I might swing by Ely some day and ask if Murphy would wash my feet.
Steve
1 year ago
He poped his clogs. 🙁
…I’ll get me coat.
Andyf
1 year ago
He might forgive the Pope, but he will never ever forgive the Worstall
The Meissen Bison
1 year ago
Quaker notes.
Ironman
1 year ago
he accuses JD Vance of promulgating unbiblical and unChristian ideas. He then goes on to say that the office of the papacy is a human construct. Is there no beginning to his talents?
Steve
1 year ago
I am equally aware that within the Vatican, and beyond, the plotting to replace this relatively progressive Pope with someone deeply conservative who might pursue policies profoundly contrary to the long history of relatively progressive Catholic social teaching will be beginning.
Damn these neoliberal cardinals!
(Imagine thinking God shares your stupid, gay politics. I’m not just picking on Ritchie here, it’s common enough that I wonder if they actually believe in God or know who He is.)
In this context, I am sorry that one of the last meetings that the Pope had on earth was with J D Vance. I really would not wish that on anyone. He represents, as a born-again Catholic, what appears to be the very worst of Catholic thinking at this point in time.
So, if you don’t support killing babbies or turning your country in an immigration PVP zone, you are, candidly, the worst.
It is, quite literally, impossible to reconcile the teachings of Jesus, whatever you might think him to be, with the idea of a white, male, theocratic and autocratic role
This will be news to the Popes.
I cannot be alone in having watched Conclave relatively recently. That is an excellent film.
The movie that dares to ask: what if the Pope had a cock AND a fanny. This is definitely Ritchie’s speed. Must have blown his tiny little mind (and box of tissues).
What I am sure of is that in a world where fascism is advancing rapidly, the last thing we need is another fascist Pope.
I disagree.
Steve
1 year ago
Anyway, is it time for a sermon entitled “God doesn’t care about your stupid gay politics”?
Maybe that’s too obscure a title, so how about “The Creator of All Spacetime doesn’t give a monkey’s about the EU”?
dearieme
1 year ago
I can never remember which Pope is which. I can distinguish, though, the Polish Pope and Papa Ratzi. But telling a Borgia from a Medici back in the Burning Ages: nope.
And how about nonPopes? Peter was obvs never a Pope but are any of the other early purported Popes fake? Presumably, but I don’t know. Was Pope Steve real?
jgh said:
“One of the front runners is Cardinal Sarah”
I wish he were a front-runner, but sadly I fear the Holy Spirit will have to work quite a miracle to get him voted in by the current College of Cardinals.
Steve
1 year ago
DM – Francis foolishly put his faith in science, and may now be regretting that:
“Frequently people let themselves be influenced by the ideology of the moment, often bolstered by baseless information or poorly documented facts,” he said, calling for the adoption of a “reality therapy” to correct this distortion of human reason.
“Vaccines are not a magical means of healing, yet surely they represent, in addition to other treatments that need to be developed, the most reasonable solution for the prevention of the disease,” he added.
What God thinks about the Mystery Jabs, I have no idea, He hasn’t confided in me. But your soul should warn you against evil, no? The entire COVID scam was so obviously Satanic it was practically spinning its head and vomiting while threatening to exclude the unvaccinated from society.
Western Bloke
1 year ago
Steve,
“Damn these neoliberal cardinals!
(Imagine thinking God shares your stupid, gay politics. I’m not just picking on Ritchie here, it’s common enough that I wonder if they actually believe in God or know who He is.)”
I think of most religion and most religious discussions, and especially the CofE are pretty stupid, because how is the word of God malleable? Either God said “thou shalt” or he didn’t. And beyond some burning bush or stones being carved by lightning, you can’t go changing it as a human.
Like if God said that bumming is wrong, then bumming will eternally be wrong, until God says “changed my mind, bumming is OK” which is unlikely for an omnipotent being.
Steve
1 year ago
WB – I think the secret is, most of these people don’t believe in God.
They might “believe” in “God” in the sense Jordan Peterson means, as essentially a kind of high IQ word game, with a sprinkling of evolutionary psych just-so stories on the side. That’s why it’s so easy for them to transpose their alleged belief in God onto more modern cults, such as climate changeology and antiracism. If Christ returns tomorrow, most “Christian leaders” will leg it for the hills, as well they might. This may disappoint us, but should never shock, as even Peter denied Christ.
Christianity is currently going through a quiet revival among men in particular – JD Vance is by no means unusual in finding faith in the middle of his adulthood and we may well find that future generations are more religious, not less. But how many of these men were brought to faith by Francis, or Justin, or any of the other “leaders”? My guess is none.
Pray for Pope Francis, if you have a mind to pray. He wasn’t a good pope, but as St Clint of .45 warned us, we all have it coming.
As for God, He’s realer than you or me. We are dust, probability clouds of particles vomited out by long-dead stars that will eventually boil away into nothing. God doesn’t need our faith, or our worship, or our prayers – which are just a fancy way of begging. It’s us who need Him.
Matt
1 year ago
Every time I look at the church hierarchy — either RC or CofE — two possibilities cross my mind. Either they don’t know/care that a significant chunk of all the gospels is Jesus telling the religious leaders to fuck off and that it isn’t all about them. Or they’re too far up their own backsides to look in the mirror and see that they are the pharisees and the scribes and the temple money-changers.
Bloke in Germany
1 year ago
Steve, you should see the vocabulary with which the passing of the pope is described in Luxemburgisch.
Bloke in Germany
1 year ago
Steve could become an Antipope, but, curiously enough, only if enough people believe he is the real Pope.
Chris
1 year ago
@jgh Cardinal Sarah would have to take a papal name if elected. I recommend Pope Tiffany.
Penseivat
1 year ago
I quite like the satirical (I hope) comment that the next Pope should be a Muslim to avoid a religious war in Europe. Pope Mohammed the First?
Steve
1 year ago
BiG – Steve could become an Antipope
If I shook hands with the real Pope, all of our mass would be converted to energy.
New pope selection carries existential risk. The US has widely accepted Trump/MAGA. Woke Francis was an anachronism; the window is closing on woke. Selecting a woke pope again threatens the existence of the church. They are not free to throw just anyone into the job. They need to let go of their decadence and recognize the world as it is.
rhoda klapp
1 year ago
But GC, they ele t under the guidance of God. Political considerations have nothing to do with it. Apparently.
Charles
1 year ago
@Steve – “As for God, He’s realer than you or me.”
I post comments here, you post comments here. I don’t see God posting any comments. Seems pretty conclusive to me.
I might swing by Ely some day and ask if Murphy would wash my feet.
He poped his clogs. 🙁
…I’ll get me coat.
He might forgive the Pope, but he will never ever forgive the Worstall
Quaker notes.
he accuses JD Vance of promulgating unbiblical and unChristian ideas. He then goes on to say that the office of the papacy is a human construct. Is there no beginning to his talents?
I am equally aware that within the Vatican, and beyond, the plotting to replace this relatively progressive Pope with someone deeply conservative who might pursue policies profoundly contrary to the long history of relatively progressive Catholic social teaching will be beginning.
Damn these neoliberal cardinals!
(Imagine thinking God shares your stupid, gay politics. I’m not just picking on Ritchie here, it’s common enough that I wonder if they actually believe in God or know who He is.)
In this context, I am sorry that one of the last meetings that the Pope had on earth was with J D Vance. I really would not wish that on anyone. He represents, as a born-again Catholic, what appears to be the very worst of Catholic thinking at this point in time.
So, if you don’t support killing babbies or turning your country in an immigration PVP zone, you are, candidly, the worst.
It is, quite literally, impossible to reconcile the teachings of Jesus, whatever you might think him to be, with the idea of a white, male, theocratic and autocratic role
This will be news to the Popes.
I cannot be alone in having watched Conclave relatively recently. That is an excellent film.
The movie that dares to ask: what if the Pope had a cock AND a fanny. This is definitely Ritchie’s speed. Must have blown his tiny little mind (and box of tissues).
What I am sure of is that in a world where fascism is advancing rapidly, the last thing we need is another fascist Pope.
I disagree.
Anyway, is it time for a sermon entitled “God doesn’t care about your stupid gay politics”?
Maybe that’s too obscure a title, so how about “The Creator of All Spacetime doesn’t give a monkey’s about the EU”?
I can never remember which Pope is which. I can distinguish, though, the Polish Pope and Papa Ratzi. But telling a Borgia from a Medici back in the Burning Ages: nope.
And how about nonPopes? Peter was obvs never a Pope but are any of the other early purported Popes fake? Presumably, but I don’t know. Was Pope Steve real?
Was Pope Steve real?
Bit early for existential questions.
Well I never. Here’s a chap who argues that the Pope did himself in by taking the Covid jabs.
https://www.coffeeandcovid.com/p/memento-mori-tuesday-april-22-2025
I didn’t even know that the old chap had told Roman Catholics to take the jab. I wonder how many lives that saved amongst Orangemen.
One of the front runners is Cardinal Sarah. Pope Sarah would really set some heads exploding.
Anyway…. NAE PRIESTS, NAE BISHOPS, NAE HIERARCHY!!!! WE’LL NAE BE FOOLED AGIN!
jgh said:
“One of the front runners is Cardinal Sarah”
I wish he were a front-runner, but sadly I fear the Holy Spirit will have to work quite a miracle to get him voted in by the current College of Cardinals.
DM – Francis foolishly put his faith in science, and may now be regretting that:
“Frequently people let themselves be influenced by the ideology of the moment, often bolstered by baseless information or poorly documented facts,” he said, calling for the adoption of a “reality therapy” to correct this distortion of human reason.
“Vaccines are not a magical means of healing, yet surely they represent, in addition to other treatments that need to be developed, the most reasonable solution for the prevention of the disease,” he added.
What God thinks about the Mystery Jabs, I have no idea, He hasn’t confided in me. But your soul should warn you against evil, no? The entire COVID scam was so obviously Satanic it was practically spinning its head and vomiting while threatening to exclude the unvaccinated from society.
Steve,
“Damn these neoliberal cardinals!
(Imagine thinking God shares your stupid, gay politics. I’m not just picking on Ritchie here, it’s common enough that I wonder if they actually believe in God or know who He is.)”
I think of most religion and most religious discussions, and especially the CofE are pretty stupid, because how is the word of God malleable? Either God said “thou shalt” or he didn’t. And beyond some burning bush or stones being carved by lightning, you can’t go changing it as a human.
Like if God said that bumming is wrong, then bumming will eternally be wrong, until God says “changed my mind, bumming is OK” which is unlikely for an omnipotent being.
WB – I think the secret is, most of these people don’t believe in God.
They might “believe” in “God” in the sense Jordan Peterson means, as essentially a kind of high IQ word game, with a sprinkling of evolutionary psych just-so stories on the side. That’s why it’s so easy for them to transpose their alleged belief in God onto more modern cults, such as climate changeology and antiracism. If Christ returns tomorrow, most “Christian leaders” will leg it for the hills, as well they might. This may disappoint us, but should never shock, as even Peter denied Christ.
Christianity is currently going through a quiet revival among men in particular – JD Vance is by no means unusual in finding faith in the middle of his adulthood and we may well find that future generations are more religious, not less. But how many of these men were brought to faith by Francis, or Justin, or any of the other “leaders”? My guess is none.
Pray for Pope Francis, if you have a mind to pray. He wasn’t a good pope, but as St Clint of .45 warned us, we all have it coming.
As for God, He’s realer than you or me. We are dust, probability clouds of particles vomited out by long-dead stars that will eventually boil away into nothing. God doesn’t need our faith, or our worship, or our prayers – which are just a fancy way of begging. It’s us who need Him.
Every time I look at the church hierarchy — either RC or CofE — two possibilities cross my mind. Either they don’t know/care that a significant chunk of all the gospels is Jesus telling the religious leaders to fuck off and that it isn’t all about them. Or they’re too far up their own backsides to look in the mirror and see that they are the pharisees and the scribes and the temple money-changers.
Steve, you should see the vocabulary with which the passing of the pope is described in Luxemburgisch.
Steve could become an Antipope, but, curiously enough, only if enough people believe he is the real Pope.
@jgh Cardinal Sarah would have to take a papal name if elected. I recommend Pope Tiffany.
I quite like the satirical (I hope) comment that the next Pope should be a Muslim to avoid a religious war in Europe. Pope Mohammed the First?
BiG – Steve could become an Antipope
If I shook hands with the real Pope, all of our mass would be converted to energy.
@Steve, Tridentine energy, I hope.
We are all genuine and authorised popes!
https://www.citizendium.org/wiki/Discordianism
Chris – that would be an ecumenical matter
BiW – I also like the Smoking Popes.
New pope selection carries existential risk. The US has widely accepted Trump/MAGA. Woke Francis was an anachronism; the window is closing on woke. Selecting a woke pope again threatens the existence of the church. They are not free to throw just anyone into the job. They need to let go of their decadence and recognize the world as it is.
But GC, they ele t under the guidance of God. Political considerations have nothing to do with it. Apparently.
@Steve – “As for God, He’s realer than you or me.”
I post comments here, you post comments here. I don’t see God posting any comments. Seems pretty conclusive to me.
Somebody call?