Pope: Christmas Polluted by Consumerism

[DavidsonBap]

Very True.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051211/ap_on_re_eu/pope_nativity

[ December 11, 2005, 11:52 AM: Message edited by: DavidsonBap ]

 

[church mouse guy]

It's true that the heathen have infected Christmas with stampedes to buy discounted merchandise, etc. However, Catholic countries are all economic basket cases so they probably are not spending a lot of money on Christmas anyway. If we get any more Catholics in this country, the Supreme Court won't be the only thing that they take over. We will have wall-to-wall drunken Teddy Kennedys and wall-to-wall out-of-control priests.

 

[Melanie]

Bumpity bump

 

[Bro. Curtis]

You see the pope's watch ? Purdy nice. And all his jewels, his golden gates of his palatial home, and his oppulent lifestyle, he seems to enjoy the high life. A great example of a high-end consumer, if'n there ever was one.....

 

[Johnv]

To quote the tailor talking to the nudist "So what?"

Yeah, I think that consumerism is rampant this time of year, but consumer is rampant many times per year.

I encourage to eat an elephant one bite at a time: Don't be a victim of consumerism any time of the year. Sure, if you want to buy your loved ones nice gifts, feel free, but don't go into debt to do it, and don't try to "one-up" everyone else who gives gifts for their loved ones.

 

[mioque]

"You see the pope's watch ?"
"
You mean this one Curtis?
http://www.mayermint.com/images/pop_up/Champion_of_Peace/w_popei.jpg

Judging from the wristband I suspect Papa Ratzi is actually wearing this one.
http://www.michaelandrochellessite.com/photos/hm-pope-stuff/images/popewatch.jpg

 

[Daisy]

Originally posted by mioque:
http://www.michaelandrochellessite.com/photos/hm-pope-stuff/images/popewatch.jpg

Kewl! Where can I buy one?

 

[mioque]

I haven't got a clue Daisy.

By the way, that ring Ratzinger was wearing when he gave that anti-commercialism speech isn't his.
I first saw it in a treasures of the Vatican exhibition I visited a few years ago.
He get's to use it as part of his job, sort of like the POTUS and Air Force One.

 

[jesusrocks]

erm, wow. all the above pope-bashing has nothing to do with the article posted... can't you just take what is good and disregard the bad?

it's great that this man is promoting a better understanding of what Christmas is truly about--we should be greatful that he is calling people closer to Jesus. Perhaps our energies would be better spent praying for more like this to come from him, rather than judging him by what he wears... otherwise, why do you wear new clothing while children in the Sudan hardly have any clothing to wear at all?

 

[Daisy]

Hey, not just Pope-bashing, we got Catholic-bashing going on!

You know it's always more fun to bash others than to look to ourselves....and we like Christmas - not Holiday - Shopping. The US is a Capitalist, Consumerist country and we're just doing our part to keep that economy rolling.

It's really hot in the Sudan - how much clothing do they need? They don't really need toys as long as they've got sticks, dirt and imagination. Food & vaccines, well, maybe....

 

[Bro. Curtis]

The leader of an error-laden church tell us that our pagan holiday has been comprimised. When they're the ones who compromsed it. Yeah, that makes sense.

 

[Johnv]

To be fair, though, the institution of the holiday, and the consumerism and commercialization of the holiday are two different things.

Sure, I could jump on the romaphobic bandwagon somewhat easily, but this is not an issue of the pot calling the kettle black.

 

[BillyMac]

In the photo that I saw, people were stretching out their hands and in their hands they held nativity figurines of the Christ child. The article stated that these people were offering these replicas toward the pope so that he would bless them.

Now I'm not too familiar with this act, but tell me what it means to bless a carved figure??? Is this figure the same as a graven image??? And what is that figure supposed to become after it has been blessed???

I am not being facetious here, I really do not understand.

 

[Bro. Curtis]

You understand just fine, my brother.

 

[Joshua Rhodes]

Pope Benedict XVI said Sunday that Christmas festivities have been polluted by consumerism...

Wow... he noticed! I was beginning to think it was just about everybody!

 

[mioque]

Joshua
Stating the obvious, the fallback position for every preacher who finds himself without inspiration when preparing a sermon.