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Patlal
You ask too many questions



Registered: 10/09/10
Posts: 44,797
Loc: Ottawa
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Popes Benedict, Francis reach out to atheists in campaign to engage non-believers
#18884249 - 09/24/13 10:23 AM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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First off, good luck to them. Hopefully they won't convert a single one of them and only increases the number of atheists. The world doesn't need more sheeps.
Quote:
VATICAN CITY -- Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI has emerged from his self-imposed silence inside the Vatican walls to publish a lengthy letter to one of Italy's most well-known atheists. In it, he defends his record on handling sexually abusive priests and discusses everything from evolution to theology to the figure of Jesus Christ.
Excerpts of the letter were published Tuesday by La Repubblica, the same newspaper which just two weeks ago published a similar letter from Pope Francis to its own atheist publisher.
The letters indicate that the two men in white -- who live across the Vatican gardens from one another -- are pursuing an active campaign to engage non-believers. It's a melding of papacies past and present that has no precedent and signals that the popes -- while very different in style, personality and priorities -- are of the same mind on certain issues and might even be collaborating on them.
Benedict became the first pope in 600 years to resign when he retired Feb. 28, setting the stage for the election of Francis two weeks later. Benedict said at the time that he would spend his final years "hidden from the world," living in a converted monastery tucked behind St. Peter's Basilica, reading and praying.
Benedict's decision to cloister himself was in part due to his own shy, bookish nature, but also to make clear that he was no longer pope and that his successor was in charge.
The resignation immediately raised the not-insignificant question of how the Catholic Church would deal with the novel situation of having one reigning and one retired pope living side-by-side, each of them called "pope," each of them wearing papal white and even sharing the same aide in Monsignor Georg Gaenswein. Fear of schism in the church had prevented popes for centuries from stepping down.
Benedict has been seen only a handful of times since his retirement, and only once with Francis at an official Vatican ceremony in July. A prolific writer, he has published nothing since retiring -- except for the encyclical "The Light of Faith" which was signed by Francis but was written almost entirely by Benedict before he resigned.
All of which made Repubblica's publication of his letter to atheist mathematician Piergiorgio Odifreddi all the more remarkable, since it came out of the blue and just two weeks after a letter on almost the exact same subject was penned by Francis on the same pages.
The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said it was pure coincidence that the two men had written two well-known Italian atheists on the same subject. Francis' letter uses a language that is much closer to Benedict's style -- but Lombardi denied the two had collaborated on it.
In Benedict's letter, he responded to Odifreddi's 2011 book "Dear Pope, I'm Writing You," which in turn was the Italian's response to Benedict's classic "Introduction to Christianity," perhaps his best-known work.
Odifreddi posed a series of polemical arguments about the Catholic faith, including the church's sex abuse scandal. The former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger headed the Vatican office responsible for abuse cases, and was pope when scandal erupted in 2010, with thousands of people coming forward in Europe, Latin America and beyond saying they had been molested by priests while the Vatican turned a blind eye.
In his letter, Benedict rejects personal involvement, saying: "I never tried to cover these things up."
"That the power of evil penetrated so far into the interior world of the faith is a suffering that we must bear, but at the same time must do everything to prevent it from repeating," he wrote, according to Repubblica.
Read more: http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/popes-benedict-francis-rea
ch-out-to-atheists-in-campaign-to-engage-non-believers-1.1468226#ixzz2fpNMh1JO
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The5thElement
Smile Friends :)



Registered: 07/01/12
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Re: Popes Benedict, Francis reach out to atheists in campaign to engage non-believers [Re: Patlal] 1
#18884408 - 09/24/13 10:58 AM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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The pope can suck my dick
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Legend
RIP Sasha


Registered: 03/29/10
Posts: 28,336
Loc: TX
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Re: Popes Benedict, Francis reach out to atheists in campaign to engage non-believers [Re: The5thElement] 4
#18884423 - 09/24/13 11:02 AM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
The5thElement said: The pope can suck my dick 
hey, maybe if you're young enough.
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No sympathy for the devil, keep that in mind. [url=]Buy the ticket, take the ride. [/url]Are you lost?
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VivaLaMushie
RIP LS :(


Registered: 07/23/12
Posts: 15,711
Loc: Switzerland
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Re: Popes Benedict, Francis reach out to atheists in campaign to engage non-believers [Re: Patlal] 1
#18884428 - 09/24/13 11:04 AM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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Id rather be a sheep than be some spineless piece of shit who believes fairy tales.
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nicechrisman
Interdimensional space wizard



Registered: 11/07/03
Posts: 33,241
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Re: Popes Benedict, Francis reach out to atheists in campaign to engage non-believers [Re: Patlal] 1
#18884433 - 09/24/13 11:06 AM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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I actually like a lot of the things I've heard Francis saying. I never thought I'd say that about a pope. Could just be PR bullshit too though.
-------------------- "Cosmic Love is absolutelely ruthless and highly indifferent: it teaches its lessons whether you like/dislike them or not." John C. Lily
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VivaLaMushie
RIP LS :(


Registered: 07/23/12
Posts: 15,711
Loc: Switzerland
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Re: Popes Benedict, Francis reach out to atheists in campaign to engage non-believers [Re: nicechrisman]
#18884446 - 09/24/13 11:10 AM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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He is the antichrist.
He will probably be the last pope, too.
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nicechrisman
Interdimensional space wizard



Registered: 11/07/03
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Re: Popes Benedict, Francis reach out to atheists in campaign to engage non-believers [Re: VivaLaMushie]
#18884449 - 09/24/13 11:10 AM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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Maybe that's what I like about him
-------------------- "Cosmic Love is absolutelely ruthless and highly indifferent: it teaches its lessons whether you like/dislike them or not." John C. Lily
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Magicman69
All About the Benjamins



Registered: 05/29/13
Posts: 6,876
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Re: Popes Benedict, Francis reach out to atheists in campaign to engage non-believers [Re: Legend]
#18884453 - 09/24/13 11:12 AM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
Legend said:
Quote:
The5thElement said: The pope can suck my dick 
hey, maybe if you're young enough.

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The5thElement
Smile Friends :)



Registered: 07/01/12
Posts: 4,675
Loc: Canada
Last seen: 7 years, 1 month
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Re: Popes Benedict, Francis reach out to atheists in campaign to engage non-believers [Re: Legend]
#18884456 - 09/24/13 11:13 AM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
Legend said:
Quote:
The5thElement said: The pope can suck my dick 
hey, maybe if you're young enough.

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hidenseek1
Its got all the dinks.
Registered: 12/22/12
Posts: 5,423
Loc: poop
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Re: Popes Benedict, Francis reach out to atheists in campaign to engage non-believers [Re: nicechrisman]
#18884692 - 09/24/13 12:17 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
nicechrisman said: I actually like a lot of the things I've heard Francis saying. I never thought I'd say that about a pope. Could just be PR bullshit too though.
i thought so too, hopefully he turns things around, the idea of the church isnt a bad one, its just had some bad action in it over the Millennium
-------------------- You can drink at 7 A.M., because the Beastie Boys fought for that right -------------------------------------------------------------------------- pons asinorum -------------------------------------------------------------------------- lsd and the vietnam war changed music forever
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Patlal
You ask too many questions



Registered: 10/09/10
Posts: 44,797
Loc: Ottawa
Last seen: 2 hours, 46 minutes
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Re: Popes Benedict, Francis reach out to atheists in campaign to engage non-believers [Re: hidenseek1]
#18884776 - 09/24/13 12:45 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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I hope their mission to convert people fails miserably
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NWlight
Just look


Registered: 01/12/10
Posts: 18,686
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Re: Popes Benedict, Francis reach out to atheists in campaign to engage non-believers [Re: Patlal]
#18884814 - 09/24/13 12:56 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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I'm feeling more christian already!
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LoveYourLife
MDMA


Registered: 08/05/09
Posts: 2,076
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Re: Popes Benedict, Francis reach out to atheists in campaign to engage non-believers [Re: Patlal]
#18884818 - 09/24/13 12:57 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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I'll stick with being Atheist. But thanks anyways, Pope.
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daz01
Learning


Registered: 09/30/10
Posts: 4,652
Loc: Scotland
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Re: Popes Benedict, Francis reach out to atheists in campaign to engage non-believers [Re: Legend]
#18884964 - 09/24/13 01:27 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
Legend said:
Quote:
The5thElement said: The pope can suck my dick 
hey, maybe if you're young enough.

-------------------- Pain is temporary. It may last for a minute or an hour or a day or even a year but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it will last forever.
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qman
Stranger

Registered: 12/06/06
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Re: Popes Benedict, Francis reach out to atheists in campaign to engage non-believers [Re: daz01]
#18885002 - 09/24/13 01:34 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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The church is losing followers, churches are closing on a large scale, sex scandals are turning off even the true believers.
They are now so desparate, they are trying to appeal to gays, atheists, and pro abortion advocates.
The Catholic church is a business, they are looking for more customers, nothing new here.
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Legend
RIP Sasha


Registered: 03/29/10
Posts: 28,336
Loc: TX
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Re: Popes Benedict, Francis reach out to atheists in campaign to engage non-believers [Re: qman] 1
#18885018 - 09/24/13 01:38 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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You guys ever notice Buddhist monks generally seem a lot happier than catholic priests
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No sympathy for the devil, keep that in mind. [url=]Buy the ticket, take the ride. [/url]Are you lost?
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KremrBigSikter
Spränger Språnger




Registered: 07/23/11
Posts: 3,918
Last seen: 8 years, 3 months
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Re: Popes Benedict, Francis reach out to atheists in campaign to engage non-believers [Re: Legend]
#18885083 - 09/24/13 01:53 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
Legend said: You guys ever notice Buddhist monks generally seem a lot happier than catholic priests
Buddhist monks only look happy when they're in supply. Once they're out of cocaine, they stay in the temple all day, crosslegged, mumbling.
-------------------- I have pneumonia
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Legend
RIP Sasha


Registered: 03/29/10
Posts: 28,336
Loc: TX
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Re: Popes Benedict, Francis reach out to atheists in campaign to engage non-believers [Re: KremrBigSikter] 1
#18885091 - 09/24/13 01:54 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
KremrBigSikter said:
Quote:
Legend said: You guys ever notice Buddhist monks generally seem a lot happier than catholic priests
Buddhist monks only look happy when they're in supply. Once they're out of cocaine, they stay in the temple all day, crosslegged, mumbling.
oh wow lol haven't laughed that hard in a while
--------------------
No sympathy for the devil, keep that in mind. [url=]Buy the ticket, take the ride. [/url]Are you lost?
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hidenseek1
Its got all the dinks.
Registered: 12/22/12
Posts: 5,423
Loc: poop
Last seen: 6 years, 10 months
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Re: Popes Benedict, Francis reach out to atheists in campaign to engage non-believers [Re: KremrBigSikter]
#18885093 - 09/24/13 01:55 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
they stay in the temple all day, crosslegged, mumbling.
lol
-------------------- You can drink at 7 A.M., because the Beastie Boys fought for that right -------------------------------------------------------------------------- pons asinorum -------------------------------------------------------------------------- lsd and the vietnam war changed music forever
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