Pope: TEH GAY as much of a threat to humanity as climate change

[Jiminy Cricket]

Pope Benedict said today that saving humanity from homosexual or transsexual behaviour was just as important as saving the rainforest from destruction.

 

"(The Church) should also protect man from the destruction of himself. A sort of ecology of man is needed," the pontiff said in a holiday address to the Curia, the Vatican's central administration.

 

"The tropical forests do deserve our protection. But man, as a creature, does not deserve any less."

 

The Catholic Church teaches that while homosexuality is not sinful, homosexual acts are. It opposes gay marriage and, in October, a leading Vatican official called homosexuality "a deviation, an irregularity, a wound".

 

The pope said humanity needed to "listen to the language of creation" to understand the intended roles of man and woman. He compared behaviour beyond traditional heterosexual relations as "a destruction of God's work".

 

He also defended the Church's right to "speak of human nature as man and woman, and ask that this order of creation be respected".

 

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/1222/breaking57.htm

 

Another headline they could have used is 'Man in dress upset about blurred gender boundaries'.

 

Religion is truly useless now.

 

Also, yes, I am an atheist, and the fact that bigots like our friend Benedict here can make comments like this, and hide behind religion absolutely sickens me.

[Pseudonym]

That's absolutely sick. This is why I am not religious. I cannot believe so many people could listen to such a close-minded man. It's pathetic. The whole idea that one group of people can tell others how to act just because they like "their God" better is downright wrong. I've never been one to have much of an opinion towards any Pope, but now I wouldn't let this man touch my child's head if he paid me. What a shame.

[Saffire]

Being gay, I have to admit I'm pro-global warming. It means that eventually men will quit wearing those stupid suits and ties to work and start going out in boxers & tees.

 

Another headline they could have used is 'Man in dress upset about blurred gender boundaries'.

 

That's awesome. :laugh3:

[Darlene_Ihnfsa]

he is not the only religious leader who says stuff like that. :dozey:

[Pseudonym]

Being gay, I have to admit I'm pro-global warming. It means that eventually men will quit wearing those stupid suits and ties to work and start going out in boxers & tees.

 

 

:rolleyes:

[Jiminy Cricket]

Good old Popey - "Fear the gay. Climate change might kill us all, but the gay might bum you, and you know what Jesus says about that. Feeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!1 :wacko:"

 

Lol, whatev.

[vertigo caz]

Comments from old dudes who have no idea, that promote prejudice/hatred/intolerance of other people who's lifestyle and beliefs are different than your own is what's really 'destructive to humanity'.

[Black Rose]

Silly old Pope :P

[Matter-Eater Lad]

Climate change isn't a threat so gays aren't a threat! Why does everyone want to force upon others their views? Almost everyone is guilty of this, Christians, Muslims, Jews, Democrats, Republicans, American's, Germans....

 

So to just get mad at the pope is silly, we should be mad at ANYONE who tries to force upon us their personal views.

[Aleluvscp]

What an ass :dozey:

 

I never liked this pope

[a_face_of_light]

Notice how its gone from Global Warming to Climate Change as a lot of people have said there has actually been a period of cooling, as for being gay it really isn't up to a stange old man who believes in a non existant God to make peoples minds up for them.

[RedGirl76]

Don't get me started on this...

 

What really sickens me is how it was reported in the press in such a matter-of-fact way. Where was the outrage? Why weren't our politicians speaking up about it? Instead, they got all worked up about the Alternative Christmas message on Channel 4 by the Iranian Prime Minister

[chuck kottke]

BTW, what was the Alternative Christmas message on Channel 4? I'm just curious what the Iranian Prime Minister had to say, and why he was on channel 4??

As for the Pope - well, more conservative than the last one, and drifting further away from progressivism in general. I think the main problem is using the term "marriage" for what really amounts to all sorts of partnerships in living arrangements - give everyone a tax break who's raising children, caring for one-another, and that could include an elderly couple, each having lost a spouse, and they now live together for companionship and mutual help, or any number of social arrangements that benefit society by increasing stability and harmony. So, I'm an advocate of getting government out of the business of defining arrangements, and leaving the term "marriage" up to the specific religious institution which have individuals interested in the ceremony and what it means in their lives. That might satisfy the Pope as well as those who wish to choose another path in life - it is a matter of individual liberty, which perhaps Benedict might disagree with, but, oh well oh, Othello! I'm not about to erase 5 centuries of progress in individual liberties to placate a Pope's desires and religious edicts.

[RedGirl76]

Well, every Christmas the Queen has a 10 minute broadcast so about 15 years ago, Channel 4 started the alternative message where they get someone, usually who's been in the news a lot that year, to present their own message.

 

This year, they went for the Iranian Prime Minister, and he talked about people wanting change and said that if Jesus were alive today he'd be apalled by the state of the world.

 

The day after loads of MP's suddenly started complaining on the grounds that he is apparently homophobic. Not once did he mention anything about gay people, yet he is apparently a homophobe, meanwhile, the Pope is allowed to spout his views unchallenged.

[chuck kottke]

Hmm - that's interesting! Well, he probably is homophobic, as well as antisemitic.. but as long as there's freedom of the press, speech, and expression, it seems alright to let him speak as long as others are given the chance to speak their piece as well. I suppose, a grand opportunity for the MP's to get attention:laugh3: - isn't much different here either.

But the Pope probably has a bigger voting block, so politicians always like to steer clear of offending certain voting blocks. Lest that's how it works on this side of the Atlantic.. If a member of the naughty "axis of evil" says anything, well, one can be assured you can blast them. But if a Pope says it? Hmm..

Why do they waste their time on such picky subjects, and concentrate more on solving matters of global poverty, diseases, and injustice?? I mean, what would Jesus do??

[RedGirl76]

I mean, what would Jesus do??

 

Which was kind of Ahmadinejad's point... it was a very moderate speech from someone so extremist.

 

I did wonder when I saw it, who it was really aimed at. Before he spoke there was a little intro piece that explained Obama wants to get everyone talking - maybe it's very naive of me, but if he's prepared to make a speech like that, maybe he'll be prepared to talk to the Obama administration... we can only hope.

[chuck kottke]

Well, that's refreshing to hear!! I sure hope so - all this war business does is gets people killed - mostly the innocent ones. That's been Obama's main point during his campaign, but I often wonder if his cabinet will be willing to talk as well.. I just hope so!

Mahmood strikes me as friendlier than he puts on, but who knows.. Still, better to have a policy of containment and encouragement than one of hostile war rhetoric and isolationism. The real power may be with the ruling council in Iran, but at least we'll be talking. And the only real changes can come from within, so I think some time in the future the Iranian people will make the change - it could even be through peaceful means (like Chile).

Funny how Obama isn't President yet, and it seems like he is!:laugh3:

[Black Rose]

Notice how its gone from Global Warming to Climate Change as a lot of people have said there has actually been a period of cooling, as for being gay it really isn't up to a stange old man who believes in a non existant God to make peoples minds up for them.

 

And there is proof of "climate change", because the climate is always changing, sometimes hotter sometimes colder.

[Matter-Eater Lad]

And there is proof of "climate change", because the climate is always changing, sometimes hotter sometimes colder.

 

Well yes, were in a cooling period right now. Sadly in Florida that means the high's were in the low 80's last week.:veryangry2:

[Black Rose]

We could swap places, I get low 80s you get low 30s

[a_face_of_light]

And there is proof of "climate change", because the climate is always changing, sometimes hotter sometimes colder.

 

Yes it does change but the sensationalist things regarding climate change haven't happened, in my opinion it's a passing fad for Guardian readers to obsess over then forget about, just like Acid Rain and holes in the Ozone Layer previously.Many people are so bored with having people wag thier fingers at others because they forgot to recycle a bottle or drive a 4x4 etc.

[Matter-Eater Lad]

We could swap places, I get low 80s you get low 30s

 

I would love to have weather in the 30's! No one should sweat in December.:angry:

[Pseudonym]

I would love to have weather in the 30's! No one should sweat in December.:angry:

Except Santa's elves, working all those hours.:rolleyes:

[Matter-Eater Lad]

Mark did you hack into Nick's account?

[Saffire]

Well yes, were in a cooling period right now. Sadly in Florida that means the high's were in the low 80's last week.:veryangry2:

 

Want.