The pope would like our european friends to start pumping out more people.

[ourbluenation]

What's even weirder is that the link was on Andrew Sullivan's blog this morning, with a big pic of the man himself, and it appears he's now scrubbed it.

Anywho here's another link...

Benedict expressed concern that Europe's population trends, "besides putting economic growth at risk, can also cause enormous difficulties for social cohesion, and, above all, favor dangerous individualism, careless about the consequences for the future."

http://www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/international/index.ssf?/base/international-22/1174744750297340.xml&storylist=orinternational

[tblue]

1. He wants them to have more sex?

[ourbluenation]

4. oh god no - just children.

:rofl:

[tblue]

17. Artificial insemination. Yep, that's the ticket.

[Taxloss]

18. Nope.

I believe that requires someone to masturbate somewhere along the line.

[tblue]

19. But then they'll go blind, and, well, that's another problem altogether

[Cha]

28. Sex bad~

procreation good~

Gimme a fookin' break~

[NashVegas]

30. More White Children

..

[Taxloss]

6. Pope: "Screw more." n/t

[BearSquirrel2]

23. Unprotected Sex ...

The Catholic Church is cool about a lot of issues except this one. Christians are supposed to make as many Christian babies as possible.

[saltpoint]

2. Well, it's a fun activity.

On the other hand, it's also kind of a private decision best left up to couples.

[Cha]

29. Yeah, the pope sounds like

a nosy ol' cuss.

[nealmhughes]

3. Don't do it, Europe! Some of us may wish to emigrate!

We need the birthrate there to be low, so there are jobs for us in the EU when we run out of WalMart greeters and greenskeepers here.

[MistressOverdone]

5. I am also concerned about the economic results

of a negative birthrate because soon there are going to be a whole LOT of old folks and just a handful of young folks to pump up social programs. It works better the other way around.

It is fascinating to read about the China population experiment, with so many families limited to one child for a while (I assume they are easing up) and so many of them boys.

[treestar]

7. Lots of young people would love to come and help this

Though they are brown.

[MistressOverdone]

10. But in Europe the birthrate is down, regardless of

color. I'm not one for defending the Pope overly much, but I don't think he is a racist. The RC church has a whole LOT of brown folks in it and they pay his bills and buy his shoes.

[TankLV]

21. Nazi pope - he's "concerned" about the WHITE people's birthrate. Period.

What do you expect for a "former" Nazi...

[MistressOverdone]

34. He really wasn't a Nazi

just Hitler youth, which was mandated during his young years. He is way too young to have been a Nazi. True Nazis (members of the party) are into their mid to late 80's and beyond. He was 18 when the war was over.

But I really don't know if his concern if for the white race or not. I disagree with him on a number of issues, but never focused in on race. This is the first time it has been brought to my attention.

[TankLV]

22. Nazi pope - he's "concerned" about the WHITE people's birthrate. Period.

What do you expect for a "former" Nazi...

Better lock up your little boys, tho - them priests don't know how to "procreate" properly and might try even HARDER this time around!

[RufusTFirefly]

15. Exactly. It's a paranoid white Christian thang

I've got a right-wing Catholic friend who's obsessed with this topic.

He's worried about the low birthrate of Christian Caucasians, afraid that "they" are going to take over if Bible-thumpin' whities don't hurry up and start makin' babies.

[JNelson6563]

24. Whoops, wrong avenue

It's not skin color that matters here, it's religion.

Julie

[MistressOverdone]

31. And I'm of the impression

(but don't really know for sure) that there are more "brown" Catholics (given the Latin countries) than white?

[JNelson6563]

35. Indeed! You are correct!

This has nothing to do with skin color. I'm recalling an interview with a hard core fundy in Mother Jones from a few years back. The funy said something like "The Muslims are outbreeding us." This is what is behind all the "pro-life" stuff. We need more Christian babies on the double! How will we ever win this war against Islam and all things non-Christian if we don't get lots and lots of more Christians?!?!?!?

Julie

[ourbluenation]

8. they're not having more children because they can't afford it - there's the rub.

as it were.

[MistressOverdone]

13. Do you really think so?

I kind of sense it is more of a state of mind rather than economic. But that's just a hunch...I have no data or links.

[ourbluenation]

20. according to the article and polls...that's the reason.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

9. "Dangerous individualism" - aka: Thinking for oneself without the aid of a boss.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

11. I'm probably in the minority on this but I think fewer people in Europe is great

But I would like to see every society in every corner of the planet reduce its population likewise. There are too many of us and we are ruining what's left of the natural environment.

[kenny blankenship]

12. Breed, Europa, Breed! Or elz vee vill bee overrrrun by zee mud peeple!

[shain from kane]

16. The Moors are at the gate.

[shain from kane]

14. The machines in The Vatican's bathrooms are dispensing Viagra, instead of condoms.

[Betty]

25. all the more people/soldiers for the future wars over water

and whatever other natural resources we run out of because there are too many people on the planet.

[muriel_volestrangler]

26. So the Pope is encouraging more consumption by more people?

Wow, materialism and carelessness for the environment get the Vatican Seal of Approval. How times change ...

[Cha]

27. "Dangerous Individualism"?

I didn't know I was living on the edge by being an individual extraordinaire!

Speaking of "consequences for the future"..is the pope down with Global Climate Change?

[malaise]

32. I only have one thing to say

Fugg him.

[ends_dont_justify]

33. More people equals more money. The repercussions will happen after he's dead

Religion and politics merged at its finest. The exact reason why seperation of church and state is so important.