Humour was in the news again with that big story:
"The Foreign Office has apologised over a junior civil servant's internal paper suggesting the Pope could bless a gay marriage or open an abortion clinic. "
It seems to me that the humour found its target to some degree. If it's really so absurd that the Pope should bless an AIDS clinic, then that's a damning indictment of him, and not of the author of the 'gags'.
The Pope and his church is a laughing stock and will remain to be unless they change their inhumane policies. They are as extreme as Islam in many matters. Both these faiths ae the worst advert possible for religion.
Quote: Alfred J Kipper @ April 26 2010, 7:09 AM BSTThey are as extreme as Islam in many matters. Both these faiths ae the worst advert possible for religion.
Well, except for the fact you don't get to many suicide bombers blowing themself up in the name of Roman Catholicism. And not many Catholics behead hostages live on the internet either. Or stone adulterers to death.
Not any more they don't, no. They have evolved somewhat into more civilised intolerant bigots. If anything, the extreme wing of Islam has deliberately regressed, attempting to show the world that old fashioned barbarism is somehow more pure and holy than weak modern liberalism.
This is how brainstorming works, you throw ideas into the pot no matter how unrealistic, the idea being that dsicussion of them might throw up something that is realistic. Policy development is exempt from freedom of information requests because civil servants would not dare to think outside the box otherwise. I can't help thinking that the real mischief maker here is not the junior civil servants, it is the person who leaked the document to the Press. I wonder what his agenda might have been.
I think it is a good thing it's happened. The junior minister has got his/her knuckles wrapped but they'll probably promote them when this has died down. They have done the govt a favour I reckon, this is a little reminder to the Church of Rome that they have no authority over here, and they come here as subordinate guests, not as high and mighty arbiters of all that is morally just and right in the world. It reminds them that many average people find what they stand for as repugnant and wrong.
Quote: Alfred J Kipper @ April 26 2010, 9:29 AM BSTNot any more they don't, no.
Precisely. It's 2010, not 1682. Justifying Muslim extremism now because of what the church used to do is pretty weak.
Quote: chipolata @ April 26 2010, 10:58 AM BSTPrecisely. It's 2010, not 1682. Justifying Muslim extremism now because of what the church used to do is pretty weak.
What happened in 1682?
Quote: Marc P @ April 26 2010, 11:29 AM BSTWhat happened in 1682?
Hello? Ever heard of George Orwell?
Is he the Shadow Chancellor?
Quote: Marc P @ April 26 2010, 11:29 AM BSTWhat happened in 1682?
It's too trauimatizing to talk about on a knock-about comedy forum.
Quote: chipolata @ April 26 2010, 12:10 PM BSTIt's too trauimatizing to talk about on a knock-about comedy forum.
Fair enough. 
1682? Was Orwell dyslexic?
Condoms shaped like a Bishop's hat could be kinda kinky.
Quote: Marc P @ April 26 2010, 11:29 AM BSTWhat happened in 1682?
Salem
Quote: Marc P @ April 26 2010, 11:29 AM BSTWhat happened in 1682?
Ask Chappers.