Atheists & Agnostics
Related: About this forumPope Francis to Offer Plenary Indulgences via Twitter
According to the Vatican's Sacred Apostolic Penitentiary publication, Pope Francis will be giving "plenary indulgences" which is a special act that is said to reduce time in purgatory to his Twitter followers. The Pope typically offers indulgences to those who see him in person, but for the first time this year, it will extend to virtual visits, too.
The decision was made as the Pope gears up to visit the World Youth Festival in Brazil next week. The Guardian is reporting Catholics will be able to follow the "rites and pious exercises" that the Pope will do in Brazil online.
For social followers who have previously confessed their sins, have been absolved by a priest and have attended mass, they can follow along live through the social networking site and receive that special forgiveness. Users must follow the events live to participate.
"You don't obtain an indulgence like you get a coffee from a vending machine," Monsignor Claudio Maria Celli, the president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communication, told Sacred Apostolic Penitentiary. "It's not enough just to watch a Mass online or follow Pope Francis via live streaming on your iPad or by connecting to Pope2You.net. These are just devices. What really counts is that the Tweet that the Pope will send from Brazil or the photos from World Youth Day produce genuine spiritual fruit in the heart of the person."
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http://mashable.com/2013/07/16/pope-forgive-sins-twitter/
Mr.Bill
(24,319 posts)He's just not really good with this internet stuff, so he needs your help there.
And he's not real good with money, either, so bring some extra cash with you to church this sunday, okay?
Arugula Latte
(50,566 posts)I mean, hell, he's omniscient and omnipotent and all, but you really need a computer paradigm to work with all that data.
uriel1972
(4,261 posts)But he didn't approve of much anyhoo...
0zone
(60 posts)...to tweet himself.
temporary311
(955 posts)not existing.
0zone
(60 posts)...before he makes more of a fool of himself tweeting about non-existing gods.
AtheistCrusader
(33,982 posts)Arugula Latte
(50,566 posts)Indulgences? Purgatory? The Pope having a hotline to "God"? Of course the whole basis of Christianity is ludicrous -- a dead guy born of a deity-raped virgin coming back to Earth to suck people up into the clouds or whatever loopy version of the story they tell themselves -- but this whole absolution-via-Twitter seems particularly targeted for gullible suckers.
Seriously, the whole thing is just one asinine trip down Fairy Tale Lane after another.
AlbertCat
(17,505 posts)..... maybe get the Papal credit card numbers....
What a joke..... an annoying, dangerous expensive joke religion is....