BB FANS

I've just heard that Cardinal Ratzinger has called for a conservative pope to be elected, during his homily at the Mass he celebrated this morning before the Conclave in the Vatican commenced.

And I am fuming! Not so much because he wants a 'conservative' pope (although that does sound a little depressing) - but because he voiced his opinion one way or the other. I thought they were all supposed to be praying and meditating for the past week, and as a Catholic myself, I would have hoped that they would have allowed wisdom or the Holy Spirit to have an impact on them. But this Cardinal Ratzinger has to go and give his opinion - does he not trust them?

Or - even worse - could it be that he thinks he's already been called to lead the Church, and has started laying down the law already?

No matter who is elected Pope, parishes will continue to act as they have done heretofore - our local one went downhill a few years ago. We got a Parish Priest who was on a power trip, and as time went by, I couldn't take his uncharitable views. So I moved to another nearly church - where they act in the way Jesus would have - in a kind and welcoming fashion, whilst still being respectful to the Catholic tradition. Funnily enough, thousands of people go there, whereas the other place is losing numbers all the time.

But will Ratzinger be Pope?

I'm not a catholic GG but I am a practising christian (God knows I need the practise ) and I can understand your frustration. In the words of Forrest Gump, 'that's all I have to say about that'

Day 1 in the Big Cardinal House...

All the housemates have been gathered on the pews, to attempt their first task....

they asked to nominate a housemate to take charge.....

Who will be the next Pope...tune into ITV1 tonight, you decide on Pope Idol

I think Dermot (having already presented a programme asking questions about what it means to be a Catholic today), would be an excellent host of BCLB - Big Cardinal's Little Bishop. They could feature some of the regular stuff that's on BBLB - I want to be Cormac Murphy O'Connor's superfan.

No female housemates, sadly...

An Irish Pope! It gets more like BB all the time!

Drink!

Feck!!!!!Girls!!!

Well, at least his message would be clear!

And possibly quite popular!

That's really funny Tasty! he gets everywhere that Texan!

here he is

If I was Catholic, I'd certainly want a strong conservative pope.
I wouldn't want any of these 'modern' new age liberal ones, who change their views due to public opinion/media.

How can any 'true' catholic not follow the 'good book' - which certainly includes some great sections on how to lead a life of hatred and closed mindedness?

All this nonsense from some people that the new pope should be a swinging liberal, blah. Lets get back to the days of a fiery pope, a free speaking one, who wants to torture anyone who happens to believe the world is not the centre of the universe. Ahh, yes....those were simpler times.

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I can only hope Ratzinger gets elected. A nice anti-gay, anti-woman, anti-contraception, anti-pleasure, anti-anti-christ, anti-free speech, anti-environment, anti-Islam, etc etc,....is exactly what we need if the power of the worldwide Churches are to continue their inevitable decline.

Calrissian: 3 Hail Mary's, and 2 'our fathers' (or is that 3 Davina's, and 2 Dermots?)