In defense of the Pope

Pfaffenhoffen · #1 Feb 21, '12, 3:01 am

Shocking Images in the bottom.
Many times I have heard say, hundred of times, that the Pope is rich and that he should give the money to the poor.
I find it stupid:

the Pope cannot sell the Basilica of St peter, the Museum of Vatican, any of Vatican Goods
the pope lives a frugal life.
The pope works more than any leader of the world. Of the recent Popes it is said that they work more than 16 hours a day.
the Pope has given his life for the People of God: he did not marry, he does not have family, he lives for the People of God.
The scandals in the Church are not of the responsability of the Pope
Even if the Pope sold everything he had, he could not solve what is asked him to solve.
An aircraft carrier of any Navy is more than the Pope has.

Yet, the picture below is published next to a hungry child. And we cannot do nothing to counter this ideology.
I have thought that the pope could avoid the golden appliances but the sake of "image". BUT, I think that if it was not for the gold, it would be for the ST.Peter's basilica, for the Musuem of the Vatican, for the Sistina Chapel, for the Popemobile, for the clothes he wear ( maybe He should wear clothes in taters), whatever.
I post this image just to show how the hate of the Pope can do: to mark little spots where there is a tiny sheet of gold (microns in thickness) to show how rich he is.
For myself, I have words to counter-attack almost anything but not this. The only argument I have is to say: "So much is your hate of the Pope!" which is an ad-hominem that i do not like to use.

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...95787782_n.jpg

Inego de Loyola · #2 Feb 21, '12, 3:57 am

I love how your picture draws a circle around his mitre. Once upon a time they wore this. In an act of papal humility Paul VI auctioned off the Papal Tiara. Not sure I agree with selling it but I'm not pope and he was so I suppose I've no standing to complain.

Daralharb · #3 Feb 21, '12, 4:04 am

The only thing that will make them happy is the destruction of the Catholic Church and for it to stop reminding the world that Jesus Christ is God, that we are all sinners, and we ultimately face Heaven or Hell. No amount of wishing, hoping, or disbelieving can get them out of this.

For this, the world doesn't want to change itself, but to be led like some mindless army to victory via supernatural means. Jesus didn't do this when the Israelites wanted it and they crucified Him. Similarly, the Church will be attacked in multiple ways, and many Christians will be called to share in the giving of their lives in defense of their God by not renouncing the hope of their Salvation. The world really hates this. The world wants everything hunkie-dorie NOW.

And not just now, but piping hot and JUST how it wants it. Never mind their ultimate good.

So any problem in the world, and any retarded means one identifies outside of this inconvenient thing called reality to solve it, particularly in the ever audacious Catholic Church, and finding imaginary solutions, renders verdict. Of course in this sexed up, immoral, godless stupid world a man who is celibate, moral, in a Holy office, intelligent would seem like a curmudgeon, Ebenezer Scrooge, weirdo freak of yesteryear.

Any wealth the man has is from his personal book sales, and I get the feeling a super large chunk of that profit goes to charity.

HOW DO YOU DEFEND AGAINST IT?

Easy peasy, lemon squeezie:

You simply say, "Well, Jesus was perfect and He was also condemned for things He did not do, and accused of actions and possession against His spoken principles. This man represents Jesus Christ as His vicar, succeeded from St. Peter. Like St. Peter, certain actions may be wrong in certain Popes, and this is never entered into doctrine. Nowhere does the Holy See nor the Catholic Church espouse the practice of denying Christ 3 times, it merely records it. Similarly, the acknowledgement of the need to do things like end starvation en masse, doesn't mean that the appearance of the Vatican is something able to be liquidated and still maintain the actual visible structure and historical residence of the Catholic Church. That would be like asking the Jews to sell their eternal rights to the Temple Mount, and still expect them to hold hope of ever having the Temple again. While the world might not understand the Church, or may disagree with the Church, when the Church speaks, the world listens. That is authority in real life. The USA is absolutely beside itself and amazed at the solidarity of Protestants backing the Catholic Church in the fight against illegal and immoral healthcare burdens against rights and conscience. The Catholic Church, in standing up to evil, has rallied many typical elements which aren't typically laudatory in Her defense.

The Bride of Christ don't take no lip, foo'!".

Dorothy · #4 Feb 21, '12, 4:45 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pfaffenhoffen

Shocking Images in the bottom.
Many times I have heard say, hundred of times, that the Pope is rich and that he should give the money to the poor.
I find it stupid:

the Pope cannot sell the Basilica of St peter, the Museum of Vatican, any of Vatican Goods
the pope lives a frugal life.
The pope works more than any leader of the world. Of the recent Popes it is said that they work more than 16 hours a day.
the Pope has given his life for the People of God: he did not marry, he does not have family, he lives for the People of God.
The scandals in the Church are not of the responsability of the Pope
Even if the Pope sold everything he had, he could not solve what is asked him to solve.
An aircraft carrier of any Navy is more than the Pope has.

Yet, the picture below is published next to a hungry child. And we cannot do nothing to counter this ideology.
I have thought that the pope could avoid the golden appliances but the sake of "image". BUT, I think that if it was not for the gold, it would be for the ST.Peter's basilica, for the Musuem of the Vatican, for the Sistina Chapel, for the Popemobile, for the clothes he wear ( maybe He should wear clothes in taters), whatever.
I post this image just to show how the hate of the Pope can do: to mark little spots where there is a tiny sheet of gold (microns in thickness) to show how rich he is.
For myself, I have words to counter-attack almost anything but not this. The only argument I have is to say: "So much is your hate of the Pope!" which is an ad-hominem that i do not like to use.

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...95787782_n.jpg

Thank you for your post!

When I look at that picture I imagine that our Pope is teaching some truth that gives great insight to the faithful on how we should share our goods with the poor. The pope can point out by word and by encyclical the errors in erroneous philosophies that cause selfishness, arrogance and pride.

I see the picture of the poor, undernourished children and I know that the pope is giving teachings that, if obeyed, would do much to alleviate that suffering. I am reminded to see to it that the poor in my midst needs help and I can cooperate with church outreaches to assist with this. Teachers in Catholic schools and in CCD can help by giving information about what vocations are, the different types available, what the priesthood is all about, and what the vocation of marriage truly consists of. Parents need to instill a life of prayer in their families.
Pray together as a family, and teach their young ones to pray.

The ones who created that picture with the purpose of denigrating is a liar, who unfortunately can cause malice in others towards the Catholic Church.

Our Lord Jesus Christ is holy! The Church is the Body of Christ, and that is why we call the Church holy! Are the members all holy? No. There is much sin, and the Body of Christ is hurt and broken because of sin. Because some members are not holy does that mean the Church is wrong in what She teaches? Of course not.

Corruption in the Church does not eclipse the Truth. We have many saints and holy popes whose lives bear this out.

We need to be lights in the world and pray for our enemies. We need to refute them when we are led by the Holy Spirit to do so. And, we must refute with the peace of Christ and not allow our emotions to bash back those who bash us. And we need to be martyrs for the Truth, whether bloody or unbloody.

With the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ we can do this!

**JRKH** · #5 Feb 21, '12, 5:37 am

I guess the only thing to do is to invite our brothers in Christ to examine, with us, our own personal sin in regards to giving to the poor...
My experience suggests that they (and we personally) are much more willing to sell and give away the wealth of others than we are to part with our own.
Oh - How many of us are like that "Rich young man" from Matthew...

Peace
James

Bernward · #6 Feb 21, '12, 5:40 am

Hi Pfaffenhoffen,

It is always distressing and painful to sense the barbs of ignorance, I think it was Goethe who said "there is nothing so ugly as ignorance in action" - so that's one possible answer in the short term,

Why not join our Wisdom of Benedict group and read Pope Benedict's daily reflections, over time these may help build a 'papal shield' within you,

I will include your thoughts in my rosary intentions today,

God bless

A G · #7 Feb 21, '12, 5:50 am

The liberal media will try to attack us in whatever way they can. The Catholic Church is in fact the biggest charitable organization in the world. They help feed, shelter, and clothe the poor, they run many schools and hospitals as well. I would say to those who attack our Church, "try to show us what other religion/religious organization even comes close to helping people on such a vast scale..."

GratefulFred · #8 Feb 21, '12, 6:57 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by A G

The liberal media will try to attack us in whatever way they can. The Catholic Church is in fact the biggest charitable organization in the world. They help feed, shelter, and clothe the poor, they run many schools and hospitals as well. I would say to those who attack our Church, "try to show us what other religion/religious organization even comes close to helping people on such a vast scale..."

Took the words right out of my mouth, AG. I agree with you 100%.

In America alone we have some 7,000 Catholic schools, 600 hosptials and 200 universities and countless social service organizations such as St Vincent De Paul. In history, the Catholic Church was the first to establish charitable works to the amazement of then pagan world that thought only of themselves.

Our 2,000 year history of providing what we can for the less fortunate was, and remains, the proper response to Christ's Command to Love one another as HE loves us.

Armyvet007 · #9 Feb 21, '12, 11:45 am

The Church gets critized for not doing enough charity work, the UN gets a "pass" when massive corruption within it forces it to reduce its own charity work.

Pfaffenhofen · #10 Feb 22, '12, 12:51 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inego de Loyola

I love how your picture draws a circle around his mitre. Once upon a time they wore this. In an act of papal humility Paul VI auctioned off the Papal Tiara. Not sure I agree with selling it but I'm not pope and he was so I suppose I've no standing to complain.

Yes, I remember, it was the tiara that the Pope sold. Yes, but no one remembers, they remember only what glitters though of no value.

Pfaffenhofen · #11 Feb 22, '12, 12:53 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by GratefulFred

Took the words right out of my mouth, AG. I agree with you 100%.

In America alone we have some 7,000 Catholic schools, 600 hosptials and 200 universities and countless social service organizations such as St Vincent De Paul. In history, the Catholic Church was the first to establish charitable works to the amazement of then pagan world that thought only of themselves.

Our 2,000 year history of providing what we can for the less fortunate was, and remains, the proper response to Christ's Command to Love one another as HE loves us.

Thanks for the data.
Numbers are priceless...