Posted on 03/19/2009 5:06:17 PM PDT by bruinbirdman
Pope Benedict's repeated gaffes and the Vatican's inability to manage his message in the internet era are threatening to undermine his papacy, Vatican insiders have said.
The Holy See is struggling to contain international anger over the Pope's claim on his first official visit to Africa that Aids "cannot be overcome through the distribution of condoms, which even aggravates the problems".
The Pope's remarks about condoms, and a recent furore over his lifting of the 20-year excommunication of a British bishop who has questioned the Holocaust, has left him looking isolated and out of touch, prompting calls for a radical shake-up of the way the Holy See delivers its message.
The Pope is isolated and fails to adequately consult his advisers, said a Vatican source with 20 years' knowledge of the Holy See.
Another Vatican insider described Pope Benedict's four-year-old papacy as "a disaster", recalling the pontiff's previous inflammatory remarks on Islam and homosexuality.
"He's out of touch with the real world," the Italian insider said. "On the condom issue, for example, there are priests and bishops in Africa who accept that condoms are a key part of the fight against Aids, and yet the pope adheres to this very conservative line that they encourage promiscuity. The Vatican is far removed from the reality on the ground."
The Vatican's traditional culture of secrecy has made it ill-equipped to communicate its message in the internet age.
The Holy See claimed that the Pope had no idea that British bishop Richard Williamson had denied the extent of the Holocaust, but critics have pointed out that a simple Google search would have uncovered the maverick's anti-Semitic views.
"Until recently the Vatican was secretive and their way of controlling the message of the Church was to release information slowly and highly
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
POPE DECLARES THE TELEGRAPH A DISASTER!
AGREED about the current Pope.
Though I believe—in terms of the recent ones—they have all been laboring under the constraints imposed upon them by the global oligarchy . . .
The skull-duggary (achieved with impunity) around the death of the one who was so briefly in his office was incredible, as I understand it.
John 17:
15My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.
17Sanctify[b] them by the truth; your word is truth. 18As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
Jesus Prays for All Believers
20”My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.
May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23I in them and you in me.
May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24”Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 25”Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”
“Father Elijah”...now THAT was a good book! You’re the only other FReeper I know of that’s mentioned it.
Scary story, wasn’t it?
Regards,
Who writes this garbage?
If they really believes he needs to consult advisers, doesn't that pretty much mean they don't believe he's the emissary of God on earth??
Excellent post!
Benedict is not Biden. ;-)
The pope is right, and I am not the least bit Catholic.
That’s amazing if true.
To be perfectly honest, I have not disagreed with anything that he has said so far.
What the Pope has been saying seems to hurt the ears of the left wing , and left leaning church members. So frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn about what they have to say anyway. Despite what the news media has to say, the left is not the majority.
Perhaps not a high quality latex condom. What sort do you think get sold in Third World countries?
But what if using condoms results in a sense of false confidence that you can engage in risk-free sex with anybody, with the result that people engage in much more sex with risky partners (eg druggie prostitutes)? Play Russian Roulette enough times, and you inevitably lose.
Michael Savage.
There are actually many reasons to buckle the planets seat belts based on the text of the Bible alone. Mystics and visions are interesting, but I will base my thinking on God’s Word. There are literally thousands of verses supporting the approach of the end times scattered through almost every book in the Bible, particularly Daniel, Ezekiel and the minor Prophets.
I say this as gently as a noncatholic can to a catholic. Beware your sources of visions. Demons have been known to masquerade as angels of light. Other than Christ, who is truly risen, there is no Biblical mention of anyone sending a message to people after death. Beware you are not caught up in a great deception surrounding the end times. Test the spirits now as never before against the only unfailing standard we have - God’s Word.
What is the real world is the real question Mr Insider.
Whoever or whatever . . .
—preaches any other Gospel
—does not confess that JESUS IS THE CHRIST; CAME IN THE FLESH; DIED ON THE CROSS; AROSE THE 3RD DAY . . .
CONSIDER anathema
Worthy points, imho.
However, the authentic Believer truly in love with Jesus . . . will be a minority in these END TIMES before all is said and done, . . . as I understand it.
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