Knowing the Bible, I have to admit that this watching of the smoke looks silly to me.
I have lost a lot of what little respect I had, for the Catholic religion, over this.
Because of watching smoke you lost your respect? Seems rather fickle.
So you have no respect for the church and their unwavering position on pro-life issues, homosexual marriage, social justice, etc? Or how we help feed millions of impoverished people all over the world, or come to their aid when a disaster strikes.
Yeah, we’re pretty awful.
What if they waved a flag to announce a ballot result instead?
How about hanging a lantern, would that do?
Or a cannonade?
Where does the Bible forbid announcing selection of pastors using chimneys, precisely?
Can you cite the passage that has inspired your misgiving on this point?
Considering the frightening challenges facing Christians, this discussion seems to range from silly to schismatic.
I think it's remarkable. Now, if the same folks would suddenly wake up and extend the process to the laity ....... why then they'd be more orthodox eh! (a pun), or maybe even Protestant ~ well, some Protestants use election in their ecclesiastical processes. Not everybody does that.
The Cardinals are even supposed to pray for divine guidance in the matter, and a super majority is required!
We'd be doing good to get half that out of our Senate.
I’m so glad Christ loves His Church (the Catholic Church) no matter what you think of it or Him.
How much respect should anyone have for an ignorant fool such as yourself, who already disrespects a great religion, and then attacks it because you don’t like the ceremonial burning of the ballots? Big deal.
Oh, you’re just blowing smoke!
Ceremony is a kind of beauty. Beauty can be silly, too, but not ceremony.
HAHAHAHAHHAHA!!!!! You are FUNNY!!!
We Catholics are members of an historical, traditional religion. In our current age where the election of a new pope can be tweeted instantly around the world, the tradition of the white and black smoke might seem silly to you. But historically, smoke signals provided a good way for the citizens of Rome to know what was up. News could spread out from the central hub of Rome and interested folks could gather in St. Peter's to await the new Pope. The smoke is not a matter of doctrine. The Cardinals don't have to do it. But it's a neat tip of the hat to previous generations.
If you think the smoke is silly, don't look at it. I personally think covered dish suppers are silly, but I haven't lost respect for Protestants because of them.