The Storm before the Calm

[Thy Geekdom Come]

[quote name='myduwigd' date='Apr 20 2005, 05:02 AM'] um, I have a tendency to agree. This man looks very scary. There is something very wrong with the look in his eyes. You guys, we must be open to the fact that the bishops could have chosen the wrong person to be Pope. I'm seriously freaked out when I look at him.
Im not mocking him, Im just saying what Im seeing is not good. [/quote]
People mocked John Paul the Great because he looked frail.

Don't look at the wrapping, look at the gift underneath. Look at the joy in his smile and the care in his voice.

It's easy to say that he looks scary, but what does that really tell us? It tells us that there is nothing else anyone can grasp on to in order to claim anything against him.

I think that insinuating that he has some terribly evil motives or, what's worse, that the cardinals picked the wrong man, is a gravely unchristian thing to do based solely on the look in his eyes. He's an old German man...he's not gonna look pretty...

[kateri05]

this is horrible! how can you mock the appearance of our Holy Father! :angry:

besides the fact that he should be judged on A) his election by the HOLY SPIRIT and 2) by his unwavering committment to Truth and Orthodoxy for our Mother Church, he looks like a grandpa

maybe not the cuddly, sweet kind that you can convince to give you $10 dollars ala JP the Great (although clearly you never saw him get mad... <<shudders>> wasn't pretty!), but more the gruff, strict kind that loves you bunches but doesn't pull any punches.

He loves his sheep people, so maybe we should be less worried about how good of a shepherd he will be and what kind of sheep WE are!

Edited April 20, 2005 by kateri05

[jezic]

war is already happening. Look around.

[JimFurst]

I've always considered myself to be liberal. When I was growing up it wasn't such a dirty word. It meant an openess to ideas; a willingness to examine other points of view. I still see myself as "liberal" and there are many Catholics from my generation (just turned 50) who also see themselves as liberal. Although many are not as likely to use the word these days as it as come to be equated with "evil."

That being said, while I have some difficulties with some teachings of the Church, I accept them and follow them to the best of my ability---and will continue to do so.
This was how I was taught to be a Catholic. You follow the Church's teaching. Thats the way it its. Period! Others like me will follow.

I see no Catholic "civil war" on the horizon, and if one were to occur it would be destructive. I see no good coming from it. ( Maybe thats my "liberal bent" speaking.) Tearing the Church apart would not be good for anyone. The Catholic Church does not want schism. It wants unity. Its the universal Church. Our new Pope knows this.

As far as Pope Benedict XVI looking evil, this is just ridiculous. Lets see what he does, not what he looks like he'll do. I wish him the best and will follow his teachings despite my liberal tendencies.

(And don't say I'm not really liberal)

I have more problems then simply being liberal. I wear bi-focals now. (graded lense)

Jim

[Luthien]

Saying a man lookes evil because he has dark circles is

its called genetics, not intristic evil.

I like Papa Ben...

[Dreamweaver]

So what if he has big bags under his eyes? All that matters is his heart. Heck, I'm gonna have NASTY varicose veins when I'm older. Perhaps this'll be an example that modern society shouldn't judge a person's value based on their looks or abilities. (like JP2's fraility didn't keep him from still being awesome and active).

I love my St. Benedict's medal crucifix.

[Ash Wednesday]

[quote name='JimFurst' date='Apr 20 2005, 07:42 PM'] I've always considered myself to be liberal.  When I was growing up it wasn't such a dirty word.  It meant an openess to ideas; a willingness to examine other points of view.  I still see myself as "liberal" and there are many Catholics from my generation (just turned 50) who also see themselves as liberal.  Although many are not as likely to use the word these days as it as come to be equated with "evil."

That being said, while I have some difficulties with some teachings of the Church, I accept them and follow them to the best of my ability---and will continue to do so.
This was how I was taught to be a Catholic.  You follow the Church's teaching.  Thats the way it its.  Period!   Others like me will follow.

I see no Catholic "civil war" on the horizon, and if one were to occur it would be destructive.  I see no good coming from it.  ( Maybe thats my "liberal bent" speaking.)  Tearing the Church apart would not be good for anyone.  The Catholic Church does not want schism.  It wants unity.  Its the universal Church.  Our new Pope knows this.

As far as Pope Benedict XVI looking evil,  this is just ridiculous.  Lets see what he does, not what he looks like he'll do.  I wish him the best and will follow his teachings despite my liberal tendencies. 

(And don't say I'm not really liberal)

I have more problems then simply being liberal.  I wear bi-focals now. (graded lense)

Jim [/quote]
Hi JimFurst!

I really enjoyed your honest and well thought out post, and I have a lot of respect for what you have had to say. I have a deep respect for people that may not always find teachings easy but don't take the easy way out. I have been down that same path, sometimes still am. I used to be, I suppose, more of a "liberal" than I am now (I'm 28). I truly believe in the name of "openness" and "tolerance" that means listening to what people have to say on both sides of the coin (gasp, even those "conservatives!"), really thinking things through, and praying along the way, even if the teachings at times might be hard to fully understand.

If more "liberals" were like you, then maybe it wouldn't have become such a bad word.

In the end I guess there is no "liberal" and "conservative" as a goal. There is "Catholic!"

Welcome to phatmass. :tiphat:

[JimFurst]

Thanks for the welcome Ash Wednesday!

Jim

[Catholictothecore]

sigh...nuther long post.

kateria5, you defination of the kinda look Papa Ben has reminds me of my own late grandpa....I LIKE IT!

umm...while I say "bring it on" as well, I think we have to understand as well that we will be persecuted, and it won't always be with a fight. Let's look at the Passion during times like that. We not always going to "die," either physically or spiritually, in glory. So, instead of "Bring it on," how about "Lord, Your will not mine be done."

I know the odds as well as a human can right when thinking of the future. Papa Ben is standing in the breach. He will be hurt. So will we all. "Peter, Peter, Satan desires to sift you like wheat." We have every reason in the logical mind to not do this.

We have the Holy Spirit and the promises of God...I am, and I know Papa Ben is, [color=purple]NOT AFRAID!!!![/color]

[CatholicAndFanatical]

Hey Yo MC JUST!!

You and Me are on the Front lines, its time to bring the bomb down on this town!

I've said time and time again: I am so tired of the mediocrity that has crept into our Church.

I think the Holy Father will help us sweep it out the door.

Get Ready For a Crusade
Christians with the WORD
Like Double Edge Blades
Get Ready For Change!!

HOORAH!

[Catholictothecore]

cool rhyme...

[CatholicAndFanatical]

thats from MC Justs song called 'Crusade II'

he gets me pumped up everytime I listen to his stuff..God Love em!

Go listen to him.

my websites down for a few days so you cant go there to listen, um..im sure he'll be able to tell you where his stuff is.

oh yea, check the online jukebox here too for some other cool people, including Just.

peace

[Catholictothecore]

MCJust? Never actually head him. I prefer Danielle Rose, actually.

[myduwigd]

ok, wow I love how no one is listening to me at all. Im not attacking him, IM just saying that he looks scary. Also, this man used to be a Nazi. No, he is not beyond redemption for that fact, but he should never be in a position of spiritual authority. There are some things that a person just simply cannot do and recover from. It would take the rest of one's life to be healed and fight the consequences.
also, dont you dare call me Satan ever again. That is something that you dont want to make a mistake about. I really wish that you guys would sit down and pray about what im saying. I dont just go around bashing people and calling them evil all the time. You know that. Its called spiritual correction and love when i do it. No, the HOly Spirit didnt make a mistake, but the cardinals could have. The HOly SPirit cant force you to listen to Him.

[luciana]

[quote name='kateri05' date='Apr 20 2005, 05:56 PM'] this is horrible! how can you mock the appearance of our Holy Father! :angry:

besides the fact that he should be judged on A) his election by the HOLY SPIRIT and 2) by his unwavering committment to Truth and Orthodoxy for our Mother Church, he looks like a grandpa

maybe not the cuddly, sweet kind that you can convince to give you $10 dollars ala JP the Great (although clearly you never saw him get mad... <<shudders>> wasn't pretty!), but more the gruff, strict kind that loves you bunches but doesn't pull any punches.

He loves his sheep people, so maybe we should be less worried about how good of a shepherd he will be and what kind of sheep WE are! [/quote]
kind of like my maternal Grandpa, a sweet little old Portuguese grandpa, but smart as awhip, and strict cause he cares. He's probably dancing at the election of Benedict XVI, not worrying about appearances. That's how I described him to comments a young kid at school made about his eyes. My paternal Grandpa has dark circles AND seriously like 3 teeth only due to an accident w/ a bull ( No joke ) Unlike my mom's dad, he's not the best Catholic, but he's an awesome man of God as well.

Look inside not outside. Check out some of Benedict XVI's ( as Cardinal Ratzinger) work, awesome books.