I had the good fortune to visit the Vatican not too long ago, and remember, quite distinctly, how angry I got walking through the insanely gilded hallways lined with glass-encased gifts they'd received over the years: jewel encrusted trowels, solid gold dishware, fine silks, and all other manner of expensive doo-dads.
I mean, how can a group that claims to "follow God's word" - y'know, all that stuff about the meek inheriting the Earth, helping the poor, living modestly, etc. - hoard such enormous excesses of wealth without just bursting into flame or something?
I'm betting that even 1/10th of their collection could feed an entire starving country for years.
Seriously, nothing in general against the rank and file (except that they don't call their clergy on this kind of crap), but screw those Vatican jerks.
Clutch, so you think it's funny to joke about child abuse? How am I not surprised?
Actually, I think it can be mordantly funny to joke about child abuse. But I think it's a tired joke in this case, so I agree with the charge of unoriginality.
The problem was my (understandable, I'd argue) failure to realize that your complaint was directed at ironymetrics, not at illusory tenant. (Hence "about the Pope").
As to your dispositions to be surprised by one thing or another, I haven't put much thought into the matter.
Comment moderation caused the confusion. My bad. Anyway I think the BBC was making the initial joke, by placing that particular photo beside the story. That's what caught my eye, at least.
Clutch: Yeah, I was referring to Chuck's lame joke. I get I.T.'s point actually, though I'd contend that when you see the Pope during Mass, you're seeing something distinctly different than what you'd see in person.
Same goes for the Vatican itself. Selling off history is a supremely stupid suggestion.
TJ - Apples and oranges, frankly. Neither the Smithsonian nor MOMA are claiming to be charitable organizations that base their actions on calls to help the poor and less fortunate, etc. The Vatican, ie. the Catholic Church, does claim to base their whole worldview around the teachings of Jesus. I'd say they've been doing a pretty piss poor job of it.
It's not so much that I wish they'd sell off all of their antiquities, but that through all these years, they never stopped someone from giving them a jewel encrusted trowel and said "Hey, maybe instead of that, you could fund this orphanage" or something.
And it's not like they dress or live in a particularly modest manner, either. See "Man in solid gold hat".
I'd say they've been doing a pretty piss poor job of it.
I'd say you have your head in the sand. Catholic Relief Services, Catholic Charities, The Christian Foundation for Children and the Aging, The Missionaries of Charity, The Vincentians, The Knights of Columbus ... those are just a few of the Catholic organizations I pulled off the top of my head which are devoted to helping the poor and less fortunate.
... but that through all these years, they never stopped someone from giving them a jewel encrusted trowel and said "Hey, maybe instead of that, you could fund this orphanage" or something.
Cool, I didn't know you lived in the Vatican and were the Pope's personal aide. I mean, that's the only way you'd know that this is the truth.
And it's not like they dress or live in a particularly modest manner, either. See "Man in solid gold hat".
Yes, the Pope walks around in his "gold hat" 24/7. Come on, do you really believe this stuff?
There are many good Catholic charities, and many good Catholic people who've fought the good fight over the years--I'll give you that, absolutely.
I am still not at all willing to let the Vatican and various of the Popes off the hook for living in the lap of extreme luxury while so many of their faithful starve. And all that pontificating against contraception while the faithful have more children than they can feed, get infected with AIDS, and die? Yeah, I have a problem with that, too.
Look, I'm not saying that any one denomination or any one religion is all bad (or all good). Believe me, I'm lived and worked with people of many faiths who did great work and were a credit to said faith. But you'll forgive me if I have little patience for self-important, be-robed men who claim to have the direct line to God and want to run your life, all while living in a fancy palace surrounded by an embarrassment of riches.
Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteMixter
Howdy, stranger; ltns.
ReplyDeleteHa! Brilliant.
ReplyDeleteThat was an original one. Not.
ReplyDeleteTry coming up with some new material, or stay at the FF.
There's nothing quite as original as a Catholic who thinks a joke about the Pope isn't funny.
ReplyDeleteClutch ... so you think it's funny to joke about child abuse? How am I not surprised?
ReplyDeleteI had the good fortune to visit the Vatican not too long ago, and remember, quite distinctly, how angry I got walking through the insanely gilded hallways lined with glass-encased gifts they'd received over the years: jewel encrusted trowels, solid gold dishware, fine silks, and all other manner of expensive doo-dads.
ReplyDeleteI mean, how can a group that claims to "follow God's word" - y'know, all that stuff about the meek inheriting the Earth, helping the poor, living modestly, etc. - hoard such enormous excesses of wealth without just bursting into flame or something?
I'm betting that even 1/10th of their collection could feed an entire starving country for years.
Seriously, nothing in general against the rank and file (except that they don't call their clergy on this kind of crap), but screw those Vatican jerks.
Clutch, so you think it's funny to joke about child abuse? How am I not surprised?
ReplyDeleteActually, I think it can be mordantly funny to joke about child abuse. But I think it's a tired joke in this case, so I agree with the charge of unoriginality.
The problem was my (understandable, I'd argue) failure to realize that your complaint was directed at ironymetrics, not at illusory tenant. (Hence "about the Pope").
As to your dispositions to be surprised by one thing or another, I haven't put much thought into the matter.
Emily: So you must get pissed when you visit the MOMA, or the Smithsonian, right?
ReplyDeleteRhetorical question. It's obvious you don't.
Comment moderation caused the confusion. My bad. Anyway I think the BBC was making the initial joke, by placing that particular photo beside the story. That's what caught my eye, at least.
ReplyDeleteClutch: Yeah, I was referring to Chuck's lame joke. I get I.T.'s point actually, though I'd contend that when you see the Pope during Mass, you're seeing something distinctly different than what you'd see in person.
ReplyDeleteSame goes for the Vatican itself. Selling off history is a supremely stupid suggestion.
I don't recall the last time the Smithsonian condemned gay marriage (for example).
ReplyDeleteother side: What's the price of tea in China?
ReplyDeleteTJ - Apples and oranges, frankly. Neither the Smithsonian nor MOMA are claiming to be charitable organizations that base their actions on calls to help the poor and less fortunate, etc. The Vatican, ie. the Catholic Church, does claim to base their whole worldview around the teachings of Jesus. I'd say they've been doing a pretty piss poor job of it.
ReplyDeleteIt's not so much that I wish they'd sell off all of their antiquities, but that through all these years, they never stopped someone from giving them a jewel encrusted trowel and said "Hey, maybe instead of that, you could fund this orphanage" or something.
And it's not like they dress or live in a particularly modest manner, either. See "Man in solid gold hat".
@Thomas Joseph
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you'll tell me.
I'd say they've been doing a pretty piss poor job of it.
ReplyDeleteI'd say you have your head in the sand. Catholic Relief Services, Catholic Charities, The Christian Foundation for Children and the Aging, The Missionaries of Charity, The Vincentians, The Knights of Columbus ... those are just a few of the Catholic organizations I pulled off the top of my head which are devoted to helping the poor and less fortunate.
... but that through all these years, they never stopped someone from giving them a jewel encrusted trowel and said "Hey, maybe instead of that, you could fund this orphanage" or something.
Cool, I didn't know you lived in the Vatican and were the Pope's personal aide. I mean, that's the only way you'd know that this is the truth.
And it's not like they dress or live in a particularly modest manner, either. See "Man in solid gold hat".
Yes, the Pope walks around in his "gold hat" 24/7. Come on, do you really believe this stuff?
There are many good Catholic charities, and many good Catholic people who've fought the good fight over the years--I'll give you that, absolutely.
ReplyDeleteI am still not at all willing to let the Vatican and various of the Popes off the hook for living in the lap of extreme luxury while so many of their faithful starve. And all that pontificating against contraception while the faithful have more children than they can feed, get infected with AIDS, and die? Yeah, I have a problem with that, too.
Look, I'm not saying that any one denomination or any one religion is all bad (or all good). Believe me, I'm lived and worked with people of many faiths who did great work and were a credit to said faith. But you'll forgive me if I have little patience for self-important, be-robed men who claim to have the direct line to God and want to run your life, all while living in a fancy palace surrounded by an embarrassment of riches.