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Pope's Swiss Guard May Allow Women After 500-Year Ban
Reuters ^ | 5/5/09

Posted on 05/05/2009 2:35:00 PM PDT by nickcarraway

After more than five centuries protecting popes, the Swiss Guard may consider opening the ranks of the world's smallest army to women, its commander said Tuesday.

"I can imagine them for one role or another. Certainly we can think about this," Daniel Anrig, who took over the post late last year, told Italian television program "Studio Aperto."

Anrig's remarks could represent a major change in position regarding the future of the elite corps composed entirely of 19- to 30-year-old Catholic men hailing from the Swiss Army.

Anrig's predecessor argued that mixing the sexes could be more trouble than it was worth and cited cramped Vatican barracks as another reason for excluding women. Asked about difficulties like cramped quarters, Anrig responded: "Any problems can be resolved." The Swiss Guard was founded on January 22, 1506, when 150 Swiss mercenaries marched to Rome to serve under Pope Julius II, known as "the warrior Pope."

Today, the guard numbers around 110 men. Clad in flamboyant striped uniforms, the guard's role is largely ceremonial and many of its members still carry around a medieval weapon -- the halberd, which is a combination of spear and battle axe.

Wednesday, the Vatican will hold an annual ceremony commemorating the 140 guards killed in the May 6, 1527 sacking of Rome. The surviving members saved the life of Pope Clement VII.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: pope; swiss; swissguard; tradition; women
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To: SkyDancer

You never had a point. You had a baseless assertion which you utterly failed to prove or provide evidence for even when others gave you multiple opportunities.

If you think I have proven your point for you just add me to that ever growing list of abusive men you imagine you know. After all, I just beat you soundly in this argument.


81 posted on 05/05/2009 4:17:36 PM PDT by vladimir998 (Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ. St. Jerome)
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To: SkyDancer

I believe they were originally mercs.

The Guard is fascinating for its bottomline symbolism in regards to men —

Pointy sticks
Snazzy dress
Money/Medicis


82 posted on 05/05/2009 4:17:53 PM PDT by durasell
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To: vladimir998

Just keep living in that dream world of yours .....


83 posted on 05/05/2009 4:19:00 PM PDT by SkyDancer ('Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not..' ~ Thomas Jefferson)
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To: SkyDancer

A priest is not a job or career - it is a calling. And not even all men who think they are called are allowed to be one. Is that what you think of as being a second class citizen? Wow. I find that my life in the Church is rich, and I don’t feel like I am second class at all.

Many women are teachers of the faith, and we do participate in the Mass as well (as much as the laity are allowed to).


84 posted on 05/05/2009 4:19:01 PM PDT by Patriotic1 (Dic mihi solum facta, domina - Just the facts, ma'am)
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To: SkyDancer

BTW - the job of the Church is to save souls, and the laity are called to do so as well.


85 posted on 05/05/2009 4:20:13 PM PDT by Patriotic1 (Dic mihi solum facta, domina - Just the facts, ma'am)
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To: SkyDancer

My world is reality, remember you’re the one who imagines things about religion, men, their wives, etc.

Someone posts an article about women possibly joining the Swiss Guard and all of a sudden you’re talking about abusive husbands and women going to shelters.


86 posted on 05/05/2009 4:20:53 PM PDT by vladimir998 (Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ. St. Jerome)
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To: vladimir998; SkyDancer

Can I interest anyone in my religion? The Durasell Church of Beer and Ribs.

Of course, being a new religion it is not yet fully formed. So far it consists almost solely of beer and ribs. And there isn’t so much a text as a cook book. But we’re working on it.


87 posted on 05/05/2009 4:21:44 PM PDT by durasell
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To: Patriotic1

I understand that ...that’s not what I was referring to. When rules are made by any religion as to define the role of women and those rules are demeaning to us then ....


88 posted on 05/05/2009 4:21:44 PM PDT by SkyDancer ('Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not..' ~ Thomas Jefferson)
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To: nickcarraway
"I can imagine them for one role or another. Certainly we can think about this,"

After 500 years with no chicks.. yeah we'll think about it.

89 posted on 05/05/2009 4:23:24 PM PDT by humblegunner (Where my PIE at, fool?)
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To: durasell

I was thinking more of the Church Of A Thousand Eyes, or, The Last-Chance Cathedral and Discount House of Worship ...


90 posted on 05/05/2009 4:23:35 PM PDT by SkyDancer ('Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not..' ~ Thomas Jefferson)
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To: SkyDancer

I should warn you, there is an early schism in the Durasell Church of Beer and Ribs. It’s over whether women should be allowed near the grill...


91 posted on 05/05/2009 4:25:16 PM PDT by durasell
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To: durasell

Actually the church was “The First Church Of The Grody Death And The Discount House Of Worship” ....and of course we’re supposed to be near the grill ... however would you guys know how to grill? Huh?


92 posted on 05/05/2009 4:29:08 PM PDT by SkyDancer ('Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not..' ~ Thomas Jefferson)
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To: durasell

LOL! Good point!


93 posted on 05/05/2009 4:29:46 PM PDT by alice_in_bubbaland (Markets and Marxists Don't Mix! Smile you're on Janet's Candid Camera!)
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To: SkyDancer

Of course men know how to grill, we’re fascinated by outdoor fire, raw meat and over-sized cooking utensils.


94 posted on 05/05/2009 4:36:08 PM PDT by durasell
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To: SkyDancer
....and of course we’re supposed to be near the grill ... however would you guys know how to grill? Huh?

Woa there missy!

Them thar's fight'n words.

95 posted on 05/05/2009 4:40:27 PM PDT by AFreeBird
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To: durasell
So, the recipe says "Take one cow and ...." when a little fire will do a bigger one will do better ... OK, I can see that ....

A Good Ol' Boys Hot Tub

First One Out Looses

Photobucket

96 posted on 05/05/2009 4:53:32 PM PDT by SkyDancer ('Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not..' ~ Thomas Jefferson)
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To: AFreeBird

Match ya beer for beer!


97 posted on 05/05/2009 4:57:28 PM PDT by SkyDancer ('Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not..' ~ Thomas Jefferson)
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To: SkyDancer

Yer on! :)


98 posted on 05/05/2009 5:12:44 PM PDT by AFreeBird
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To: SkyDancer

An odd and disturbing image...


99 posted on 05/05/2009 5:13:04 PM PDT by durasell
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To: durasell

Folks do know how to party at times ....


100 posted on 05/05/2009 5:15:33 PM PDT by SkyDancer ('Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not..' ~ Thomas Jefferson)
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