Tory right wing MPs Andrew Rosindell, Nigel Evans and David Amess have just returned from a jolly to the Vatican where, as visiting dignitaries, they were granted an audience with Pope Benedict. Though not as right wing as Rosser, Evans and Amess, the Pope is also considered to be a bit right wing having once been a member of the Hitler Youth and, as Cardinal Ratzenber, having been in charge of the Inquisition - now know as the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith.
Sadly, the audience was not a private affair and there were hundreds of people jostling to meet the Pope but aides to the pontiff steered him the way of the eager MPs.
As the Pope approached, David Amess asked him if he would bless something for him to take back to London - but as he reached into his pocket to find his rosary, the general jostling caused him to drop the contents of his pocket, causing general wailing and chest beating among the surrounding italians who all stoopped to help him recover his belongings.
And so they all started handing Amess the various contents of his now-outturned pocket and one helpful Italian planted into his hand a lint-encrusted mint, which the Pope duly blessed before going on his way.
Of course, Amess has now returned to the UK, with his Holy confection, and without an idea of what to do with it. Should he frame it? Donate it to his local church? Or perhaps eat it and suffuse the blessing into his own body?
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You’d be hard pressed to find many German people of the divine ones age who were not members of the Hitler Youth.
visitor said this on March 7th, 2006 at 2:17 am
That’s a matter of perspective. How many German Jews of the “divine one’s age” were in the Hitler Youth?
Recess Monkey said this on March 7th, 2006 at 2:39 am
I think it is fair to set a moral barrier for the Pope a bit higher than, say, the average MP. I could quite forgive a politician for joining the Hitler Youth in their naivety, but perhaps someone who is to be invested with doctrinal infallibility should have a slightly higher bar.
James Graham said this on March 7th, 2006 at 2:50 am
I don’t like the tone of this website turning into an anti-Catholic bashing exercise.
visitor said this on March 8th, 2006 at 2:42 am
I’m not anti-catholic, some of my best friends are catholic…
Recess Monkey said this on March 8th, 2006 at 4:38 am
scratch that - I am against some of the things the Catholic Church stands for as an institution - like getting filthy rich while failing to use its wealth and influence to end poverty - though I am rarely opposed to individual catholics who tend to follow a more honest doctrine than that followed by the institution to which they subscribe.
I heard recently someone ask why the church spends so much on buildings and so little on the poor.
The response was, “The poor will always be with us - but fine architecture can be lost in mere centuries”.
Recess Monkey said this on March 8th, 2006 at 4:42 am
Anyway - the Telegraph nicked the story from me today - are you going to complain to them too?
Recess Monkey said this on March 8th, 2006 at 4:43 am
Don’t worry, these day being anti-Catholic on the mainland won’t result in something being cut off or having your home firebombed.
Mr R said this on March 8th, 2006 at 5:45 am
The Hitler youth was compulsory for every german boy (except obviously the regime’s enemies)after 1938. So every single german boy of that period had to go in.
The honor of the pope (and his family) is that he refused to join when it was a matter of choice. He as incorporated in 1939.
This is the same for the Wechmacht : he was incorporated lije every other memers of his seminar (Hitler was a keen anti-catholic, a bit like you…) but deserted BEFORE the end of the war.
Therefore, you can only reproach him to have been born a german which is not a crime as far as i know.
Another error : His name is Ratzinger and not Ratzenber.
The congregation for the doctrine of the faith, which you dismiss as the heir of Inquisition, is the principal theological body of the catholic church. I guess that you would expect a theologian like Josef Ratzinger, to work here…
And finally : the Church is ot rich. It was, some centuries ago, but is not any more. Actually, the fact is that the Vatican had to aknowlege several years of deficit.
Chris said this on March 8th, 2006 at 5:52 am
Yeah, you’re right - i was thinking of the dead formula one driver.
Glad to hear the pope’s living in abject poverty - sounds more in touch with Christ’s teachings than I had been led to believe.
I’m not saying any more as i feel your comparison of me with Hitler could escalate.
Recess Monkey
*shutting up*
Recess Monkey said this on March 8th, 2006 at 7:32 am