millions of unborn children, in the name of the fight against poverty, actually constitutes the destruction of the poorest of all human beings." Population growth does not necessarily lead to increased poverty in a country, Benedict said, adding that developed nations with the highest birth rates "enjoy better opportunities for development" and that "population is proving to be an asset, not a factor that contributes to poverty."

The pope's message -- which traditionally is sent to heads of state, government and international organizations -- also called for disarmament, a fight against child poverty and world hunger, and a "common code of ethics" to narrow the gap between high- and low-income countries in the world (Pullella, Reuters, 12/11). According to the AP/Yahoo! News, Benedict said that modern popes' social teachings consistently have concerned the poor and that globalization has broadened these social questions into international issues (Simpson, AP/Yahoo! News, 12/11).

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Ok, this is only news in the way that saying rain is wet. Still anyone think it's funny that a bunch of guys that can't marry or fuck are trying to tell us to do just that?

[Tsukiyumi]

...called for disarmament...

Disarmament of what? Everything?

Yeah, then us and Al Qaeda, and Israel and Russia and China can all hold hands and sing coombyah.

And, seriously, overpopulation is one of the biggest problems facing our planet right now. The guy's retarded.

[Mark]

Well, he's a religious nut. Of course he's a few blessings short of a mirical.

[stitch626]

Well, things get better and better. At least he hasn't declared war on Islam yet... right?

[Tsukiyumi]

Well, things get better and better. At least he hasn't declared war on Islam yet... right?

Hey, why not? Maybe they'll wipe each other out.

[stitch626]

Nah, that would be too good for everyone... well, other than them.

[Mark]

Then the Buddhists will take over.

[Sionnach Glic]

I love how he keeps trying to pretend that governments actualy give a shit about what he says.

[Mikey]

I think you'd be surprised at how influential a Pope can be... at least, if he's as politically savvy as John Paul George Ringo II. Which, incidentally, Pope Brownshirt is NOT.

However, I don't know why anyone is offended, or even surprised, that the Pope of the Catholic Church is promoting a Catholic ideal.

[Mark]

At least they aren't going to threaten to excommunicate anybody anymore.

[Sionnach Glic]

Which, incidentally, Pope Brownshirt is NOT.

"Pope Hitler Youth", to be a bit more accurate.

However, I don't know why anyone is offended, or even surprised, that the Pope of the Catholic Church is promoting a Catholic ideal.

I agree. I don't see why this is particularly interesting. It's just the Pope making noise as usual.

[Mikey]

"Pope Hitler Youth", to be a bit more accurate.

True, but it didn't have the "Benedict - Brownshirt" alliteration I liked.

[Sionnach Glic]

Oh, that went completely over my head.

Just ignore me. I'm in dire need of coffee tonight.

[RK_Striker_JK_5]

*Gives Rochey some coffee*

I miss John Paul II.

[Mikey]

As do I. Among other things, he was a great proponent of goodwill between different faiths. Let alone the very public outreaches he made toward Judaism, he actually very quietly bridged much of the huge gap between the Catholic Church and the various Orthodox Churches. Internally, he made Catholicism accesible to the masses in a way worthy of his namesake. Which efforts Benedict is attempting to reverse, BTW.