The Pope doesn't like NZ. A proud moment in Kiwi history.

[Petra]

The Pope told New Zealand bishops this week he lamented secular trends in New Zealand, in particular the weakening of Sunday mass attendance. (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3591363&thesection=news&thesubsection=general)

"That is an interesting comment from the Pope. Clearly he would take a very religious view of life. Some of us come from a very long and strong secular background. Certainly that is my family tradition," Dr Cullen said.

(Dr. Cullen is our Deputy Prime Minister)

The Pope also said that efforts to equate marriage between man and woman to other forms of cohabitation violated "God's plan for humanity".

The Pope did not specifically mention the Civil Union Bill that would grant "civil union" status to couples -- both same-sex and heterosexual -- who live together, giving them many of the same rights as married couples.

The bishop's delegation to the Vatican was led by Cardinal Thomas Williams, who several months ago denounced reformist politicians behind the bill as "modern barbarians".

We're the barabarians?! That's rich...

"Spouses rightly deserve specific and categorical legal recognition by the state," the Pope said, "while any attempt to equate marriage with other forms of cohabitation violates its unique role in God's plan for humanity."

The Pope spoke of the "challenges currently confronting" the bishops, and urged them to "defend the sanctity and uniqueness of marriage."

Get a grip, you old bastard.

Prime Minister Helen Clark today told reporters the Pope had strong religious views and he was entitled to express them.

She was sure the pope had people on the ground in New Zealand and they made their views known to him.

The issue had not come up when she met the Pope in Rome in May.

Go, Helen! :)


I tell ya, after all the crap with Brian (http://www.destinychurch.org.nz/) Tamaki's (http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3012200a10,00.html) Destiny (http://www.rickross.com/groups/destiny_churches.html) Church (http://news.google.com/news?q=%22Destiny+Church%22&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=nn) lately, I find this to be refreshing news.

Back in January, Toto started a thread at IIDB (http://www.iidb.org/vbb/showthread.php?t=74870) about a series of lectures by Dr. Bill Cooke, where Dr. Cooke uses the example of NZ as one of the most secular countries in the world, and compares it with the US's religiosity. It not a long thread, but contains some good links.

But anyway, if I'm gonna have a bunch of you over to stay as refugees, you'll need to give me some numbers so that I can make sure I've got enough bedding. Oh, and any special diet requirements, too, although I'll probably just tell you to cook it yourself. :D

[livius drusus]

"Spouses rightly deserve specific and categorical legal recognition by the state," the Pope said, "while any attempt to equate marriage with other forms of cohabitation violates its unique role in God's plan for humanity."

I keep rereading this sentence. Is it just me or are the parts completely unrelated to each other? I'm sure the Pope would be the last person to claim that legal recognition of anything by the state is inherently linked to God's plan for humanity. It would make more sense if he switched it around to say something like the state should further God's plans ergo it shouldn't grant cohabitation rights. It just seems like there's a premise missing.

Oh well... NZ rules, that much I know.

[Petra]

"Spouses rightly deserve specific and categorical legal recognition by the state," the Pope said, "while any attempt to equate marriage with other forms of cohabitation violates its unique role in God's plan for humanity."

I keep rereading this sentence. Is it just me or are the parts completely unrelated to each other? I'm sure the Pope would be the last person to claim that legal recognition of anything by the state is inherently linked to God's plan for humanity. It would make more sense if he switched it around to say something like the state should further God's plans ergo it shouldn't grant cohabitation rights. It just seems like there's a premise missing.



I thought he was inferring that church and state are interwined; that the state's powers should only go so far as the church allows them to, and the state's role is simply to add the extras that the church can't, such as tax breaks and Wills, etc.

It is rather jumbled though, isn't it? Silly old fart.

[Goliath]

Yep, I'm starting to like to more and more...now, if you people would kindly push your island up this way so that it isn't on the other side of the planet, then emigrating would be easier. :wink:

[Petra]

...now, if you people would kindly push your island up this way so that it isn't on the other side of the planet...


Hey! You're the Goliath, you do it. :P

[Goliath]

Hey! You're the Goliath, you do it. :P

I would, but my first year in the Ivory Tower is keeping me very very busy.

And besides, you're closer to your island than I am. :P

[Petra]

And besides, you're closer to your island than I am. :P

Yeah, but I'm...er...busy. Yeah, that's it - I'm busy. Very, very busy.
:liar:

[Goliath]

And besides, you're closer to your island than I am. :P

Yeah, but I'm...er...busy. Yeah, that's it - I'm busy. Very, very busy.
:liar:

Uh-huh..suuuure ya are, hon. Busy doing...what again? :D

[Ymir's blood]

I thought he was inferring that church and state are interwined; that the state's powers should only go so far as the church allows them to, and the state's role is simply to add the extras that the church can't, such as tax breaks and Wills, etc.
And one has only to look at the Dark Ages to see how that works out.

[Petra]

[QUOTE=lunachick]

Uh-huh..suuuure ya are, hon. Busy doing...what again? :D

Watching pornography on Winamp's Internet TV thingy. This one guy is giving Asia Carrera head. He looks pretty good at it, too. Good enough to give the Pope heart failure if he were to stumble upon such a lascivious and immoral image.

hehehe....

[Petra]

And one has only to look at the Dark Ages to see how that works out.

Yep. Unfortunately, some people still think it's 1304, not 2004. Dumbasses.

[JoeP]

Yep, I'm starting to like to more and more...now, if you people would kindly push your island up this way so that it isn't on the other side of the planet, then emigrating would be easier. :wink:
Huh? It's not that far.

Oh, you mean from America. Dudes, it's you guys who are in the wrong place. In so many ways. :P

[JoeP]

"That is an interesting comment from the Pope. Clearly he would take a very religious view of life. Some of us come from a very long and strong secular background. Certainly that is my family tradition," Dr Cullen said.

(Dr. Cullen is our Deputy Prime Minister)

Prime Minister Helen Clark today told reporters the Pope had strong religious views and he was entitled to express them.

She was sure the pope had people on the ground in New Zealand and they made their views known to him.

The issue had not come up when she met the Pope in Rome in May.

Go, Helen! :)
You have some bloody enlightened politicians in your country. Presumably this reflects the electorate or else they'd be impeached or hounded out of office?

For some reason (admitting that evolution had some place), I thought the pope was getting clued up. Clearly not.

But anyway, if I'm gonna have a bunch of you over to stay as refugees, you'll need to give me some numbers so that I can make sure I've got enough bedding. Oh, and any special diet requirements, too, although I'll probably just tell you to cook it yourself. :D
Count me in.

Although I may be forced to post a derogatory Dilbert cartoon... just can't find it atm...

[Petra]

You have some bloody enlightened politicians in your country.Yes, I think we do. Interestingly, we are also ranked 4th last for government corruption (http://www.nationmaster.com/country/nz/Bottom-Rankings). [quote]
Although I may be forced to post a derogatory Dilbert cartoon... just can't find it atm...
If you find it, it'll help score you a double bed roll and an extra blankie. :)

[JoeP]

Although I may be forced to post a derogatory Dilbert cartoon... just can't find it atm...
If you find it, it'll help score you a double bed roll and an extra blankie. :)
You understand it's derogatory about NZ, not about the pope or religion? (There are probably some of the latter but none spring to mind)

(Yay for the corruption score)

[Petra]

[QUOTE=lunachick]
You understand it's derogatory about NZ, not about the pope or religion? Yup, I understood. But we Kiwis don't mind laughing at ourselves from time to time. And if the joke is a clever one, all the better. And anyway, let's be frank - there is no shortage of jokes at our expense. We just provide such great joke fodder. :D

(Yay for the corruption score)

Yeah. Finding that out made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. :)

[Goliath]

Watching pornography on Winamp's Internet TV thingy. This one guy is giving Asia Carrera head. He looks pretty good at it, too. Good enough to give the Pope heart failure if he were to stumble upon such a lascivious and immoral image.

hehehe....

Winamp porn..huh. Cool. :D

[maddog]

Can I come if I bring my own blankie and pillow?

OTOH, what's the winter like there?

#15

[JoeP]

I was wrong ... the one I was thinking of wasn't dilbert it was Madam and Eve (http://www.madamandeve.co.za/), the strip that covers all you need to know about South Africa, and indeed world politics.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/SecretCode/ME980923NEWZEALAND.gif

[Farren]

Hahaaaa

A long time ago a white australian Rastafarian called Giovanni with a broad Bruce accent told me in an offended tone that all the Australian sheep jokes I was telling were Kiwi jokes in Australia.

Highest proportion of sheep to people in the world and somehow they manage to be the most secular nation on earth. I don't know how they do it. Are sheep perhaps underrated as a close acquaintances for enquiring and independent minds? Rugby can't have anything to do with it, I'm certain.

[Petra]

Can I come if I bring my own blankie and pillow?Yes, you may. :)

OTOH, what's the winter like there?

#15

Hmmm. Well, that depends on where you are coming from. It's really very mild if you are used to Alaska, but very chilly if you are from Timbuktu.

[Petra]

I was wrong ... the one I was thinking of wasn't dilbert it was Madam and Eve (http://www.madamandeve.co.za/), the strip that covers all you need to know about South Africa, and indeed world politics.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/SecretCode/ME980923NEWZEALAND.gif

LOL! Nice. :)

[Petra]

Hahaaaa

A long time ago a white australian Rastafarian called Giovanni with a broad Bruce accent told me in an offended tone that all the Australian sheep jokes I was telling were Kiwi jokes in Australia.That's true. :D

Highest proportion of sheep to people in the world and somehow they manage to be the most secular nation on earth. I don't know how they do it. Are sheep perhaps underrated as a close acquaintances for enquiring and independent minds? Rugby can't have anything to do with it, I'm certain.

Our sheep are very enlightened. And you're right - rugby has nothing at all to do with it. Although, there was that one particular tour... :wink: