Outside the Fairfax media, this forum is one of the few places where anti-Catholic bigotry is given an airing - disguised, of course, as the rival religion, watermelon, whose adherents recognise each other by their posturing on global warming, sustainability, multiculturalism and deep concern for illegal immigrants.

And, hey, you don't even have to have any facts!

*The Church operates from a position of power and, not surprisingly, wants to stay there. It probably sees population increase as an opportunity to boost its numbers against other religions, such as Islam. So, they're on the population juggernaut too.*

I'd say that you are about right on that one, RobP. Plus the Vatican
has painted itself into a corner on this one. This pope can't really
go back on what previous popes claimed, or the whole papal infallibility
claim would be seen for what it is and they would
become a laughing stock. So they plod on regardless.

So we have such luminaries as the head of the church in Mozambique,
claim that some European made condoms are delibarately contaminated
with HIV, to control the population.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7014335.stm

The old pope still threatens to excommunicate politicians in
countries like Mexico, Spain and other places, who are pushing for
abortion rights, which we take for granted. Denying them a ticket
to heaven is of course a clever way of affecting politics in the
third world, thus affecting hundreds of millions.

Catholic driven pro life groups still claim that overpopulation
is all a nonsense and has nothing to do with poverty.

The Vatican was behind the heavy lobbying of Bush, to cut funding
for family planning in the third world, which is what happened.

Sounds like our Kenny here, does not see a problem either, when
it comes to global overpopulation. Perhaps he should go and live
in Dhaka for a while.

>>Outside the Fairfax media, this forum is one of the few places where anti-Catholic bigotry is given an airing - disguised, of course, as the rival religion, watermelon, whose adherents recognise each other by their posturing on global warming, sustainability, multiculturalism and deep concern for illegal immigrants.<<

It’s a lot easier to have a crack at your “opponents” by painting them as being dyed-in-the-wool so-and-sos. Let me just get backatchya, KenH, and tell you that the Church has said in recent times, mainly to the developed world, that asylum seekers should be treated better. I agree with that stance and their position against the practice of abortion (maybe not their doctrinaire approach but certainly the intent behind it) amongst others. Where does that leave your stereotypical comment now?

Still, there are some issues where the RC Church has a lot of atoning to do. Everyone knows it has plenty of dirty little secrets. Throughout history, it’s had its sticky fingers all over the domestic politics of whatever town, city or country in which it operated. Are you really saying the Church is as pure as the driven snow? That it has never put its own earthly interests before true Christian principles? That there's no merit in any criticism of it?

>>And, hey, you don't even have to have any facts!<<

You have no point. History is littered with the facts. Inform yourself.

>>… or the whole papal infallibility claim would be seen for what it is and they would become a laughing stock.<<

Yabby,

Good point, but I think this has already dawned on some of the faithful in light of the recent attack on the Pope in the Vatican. If he really was God’s envoy on earth, how could this possibly have happened? The truth is the whole papal infallibility myth is unravelling through natural life pressure with or without the Church kicking an own goal. (Of course they would never kick an own goal, so you can bet your bottom dollar that every reform they make will only be done after some kind of painful exposure.)

What a great thread! You know, even after 2000+ years of the biggest con that ever was, religious people still have very little value. Yes people! its power they want and now there getting upset cause they have been caught out with brain washing children where ever possible. The games up you religious lie making sheep minded fools, your being conned! The primitive mind made your god and we are sick and tired of how you do not help with the overpopulation and environmental problems we face in today's world.

Even the pope as done a 1\80 on the matter and you still don't see. Look! No-ones saying you cant do your faith thing, I mean we all believe in something, and this is how the human mind has wired its self through the sands of time. If man-kind does not wake-up soon, all that we value and live upon will be gone, and your own (god) will call you a fool. ( your brain )
You say he made this Eden for you? Well why are you not looking after it?

All religions are a scourge on this planet, and when they enter the fields of state or any other level of power, nothing ever of any good comes from it. ( stick to helping the poor )

Watch them very closely people.

Anything that separates its-selves from the natural world as much as they have, Is not all here.

Did anyone else notice that KenH claimed "South America...is hardly a uniformly traditional Catholic culture"?

Is this the South America on planet earth we're talking about, or is there another?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_America#Religion

Religion aside, lets face it, all is in its right order.( now ) The next step is, who own,s Australia? If you don't learn, your boss, that's you ( maybe ), may have to wash dishes, and that will feel great? Wont it?

The white and black Australia should be in management for this rich, and carefree, which I think we are forgetting, country, which we must import to keep up. Not such a great plan, me thinks. I had a bad boss that came from a 3 world, and I wonder where my kids will go if we think we can party and not think of the bigger picture.

This is our country jack! so get to school and save your land.

Sounds racist, don't it! But answer me this! After your children leave school, where are they going to go?

Think Australia! If you don't work, who will be your next bosses?

Go to school! And don't wast any more time.

Management?mmmmmmmmmmm sounds nice to me.