[Tapper]

I think a Southern American or Italian pope. Roughly a quarter of the voters are Italian and they have a front man in a very influential, slightly older former truck driver with (for Catholics) liberal views.

The problem with African cardinals is that, while perhaps adding weight to baptizing efforts in Africa and other areas where christianity still actively competes for souls with the Islam (the most rigorous allowing priests to marry/ disregard celibacy), their policy on things like AIDS (usually outright denial that protection during sex lowers the chances), (homo)sexuality and gender politics are so backward that it would put the church back decades and, furthermore, would drive a great many western believers away - and those societies are generally bringing in the money. An organisation like Opus Dei would perhaps like a conservative in charge, but not someone who will be laughed at by the majority of liberal believers.

By selecting a Southern American pope, you get an in-between situation. He'd be the first non-western pope (a reach out to the non-european christian community), would come from a thoroughly Christian continent with emphasis on the traditional Latin values, would be closer to the mediterranean mind set than most other popes (winning the Italian contigent) while avoiding a lot of the issues an African pope would bring. Southern America is also relatively untouched by all the molestation/paedophile charges that plague Europe and the US, so the skeleton in the closet seems firmly locked up and the chance of implication in past/future scandals seems limited. Furthermore, there are a couple available who seem decent candidates.

As for someone from this board to be elected: I nominate Stone Monkey. Eloquent, smart, slightly older and wiser than the average forum citizen, familiar with bureaucratic processes, long standing pillar of the community.

[King Lear]

I don't think there's much or any difference between african priests and latin american ones when it comes to 'traditional values', especially considering AIDS, while not as big a problem as in africa, a latin american pope is not likely to be any more liberal in that regard than an african one. Which isn't to say they won't be, but chances are not high. I think you're right that a south american pope would be more palatable to western catholics, but will be largely based on perception, not actual difference.

[Tapper]

Ornery Owl, on 11 March 2013 - 12:32 PM, said:

I don't think there's much or any difference between african priests and latin american ones when it comes to 'traditional values', especially considering AIDS, while not as big a problem as in africa, a latin american pope is not likely to be any more liberal in that regard than an african one. Which isn't to say they won't be, but chances are not high. I think you're right that a south american pope would be more palatable to western catholics, but will be largely based on perception, not actual difference.

Depends, I guess. Brazilian and Argentinian cardinals, especially if a place like Rio or Buenos Aires is their seat, might well be slightly more advanced than, say, a guy from Ghana.

[Macros]

Id make a fucking awesome pope.
however my vote goes to the right reverend Ian Paisley

[Illuyankas]

Assail, on 11 March 2013 - 02:36 AM, said:

Illuyankas, on 11 March 2013 - 01:28 AM, said:

You say that but it could easily be that African one who was all for making homosexuality a capital offence. They're all probably going to continue the same excessively harmful practises anyway.

Yeah seriously... glad we've both read The Da Vinci code and Angels and Demons.

Covering up child sexual abuse and telling AIDS victims not to wear condoms is fiction now, thanks for telling me!

I don't want to be pope but I do want the car.

[Spoilsport Stonny]

Illuyankas, on 11 March 2013 - 04:00 PM, said:

I don't want to be pope but I do want the car.

This. All day. Put some 22" spinners on that shit, and just hang out in high school parking lots.

[Abyss]

I want to see the Quebecois guy get it, simply so i can use the term 'Pope Poutine'.

[Spoilsport Stonny]

Abyss, on 11 March 2013 - 04:43 PM, said:

I want to see the Quebecois guy get it, simply so i can use the term 'Pope Poutine'.

Emperor Pope Poutine

[worry]

Tapper, on 11 March 2013 - 12:14 PM, said:

Eloquent, smart, slightly older and wiser than the average forum citizen, familiar with bureaucratic processes, long standing pillar of the community.

Way to show your biases, man. I'm sick to hell of this anti-young dumb gibbering idiot contingent on this board always spouting off and scratching each other's back. So you guys can talk good and crap like that! Big whoop, muchacho. Big whoop.

[Illuyankas]

You should know that being able to grammar well is one of the perks of experience.

[Assail]

Illuyankas, on 11 March 2013 - 04:00 PM, said:

Assail, on 11 March 2013 - 02:36 AM, said:

Illuyankas, on 11 March 2013 - 01:28 AM, said:

You say that but it could easily be that African one who was all for making homosexuality a capital offence. They're all probably going to continue the same excessively harmful practises anyway.

Yeah seriously... glad we've both read The Da Vinci code and Angels and Demons.

Covering up child sexual abuse and telling AIDS victims not to wear condoms is fiction now, thanks for telling me!

I don't want to be pope but I do want the car.

I was just talking about the Catholic church as being a big giant mean heartless machine hellbent on excessively harmful practices and evil-doing world-wide!

[Macros]

Yeah, I mean its not the Vatican is a fabulously wealthy and corrupt place is it??

[Abyss]

is there even one Cardinal on the table who is pro-equality for women in the Church?

[Macros]

I honestly cant comment yes or no, but I'd be surprised if there were.

[Mezla PigDog]

For the low down on all the runners and riders, check out The Guardian's Pontifficator: http://www.guardian....e-pontifficator

[Abyss]

Mezla PigDog, on 12 March 2013 - 02:45 PM, said:

For the low down on all the runners and riders, check out The Guardian's Pontifficator: http://www.guardian....e-pontifficator

I've read a couple of profiles on the lead candidates, and as far as i can tell, the status of women and the Church is a no-go. was curious if anyone had seen otherwise.

ETA.... tho Mezla's link is awesome because you can pick out the candidates who look like movie villains!

[Khellendros]

Surely this guy! Look at him, he's a cool dude!






Edit: His name's George Alencherry, 67-year old Indian, believes in contraception, open to dialogue with other faiths, not facing abuse scandal questions.

This post has been edited by Khellendros: 12 March 2013 - 03:41 PM

[Spoilsport Stonny]

I like Wako's smile:

[Macros]

 Father_Dougal_For_Pope_TShirt_White_CU_5.jpg (101.87K)
Number of downloads: 0

[D'iversify]

Have been bigger idiots in the Pontiff's Office, so why not.