Man, Pope Bennnie is an ugly motherfucker, isn't he?

[terrya]

Admins, please bring back the neon ad. PLEASE. Anything except a picture of that hideous looking homophobe that's on the home page. :puke:

[StopTheMorans]

1. I agree, nothing like a little homophobia to go with my morning decaf tea

:puke:

[ScreamingMeemie]

2. Worse than if you ask me....

Ugly opinions beget ugly faces. :hi:

[Shell Beau]

3. Ouch!!

:o

[bif]

4. Ugly is as ugly does.

Huh?

[dolo amber]

5. Skinner, this is a gay man, asking to see boobies

This is HUGH!!!111 4 :o

[bif]

6. He's such a looser!

[terrya]

7. For real!

I mean, how desperate sounding do I have to get??

[Squatch]

8. No...here's an even uglier fucker.

[progmom]

10. if this is a joke i SO totally don't get it

:shrug:

[Squatch]

11. Apparently, it's open season on religious leaders

[progmom]

12. .

:backing slowly away:

[Squatch]

13. Hey...

Don't worry, I'm just trying to make a point. I think the Dalai Lama is a beautiful spiritual leader.

[progmom]

14. thanks for clarifying, Squatch.

I agree - the Dalai Lama is a beautiful man.

[Squatch]

15. And a lot of people, like myself, believe that the Pope is, too.

[JVS]

23. Why?

[Shell Beau]

27. Well, he IS the pope. I am not defending the pope. I am

not Catholic, but don't be naive to think that a lot of Catholics (and others) don't think that.

[Misunderestimator]

30. And that's the very problem.... a lot of people overlook his evil.

[Shell Beau]

31. A lot of people don't see him as evil. They see a religous leader

to look up to. Again, I am not saying I agree, I am just saying not everyone sees him that way. And a lot of people agree with his views.

[Squatch]

34. Not all of his views, mind you.

[Shell Beau]

38. I understand that.

But he represents Catholics. And his views should be that of what Catholics believe. At least mostly.

[Squatch]

40. Well, a lot of more progressive Catholics depart with him on

a number of issues, like the church's stance on homosexuality, married priests, etc. Eventually, and maybe not with this current pope, that will drive change in the church.

[Shell Beau]

47. I hope it does. But, IMO, they picked the wrong man for the job if

they are looking to make some changes.

[Squatch]

56. Yep.

A lot of us believe that the current pope is just a steward of the status quo until a more charismatic leader succeeds Benedict.

That said, I do believe that there is quite a head of steam building behind the need for progressive changes in the church and the next pope should probably heed that.

[JVS]

35. Looking up to someone requires them to have done something worthy of that

What has Benedict done to be looked up to? Or as I asked before: why?

[Shell Beau]

39. I can't answer that since I am not Catholic.

But popes over the course of history are looked up too and considered very holy. As I said, I am not necessarily agreeing.

[JVS]

41. Is there something about not being Catholic that makes you unable...

to see good in Benedict? Are the popes over history worthy of such veneration?

[Shell Beau]

No, but as not being Catholic, I don't look to him for spiritual

guidance. He doesn't represent my faith.

[JVS]

48. If he exudes such spiritual beauty, shouldn't you be able to detect it?

So come on, what's good about the man? Or if you don't know, maybe someone who thinks there are good things about him might want to chime in.

[Shell Beau]

55. I don't know much about the man. If I were Catholic, I would

make sure to know about him. And I never said he exuded spiritual beauty. I said Catholics see that in him as well as some others.

[JVS]

57. The only reason I am seeing given here to respect him is that he's pope.

Position is a poor substitute for personal character.

[Shell Beau]

62. Okay. I didn't say it wasn't.

[Misunderestimator]

36. I know they don't SEE him as evil... which is the problem.

So, since some people don't recognize the evil that a person does, we shouldn't call that person on his evil acts? I dunno... that would be like saying some people think Bush is not evil and we shouldn't insult him either. :shrug:

[Shell Beau]

42. No, that is not what I mean. What we see as evil, others

don't. I am not defending this man. But people are strong in their beliefs and that is how they feel. They hold him in high regard. :shrug:

[Misunderestimator]

43. Right, and some people also hold Bush in high regard.

The argument that we should respect someone simply because others do, doesn't hold water.

[Shell Beau]

46. I never said we should respect him.

Someone asked why he thought he was a beautiful spirit. I was simply stating that lots of people do. I wasn't saying that we should, I wasn't saying he deserved respect, I was merely saying that popes are spiritual leaders for a very large religion and that a lot of people look up to him.

[JVS]

49. Which makes him unlike, say Pat Robertson, how?

[Misunderestimator]

52. Ok, so then... somehow we should not insult him because others find

him beautiful simply because he is their spiritual leader despite all the harm he causes others? Still doesn't make any sense.

[Shell Beau]

58. Get off of that we shouldn't insult him. I NEVER said that.

I don't like for words to be put into my mouth. I was trying to explain why he is highly regarded. I never said it was okay. I never said I agreed. I never said he was a beautiful person. NEVER.

[Misunderestimator]

69. "Get off ?" LOL

Ok... all you said was that some people find him beautiful? Why? It would follow that you said that because you think we should respect them right? Apparently you don't think that... so why do you care if some people find him beautiful and others don't?

I am totally not getting were you are coming from here.

[Shell Beau]

76. Sorry, I am just getting agitated b/c I am obviously

not getting my point across. I personally do not respect the pope's views on a lot of things. I have never understood the whole "pope" deal. But I respect lots of Catholics. I don't think a lot of them see him the way we do. Maybe they are blinded by their faith. I don't know. They don't see him as a homophobe. Even if we can see that. I am not saying that we should respect the pope. I am not saying that we have to respect people who look up to the pope. All I was trying to say is that we are naive if we don't think people respect this man. Many people will look past his faults. I won't, you won't, but many will. I am not trying to defend anyone here. I was just making a comment. That is it. Maybe I wasn't very clear with it. And maybe I am being even more unclear right now. Sorry if I am. That's all b/c if I keep talking I am likely to get this all out of wack!

:) Sorry if I came off rude earlier!

[Misunderestimator]

80. I don't think ANYONE thinks that there are no people that think he is

beautiful. But this subthread was started by someone saying that the Dalai Lama was ugly... who then turned around and responded that he didn't think he was a bad person. Well, many of us DO think the pope is a bad person... and an ugly person. Your responding in that mess made it seem like you were saying that we should respect the pope... or respect his followers... or respect someone who thinks he's beautiful. I don't.

It's all good... Peace! :)

[Squatch]

50. No, the argument is that you should respect others

in this community, namely DU, that do hold the Pope in high regard.

I don't care if you hate the Pope with every fiber of your being, but realize that some DUers do not and might take offense to these sorts of crass, petty, and childish attacks. All that does is just drive people on this board apart and instill animosity, when we need to be "gelling" for our upcoming fight against GWB's ilk in 2008.

[JVS]

53. You should respect those who hold him in low regard and have reasons...

for it, rather than tell them to pipe down because you respect the man, but haven't given any reasons for your respect for him.

[StopTheMorans]

59. SNAP!

[Squatch]

61. My reasons for why I respect him are not the issue here.

The lack of respect to other DUers that some people have shown, is.

[JVS]

66. They have valid reasons to disrespect the man and should not...

feel obligated to quiet down just because you disagree. If they're wrong, prove them wrong.

[Squatch]

71. I would try to if the subject was broached in a more

respectful manner.

[JVS]

73. Hey, you're the one passing up the opportunity to set the record straight

You have a chance to tell these people how good Benedict XVI really is, so why pass it up?

[Squatch]

74. In case you've missed it...my reasons for why I hold him

in esteem are not the issue in this discussion.

The lack of respect some DUers show others, is.

[JVS]

77. Lots of religious leaders get attacked here constantly

Falwell, Robertson, Phelps. What makes you think that your guy should be treated differently?

That is the issue.

[Misunderestimator]

60. And you should respect those of us who are the target for his hate.

I don't care if you love the pope. Don't read our complaints then. Don't read how he despises and hates homosexuals. Don't read any of it. Just don't tell me that I cannot express my dissatisfaction to be the target of HIS hate.

[Squatch]

68. Have I given you *any* indication that I don't respect you?

If anything, if you told me that something I posted offends you, I would try to refrain from posting that same thing since you and I are members of this *community*.

This whole thread could have been couched in a different manner so that the discussions were beneficial *instead* of derisive.

[Misunderestimator]

81. If someone I respected did something awful to you... I would fully expect

you to express your dissatisfaction with that person. It might hurt my feelings, but I would understand your position. This particular pope has done an ENORMOUS amount of harm to a large segment of THIS community. Sure we could be less derisive about him... we could be less derisive about the president too... we could be less derisive for that matter about democrats who don't satisfy us, like Hillary... but that's not going to happen.

I still don't understand how anyone can follow a spiritual leader who is so filled with hate. I won't stop insulting him, and I won't respect anyone who blindly follows him.

[JVS]

45. And I'd like to know why. If you hold someone in high regard you should..

be able to explain why you do that.

[Shell Beau]

51. I agree. You should.

I was just telling you that a lot of people in the Catholic religion (and others) look up to him. I wasn't trying to say they should or shouldn't. I wasn't trying to really explain why they do b/c I for one have never understood the whole "pope" thing. But I try not to judge people for their faith.

[Misunderestimator]

54. Nobody is judging anyone for their faith... only for their actions.

And someone who blindly follows this man... should be able to explain why. Not you necessarily... but the people you are trying to defend. Why are you defending them?

[Shell Beau]

63. I am not trying to defend anyone.

All I said was that Catholics look up to this man. That was it.

[JVS]

32. That's a bullshit reason. If he weren't pope would anyone think...

that he's a "beautiful man"? His being pope has no bearing on the rightness or wrongness of his views. I doubt that anyone at DU would call a man who is not pope but has identicle views to Benedicts a "beautiful man"

[Shell Beau]

64. Again, I never said it did!

[JVS]

70. I don't mean to be rude, but you started replying to a question that...

you yourself admit that you cannot answer. The question is simple. "Why is Benedict a 'beautiful man'?"
You don't have to answer it. That's ok. But someone who does respect him greatly should be able to.

[Misunderestimator]

18. I think Terry was referring to the ugliness of bennie's soul...

not necessarily the outward appearance... although the expressions I've seen on his face are quite ugly in his hate than those filled with love on the Dalai Lama's.

[Squatch]

20. .

[Misunderestimator]

21. You can refer to whatever you like, I'm pretty certain Terry was referring

to the ugliness of the pope's hatred.

[StopTheMorans]

17. i think today is just open season on religious leaders who spread hatred

[Squatch]

19. By spreading hatred in return? O-kaaaaaaaay....

:freak:

[StopTheMorans]

24. by asking not to have his picture on the homepage because he's

a hateful homophobe? that's spreading hate? What. the. Fuck?

[Squatch]

26. Read the subject line of the OP...that, my friend, is pure hate.

[StopTheMorans]

28. he is an ugly motherfucker, if you're talking about his hate for other

people. and, if someone is a hateful fucker, i would still declare open season on anything about them, including their appearance. fuck that asshole.

[Squatch]

29. Ha, ha, ha...wow. Fight hate with hate. Got it.

[StopTheMorans]

33. no, calling a spade with spade isn't hate; there's nothing irrational

or unquantifiable about it. i hope it's not windy where you are, or all of these straw men might blow away...

[terrya]

37. Yep...that's it.

Yeah, right. Sure. With people and institutions spewing hate at us...but, of course, if we change and become "ex-gay" people to cure us of our "filthy, diseased sickness" THEN they'll love us...we should just sit there and take it and be good little boys and girls and preach love and maybe, just maybe, they won't be so mean to us.

Bull and shit. Fuck that "counter them with compassion" shit, because I'm tired of being a goddamned punching bag to these hatemongers.

[Squatch]

44. So, your natural recourse is to effect change through derisive

posts on an internet discussion board. Understood.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

72. Sometimes members of the Vast Anti-Christian Conspiracy aren't conspiring

Sometimes, between Dark Masses and Blood Orgies, we just like to drop throwaway silly comments on Internet message boards for our amusement.

[terrya]

75. Not going to get anywhere talking to the Vatican, am I?

Yeah...since that route is like talking to a brick wall, I might as well post it on an internet discussion board.

[JVS]

79. Don't worry Benedict is a good and holy man who will set things right.

We should respect him, even if we have never seen him do anything that we think is good :eyes:

[terrya]

22. Hey...if you equate pedophilia with homosexuality...

To the point where you want to conduct a witchhunt to purge the Catholic Church of every gay priest...then you're an ugly motherfucker. Simple as that. This Pope is viciously homophobic. And that's ugly.

Period.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

65. Shorter Squatch

"I'll call a non-Christian leader even uglier to get back at them! Mwahahahaha!"

:eyes:

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

9. I prefer referring to him as "Pope Ratzi" myself -nt

[Crankie Avalon]

16. Snappy dresser, though...

...and still manages to look so macho, don'tcha think? O8)

[graywarrior]

25. I'm deeply concerned about the pope's dark circles

under his eyes. He's either sucking blood in the middle of the night, or he has serious kidney problems.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

67. Whew, "under his eyes". Your subject line got me worried. -nt

[jonnyblitz]

78. yup, he sure is.

:thumbsup:

[johnnie]

82. There has been plenty of pictures of georgie on there before

Is there a difference?