Posted on 04/17/2005 4:41:34 PM PDT by AnnOutragedCitizen
CARDINAL WHO WARNED OF 'ANTICHRIST' RISES IN BETTING ODDS
Though Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi is the odds-on favorite to be the next pope, global betting parlors are reporting an influx of bets on Cardinal Giacomo Biffi.
"From what I can see here, there's been a lot of wagers on Biffi," Mani Sanders of Pinnacle Sports, an online gambling service based on the resort island in the Netherlands Antilles, told the Providence Journal.
Cardinal Biffi, emeritus bishop of the archdiocese of Bologna, was recently listed as a 125-to-1 long shot to succeed John Paul II.
But does Pinnacle know something we don't?
The paper reports that as an influx of "bets were placed on Biffi in the past several days, the odds on the 76-year-old Italian had dropped to 50 to 1 by Wednesday."
If Biffi does win, it will be a sign that the Church leaders are trending more conservative.
Biffi is strongly anti-Masonic. He was quoted as saying Catholic churches should ban Mozart's music, as the composer was a Mason. The Church and the Masonic movement have long had an antagonistic relationship.
In recent years Biffi stirred controversy by saying Italy should "protect its national identity" and stop the avalanche of Muslim immigrants.
In 2000, Biffi predicted that "Europe will either become Christian again or it will become Muslim." He added ominously., "The vast majority of Muslims are coming here determined to remain outside our humanity."
That same year Biffi also said that he believed the Antichrist was alive and would soon rise to prominence.
Biffi told a conference meeting in Bologna that the Antichrist was a prominent philanthropist who advocated causes like human rights, the environment and ecumenicism.
Biffi said that this man – who he never identified – had a "fascinating personality" and espoused causes like vegetarianism, pacifism, environmentalism and animal rights.
Biffi added that this Antichrist would be a Bible expert who would discard its truths to prosletyze for "vague and fashionable spiritual values."
Sniff?
Doesn't that get you a ticket on the "Hell Express"?
The logistics could range from actual charges (whether true or not, they could always make a case in court) to ... well, a lawless spy operation with the auspice of national security... which could actually be legal, I guess depending who you ask.
I thought Ratzenberger was the favorite.
I'm betting on Soros or Gorbachev. I wonder who the false prophet will be though.
On Soros,
"I fancied myself as some kind of god …" he once wrote. "If truth be known, I carried some rather potent messianic fantasies with me from childhood, which I felt I had to control, otherwise they might get me in trouble."
"I am sort of a deus ex machina," Soros told the New York Times in 1994. "I am something unnatural. I'm very comfortable with my public persona because it is one I have created for myself. It represents what I like to be as distinct from what I really am. You know, in my personal capacity I'm not actually a selfless philanthropic person. I've very much self-centered."
"Next to my fantasies about being God, I also have very strong fantasies of being mad," Soros once confided on British television. "In fact, my grandfather was actually paranoid. I have a lot of madness in my family. So far I have escaped it."
"I do not accept the rules imposed by others…. And in periods of regime change, the normal rules don't apply."
"Oh crud, not Paul McCartney!!"
LOL, I thought of him too!
But, does Sir Paul know his Bible?
You bet your sweet Biffi bump.
How's that for being blonde? LOL!
The anti christ, is the liberal movement in this country coupled with the Islamic movement. Oh, and the infamous ACLU.
YIKES! Those Soros quotes are too gruesome!
Huh?
I meant CIA. And come to think of it, I didn't really mean "lawless", assuming it's a matter of opinion. They do good work.
bump for later
Woody Harrelson
The problem is people are looking for "the" antichrist, but the Bible references state "an" antichrist. It's no one, but many. I certainly don't claim to know who they are, but do believe pride is an identifying charactistic.
Either him or his gay son, Jonathan.
I guess that kind of eliminates your man Gore -- unless he means "fascinating" as extremely bizarre.
Well, he's certainly not "my-man" Gore, read my tagline. However, look between Gore & Buchannon. That's from the Democratic debates prior to the 2000 election. FR was burning up that night with people freaking out over the image that was broadcast on the screen behind the debaters. Looks like the beast to me!!!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.