Politics and religion.

[Karen]

I am not Catholic, but it makes me a little happy and hopeful that the new Pope chose to be the first Pope Francis, as Saint Francis of Assisi was not only a notorious friend to birds and animals, but a reformer of the church as well.

I know nothing about this guy, but that made me smile.

[Catty1]

Some notes on the new Pope:

His views While he is known for modernizing an Argentinian church considered to be among the most conservative in Latin America, he is also known for his strict views on morality -- having staunchly opposed same-sex marriage, contraception and abortion.
He has called adoption by gay parents a form of discrimination against children -- a stance that was publicly criticized by Argentinian President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.
Still, Bergoglio has shown compassion for HIV and AIDS patients, visiting a hospice in 2001 to kiss and wash the feet of some of those affected by the disease.
He once accused his fellow church leaders of being hypocrites and lambasted them for forgetting that Jesus was known to bathe lepers and ate with prostitutes.
"Jesus teaches us another way: Go out. Go out and share your testimony, go out and interact with your brothers, go out and share, go out and ask. Become the word in body as well as spirit," he told priests in Argentina last year.
“This is a man who goes into the shantytowns and cooks with the people," said Gerard O’Connell, CTV Vatican specialist. "I think the world is going to discover a very new style of being pope."
Fast facts on Jorge Mario Bergoglio:

• Ordained as a priest in 1969
• Initially trained as a chemist
• Taught psychology, philosophy and theology
• Became Buenos Aires archbishop in 1998
• Became cardinal in 2001
• Lives in a small apartment rather than a palatial bishop
• Known to love the tango
• Often rode the bus to work and gave up his personal chauffeur
• Chose to sit in the back row of bishops' meetings

Read more: http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/new-pope...#ixzz2NTpBKpqB

[cassiesmom]

I am not Catholic, but it makes me a little happy and hopeful that the new Pope chose to be the first Pope Francis, as Saint Francis of Assisi was not only a notorious friend to birds and animals, but a reformer of the church as well.

I know nothing about this guy, but that made me smile.

I heard on the news that the new Pope chose the name Francis after St. Francis of Assisi, who cared for animals. I didn't know St. Francis was a church reformer. I also heard on the news that he is the first Jesuit Pope -- I went to Loyola University of Chicago, which is a Jesuit Catholic school. I'm not Catholic, though. Does he go back to Argentina before he takes over -- does he get an opportunity to pack up his things and say farewell to the people he had been working with there? Or, does he become the Pope immediately and they a new cardinal takes his position in Argentina?

[lizbud]

Ah, a little ray of sunshine, in what has been a very politically dark & dreary Indiana Legislator Session.


http://www.theindychannel.com/news/l...pen-in-indiana

[Lady's Human]

Have him test the Presidential waters!

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/...tial-politics/

Rep. Darrell Issa is headed to New Hampshire next month to deliver an address at a venue that has been a must-do appearance for presidential aspirants.

The Vista Republican and chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee will speak to a joint session of the Concord Republican City and Merrimack County committees annual Lincoln Day Dinner on Monday, Feb. 17.

[Karen]

Okay, just got an email asking me to sign the "People versus Carbon" petition! Hello? Hello? Anyone home? Um, we humans (and most life on earth) are partially made up of Carbon - did a quick Google, and we are about 18% Carbon - not really something we can be opposed to and live, anyway!

[Cataholic]

Okay, just got an email asking me to sign the "People versus Carbon" petition! Hello? Hello? Anyone home? Um, we humans (and most life on earth) are partially made up of Carbon - did a quick Google, and we are about 18% Carbon - not really something we can be opposed to and live, anyway!

Really? That was what you took away from the petition? That if one opposes carbon, the human species dies? So, we need iron...OK to drop a ton of it in your yard/neighborhood and let it sit there?

I think the petition speaks more to atmospheric carbon, pollution and the stricter monitoring of coal/oil production. The local coal plant here is shutting down half its operation, as it won't be able to financially work the re-structuring necessary to address the nasty pollution.

[Karen]

Really? That was what you took away from the petition? That if one opposes carbon, the human species dies? So, we need iron...OK to drop a ton of it in your yard/neighborhood and let it sit there?

I think the petition speaks more to atmospheric carbon, pollution and the stricter monitoring of coal/oil production. The local coal plant here is shutting down half its operation, as it won't be able to financially work the re-structuring necessary to address the nasty pollution.

I knew they mean they oppose the burning of fossil fuels, and carbon emissions just thought the title of it was absurd! Glad for you your local coal plant is at least shutting down half its production/pollution, there are scrubbers, etc., that could be installed of course (Dad was a stationary engineer) but that does cost money to build and maintain ...

And thanks, we have a bunch of iron here - cars, including mine park outside! And of course, iron-y happens sometimes anyway!