The Pope is dying

[Padraig18]

Today, an Austrian cardinal stated that the Pope is dying, and it may well be a matter of weeks, or perhaps a few months. I know well that many here are not Roman Catholic, and some are of different creeds altogether, or no creed at all; I know as well His Holiness' faults.

It is unfortunate, but nonetheless true, that we often seize upon a man's failings and frailties and overlook the tremendous good that same man has done. But please, remember this, as well:

The Pope fought the Nazis, and then he fought the Communists, and then he fought genocide, and the death penalty, and slave and child labor, and starvation, and war, and... I won't go on, because my point is made.

He is a man, with all the frailties that accompany that, and now he is old, feeble and dying. Let God and history both judge him, but please pray that his passing is easy, for in his labors he has earned that much, at minimum.

"May He bless you and keep you; may He make His countenance to shine upon you, and may He give you rest."

Go with God, Karol Wojtyla. :cry:

[JohnKleeb]

1. Thats so sad

I heard that Austrian Cardinal may be his sucessor.

[Padraig18]

3. Aye, John.

I have heard the same thing. You and I share one thing: he is the only Pope either of us have ever known.

[JohnKleeb]

8. Yes

Its true. Its amazing that he a Pole became pope after the Italians have dominated it for so long, I wouldnt mind something else new, an Irish pope I may only be 25% but it would be neat.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[blondeatlast]

10. Millions of people around the world. No one is asking you to care,

but keep the rude, insensitive stuff to yourself.

[Old and In the Way]

2. I truly think he was a very good Pope on diplomatic side and was

no doubt a maojor reason for the fall of communism (far more influential than Reagan).

But he was way too conservative on his positions on the social issues affecting the Church.

[Coventina]

5. Goddess bless

I also believe that he has done much good in this world.


I hope he goes easy into the lap of the Mother.

[Loyal]

6. Sad

:cry:

[MoonAndSun]

7. May his final days be as pain free and peaceful as possible.

[blondeatlast]

9. My sympathies to my brothers and sisters in the Catholic faith.

My father was Catholic who never actually converted when he married my Protestant mother. His family is still firmly Catholic; I can undersatnd the loss.

I'm so sorry.

[JohnKleeb]

11. You are kind bal

I saw your post in the thread about the rules confronting that certain someone. Its interesting, I am Catholic by birth and raised but if you listen to me you can detect Uniteran Universalism and even Agnosticism, thats me all right but I do follow it Catholicism.

[blondeatlast]

14. I'm a UU Protestant, and, well, Catholic . . .

I love Catholic services. I'm even a bit confulsed, but UU helps a lot with that.

I know it's (kinda) wrong, but I kind of dog you-know-who. He gives us such a bad rep.

[JohnKleeb]

19. I dont have a problem with protestants

Never had. I should be UU honestly, I really ought to try it out. Thanks for doing what you did. I dont go along with everything the church says, I hardly go but I defend it when I have to.

[Droopy]

12. I'm not a religious person, but

I really admired the Pope for taking a stand against the Iraq War. I disagree with him on a few issues but I think the man lived by doing what he thought was the right thing to do. I'd like to echo your thoughts about his passing and say may it come easy.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

13. Am I the only one who thinks...

They're talking about this wonderfully sweet man like he's a dog or some kind of possession? I was listening to something about him this morning on Headline News and it didn't sound like they were talking about the leader of the catholic faith. It kinda pisses me off.
Duckie

[tsipple]

15. Let's Not Write the Obit Yet

He is less vigorous, but he's still working. God will recall him at some point, but it's up to Him.

[Padraig18]

16. One reason he shall always be dear to my family

My parents died in a bombing in County Antrim while visiting relatives, and we 4 youngest boys were left orphaned as a result; we were crushed, angry and terribly frightened. About a month after my parents' deaths, a letter arrived addressed to the four of us on Vatican stationery. Inside was a single page written by hand with a real ink pen. I could recite the entirety of it from memory, but the lines that will always live in my heart are these:

"...I know you cannot do it now, but the time will come when you must do as Our Lord said, and forgive your enemies; hatred is a bitter poison that shrivels men's souls, and for your own sake, you must not drink of it... It is only natural that you should be afraid now, but God is with you always, as am I, so be brave, and honor your parents' memory always. You are in my heart and in my prayers.

In Christ, I am

/s/ "

It took me several minutes to finish this just now, because of the deep feelings receiving that letter still bring out; to an 11 year-old orphan, to know that someone as busy and important as His Holiness would take time to write my brothers and I was more reassuring than I have words to properly express.

All worked out well, as it normally does, but to this day I have always felt a deeply personal bond of affection for the man who cared enough to take the time to offer comfort and encouragement to 4 grieving Irish orphans. :)

[JohnKleeb]

20. You poor thing I am sorry that happened

[Padraig18]

22. Thanks!

Sadly, it is an all too common thing for such a small place as Ireland; it is an insanity that must stop. :hug:

[JohnKleeb]

29. Where in Ireland is that

My Irish blood is only 25% but I am very proud of my Irish roots, my dad's mom's family the Keowns came from County Galway. Your welcome, and I am truly sorry that happened.

[Padraig18]

33. Co. Antrim is in the North

My daddy grew up there, and his family are all there. :)

[JohnKleeb]

36. Oh ok

Thats sad, I dont know if any of my family is in Galway, I am old school lol Irish immigrant stock, they have been here since post Potato Famine, now my mom's family much more slavic has family. I gotta see Ireland and the Balkans someday.

[Padraig18]

40. You'd love Ireland, John

The saying is, "You can come as many times as you wish, but you can never truly leave Ireland." :)

[JohnKleeb]

42. I bet I would too

[SiobhanClancy]

41. And a very beautiful part of IRELAND...

The Giant's Causeway is a lovely spot,and not far from there is an establishment known as the Bushmill's Inn,in which I had the most delicious salmon ever to be consumed on this planet.

[latebloomer]

21. Oh my God, that is terrible, Padraig18!

What a hideous tragedy! I am so sorry you had to go through that.

[Padraig18]

24. Thanks!

There is a purpose for everything that happens under Heaven, even if we don't immediately understand what that purpose is. :hug:

[SiobhanClancy]

39. Oh,Padraig

I am in tears reading about what happened to your family. The words of the Holy Father were wonderfully comforting and inspiring to read,and I can well understand the bond you feel with him. Don't let the angry words of some people regarding His Holiness bother you,ever. He wouldn't be disturbed by them and neither should we be. Like you,the Holy Father has been through things in his life which have given him a perspective and a knowledge of what are the important matters in life. Both of you will be in my thoughts.

[Padraig18]

46. Thank you, lass!

I know, love, and I never let that awful time turn me into a hater; just the opposite! :hug:

[demnan]

17. One thing you have to respect the Pope for

even if you aren't religious. He is against abortion and also against capital punishment - he's against killing of any kind. So as a secular person I give him my respect. Unlike many Republicans, at least he is consistent. He went through a lot during WWII and he's a tough individual. If there's a heaven, I hope he goes there, if not, I appreciate his efforts on this earth to work against capital punishment. Although I don't agree with many of his conservative stances, I grant him my respect and hope his passing is peaceful.

[demnan]

18. Deleted by poster - dupe post.

[Lefty48197]

23. The Pope and Lech Walesa brought down the iron curtain

Pray for him.

Nobody will ever convince me that Ronald Reagan had anything to do with it.

[Padraig18]

25. You are right!

RR did not give the Polish people the courage rise up and strike off their chains--- they did that themselves. :)

[JohnKleeb]

30. Yep horray for those two brave Poles

[blondeatlast]

27. Amen, amen, amen. So true. Thanks for reminding us.

[youngred]

26. I think I will not be coming to DU for a few days after that

because some of the hatred here is so vile.

I Disagree with him strongly on many many issues but I respect him on many too.

Peace and God Bless

[blondeatlast]

28. So sad. I already alerted on one terribly insensitive post.

BTW, YoungRed, I am glad to see you back!

[youngred]

32. Thanks

just needed a break, I am glad to be back for most things

[JohnKleeb]

34. I am glad your back too

Zack dont mind him, we got support from some protestants here, people of other faiths, and athiests, its real kind of them to do that despite their disagreement with us on some matters but they know what happens is wrong.

[JohnKleeb]

31. I'll be here and will deal with what comes up

[Padraig18]

37. A pleasure to make your acquaintance!

:toast:

[youngred]

48. and yours too

:toast:

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

49. I hear ya YR

But just know your friends will support you if you are here. :loveya:

[youngred]

52. That wasn't the only thing

but it was the last straw. I'm glad to be back, I missed my friends here and a lot of the good discussion. :loveya:

You guys are the best

[LanternWaste]

35. I sincerely hope his passing is quiet, honorable and dignified.

He has my thoughts and my prayers and God's blessing. I sincerely hope his passing is quiet, honorable and dignified.

[SOteric]

38. Sancta Maria,

Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc et in hora mortis nostrae.

[JohnKleeb]

43. Whats SOteric I know you know Latin

BTW teach me how to say Bush is evil in Latin and Damnit I hurt my arm.

[SOteric]

47. Bush malo est.

-Not really complicated.

[Padraig18]

50. Translation:

"Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc et in hora mortis nostrae'

"Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death." :)

[SmileyBoy]

I hope he rests in peace.

Even though I am a Muslim, and I disagree with his opinions on birth control, he has done a lot of good in his life, from destroying the Iron Curtain to fighting against the Holocaust when he was younger. He is in fact the most widely followed religious leader on Earth, and it is sad to see such an important man go.

I think Seth McFarlane summed up his warm, acceptant personality in a Family Guy episode in season two. He said some very wise things in that episode, and I always make sure to watch it whenever I pop in the DVD.

Here's to you, Karol.

[SmileyBoy]

44. I hope he rests in peace.

Even though I am a Muslim, and I disagree with his opinions on birth control, he has done a lot of good in his life, from destroying the Iron Curtain to fighting against the Holocaust when he was younger. He is in fact the most widely followed religious leader on Earth, and it is sad to see such an important man go.

I think Seth McFarlane summed up his warm, acceptant personality in a Family Guy episode in season two. He said some very wise things in that episode, and I always make sure to watch it whenever I pop in the DVD.

Here's to you, Karol.

On edit: I should say HELPING to destroy the Iron Curtain.

[JohnKleeb]

45. Thanks northwest

I remember that episode too except they made him sound Italian :), he is a Pole. Hes a good man. I think McFarlane is Catholic as are many New Englanders.

[Padraig18]

51. Thanks!

:hug: :)

[leftist_rebel1569]

53. umm...forgive my youthful stupidness...

but what exactly did the pope do to end Communist rule? I do respect the man a lot for what he's done on some things, but i'm curious to know what he did. It would only add to my respect for him...

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

54. in 1979 the Pope visited Poland

He helped to ignite the Solidarity movement against communism, basically.

[leftist_rebel1569]

56. thanks

:)

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

58. Sure

np

[JohnKleeb]

57. Thank you Maggie I thought so

Solidarity, I really would love to learn more about htat.

[Padraig18]

60. You should read Lech Walensa's biography

The story of how a simple electrician who dared to say 'no more' started a movement which brought down Communism in Poland, and ignited a flame of freedom which burned across Eastern Europe and the Balkans!:)

[JohnKleeb]

61. That I should but I got a lot of reading to do

How is he doing today?

[Padraig18]

62. Alive and well, and in retirement

He served as President of Poland, you know?

[JohnKleeb]

63. I know

I bet he opposed. Too bad the government now didnt.

[Padraig18]

59. Plus which...

...he and Cardinal Wysinski and Cardinal (name escapes me atm) constantly fought the Communist Party in Poland for the right of the Church to educate w/o reprisal, etc. . Essentially, the catholic Church never 'ceded' an inch of 'ground' to the Communists, but fought them at every turn. :)

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

55. although I am not Catholic

I am baptised both Catholic and christened in a non denominational church. I would consider myself Christian. Although I no longer practice Catholicism, and have many qualms about the papacy's views on some issues- I agree that for the most part the Pope has done a lot of amazing things for this world, but those who are ignorant will respond to this thread with something snide. He is old, and done so much more than any of us could ever dream accomplishing, he inspires many and communicates to a large community of faithful people, which is quite a great feat.

[jus_the_facts]

65. I don't practice any religion......

....but I do believe in treating others the way you want to be treated...I fail at this often but do my best...I've always been fascinated by Pope John Paul II...guess it's because I remember him taking his position way back when.....he's always seemed a sweet soft spoken man and I've always had respect for him despite not being a "christian" because of learning about his life before he became Pope...and must admit I liked going to Catholic services much more than Southern Baptist ones....I was raised in....I mean they had a BAND and you didn't have to wear a DRESS....there wasn't all that yelling about FIRE AND BRIMSTONE...instead it was calm and cool....compaired to the uptight...dressed to the teeth...freak show the So.Baptist put on...so although I don't practice any religion now...I'm sorry for all the suffering he's had to endure...as my own Paw had Parkinsons and I know how awful that is...and I'll be sad to see his departure as well when it comes to pass. x(

[George_Bonanza]

64. JP II is a great man, with two main things I disagree with him

One is abortion. I can sympathize with the Pro-Life side, but I am adamantly opposed to a pro-life society that I would consider growing theocratic if that happened. The second is the mandatory priest celibacy. It's the archaic remnants of a feudal/papal medieval society that promotes the medieval idea of "evil sex".