History / Pol-Shorpy Photo Thread [950]


Looks like a very warm and elegant space.

Off-Topic / The Pope has officially approved the blessing of same-sex couples [60]


Bad theology. Blessings are imparted on all kinds of groups and couples. During the Sacrament of Matrimony, for example.

The Church's job is not to codify criminal laws, Novi. That's for civil authorities to do. It inly states the morality of such an act.

Off-Topic / The Pope has officially approved the blessing of same-sex couples [60]

*They are not talking about medicines and therapies to treat a disease....

Off-Topic / The Pope has officially approved the blessing of same-sex couples [60]

The author of the Declaration answers some questions:

pillarcatholic.com/p/cardinal-fernandez-same-sex-blessing

Couples are blessed. The union is not blessed, for the reasons that the declaration repeatedly explains about the true meaning of Christian marriage and sexual relations.

That's akin to Poland and Germany playing in the World Cup, all the players show up at the stadium in full soccer gear at game time and they start playing at the sound of the whistle and we say it's the individual players playing, not the national teams. It's not simply Lewandowski and Szczésny showing up in street clothes, it's the whole team within the team milieu.

This sleight of hand is not only immensely confusing and infuriating, but I'm beginning to believe it's disingenuous. Fernandez knows perception is key, hell he even has the temerity to bring up the idea of scandal.

I'm not sure I agree with Torqi that Francis and his possee are neo-Marxists, but they sure as hell practice the dark arts of the Left.

@Novichok

The Church has always dealt with morality, as Lenka says it guides us toward heaven or hell. So, it's well within it's lane. They are talking about medicines and therapies to treat a disease, but whether or not an act is good or not and whether it should be blessed. Your analogies make no sense in the framework of this Declaration on blessings.

Off-Topic / The Pope has officially approved the blessing of same-sex couples [60]

@Torq

Haha...it sure is:)

I just hope it is actually an exaggeration.

Off-Topic / The Pope has officially approved the blessing of same-sex couples [60]

I take it they are not drinking rosarium tea. 😄

History / Pol-Shorpy Photo Thread [950]

BB is pretty easy to get along with. 🙂.

More Wrocław.

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History / Pol-Shorpy Photo Thread [950]

The House of Stars.

Nicholas Copernicus' house in the charming medieval town of Toruń.

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History / Pol-Shorpy Photo Thread [950]

Aula Leopoldina at the University of Wrocław.

A stunningly beautiful lecture hall for a beautiful city.

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History / Pol-Shorpy Photo Thread [950]


It is a lovely city! When I visited, I didn't expect it to be as lovely as it is.

History / Pol-Shorpy Photo Thread [950]


Photo reminds me a bit of Kieślowski's short film Szpital

History / Pol-Shorpy Photo Thread [950]

A Polish wedding in Poznan taken by amateur photographer Zenon Kłobus.

The bride is wearing a crown of real roses. Is this common in Poland? Don't see it much here in America.

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History / Pol-Shorpy Photo Thread [950]

Gniezno Cathedral. The Cathedral of Polish Kings.

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Off-Topic / The Pope has officially approved the blessing of same-sex couples [60]


No, at least not in the universal sense. I still think the German-speaking Church is very much teetering on schism-but this Declaration isn't the cause of that, but could be the impetus.

So far, the majority of bishops and episcopal conferences who have responded are doing so by clarifying and highlighting that there has been no change to Church teaching regarding homosexual or other so-called irregular relationships.

In other words, even though Cardinal Fernandez declared within this clumsy spectacle of a Declaration that he wouldn't put himself out to make any clarifications, many of the world's bishops are making such clarifications. Synodality at work!

Off-Topic / Pop A Cork - Wine [440]

Mine was from a wine club. I believe the club is contracted out to Laithwaites from the UK.

This is all I could find-it's not the Anniversario, but I bet it's close:

montyswine.com/shop/product/baron-de-barbon-oak-aged-rioja/63eff13cd1eadb58c13d886e?option-id=247b33fc71b04881fbe10b7209866d08af3c267659764fd6763a99eaa1ab9d12&utm_source=googleshopping&utm_medium=feed

Off-Topic / Pop A Cork - Wine [440]

If you like a a milder tannic and subtle Riioja, you might like this:

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News / Coronavirus in Poland - part 2 [599]


For anyone interested: chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2023/2/8/23591132/cdc-exaggerated-evidence-supporting-mask-mandates-column-jacob-sullum

Food / What do non-Poles think about eating the following Polish foods? [1450]


I disagree, I like it. The worst Polish beer I've had is EB--maybe because it was warm-ish when I had it, but it is what I imagine moose p!ss must taste like.

Life / Why is women-hatred and stereotyping so popular in Poland? [181]

@rush2112
Interesting, as I don't equate anger (raw or even your garden variety anger) with any of Rush's music.

Life / Why is women-hatred and stereotyping so popular in Poland? [181]


Daggonit, I thought you came up with it on your own.

@Joker
@Rush 2112

My friends from back in the day loved 2112. I never understood their fondness for the album. What is it about it you like?

Life / Why is women-hatred and stereotyping so popular in Poland? [181]


Because calling folks weak-minded small town bigots isn't trash talking. :/


That's not a half bad little zinger, Jon. Not bad at all.


The woman who wrote this is a bit off-center. Apparently, she breeds dysfunction. Her son ran for Cincinnati City Council and she got involved and purportedly screwed his campaign up. She runs some kind of Reiki and psychic thing-Reikism and Catholicism don't mix well.

Life / Why is women-hatred and stereotyping so popular in Poland? [181]


Such an ironic sentence.


Y'know they say American civilization went to pot when the Irish started flooding in. :D

Travel / Tourism in Poland [41]


A good number of Lebanese are Catholics, those Lebanese would meld well into Polish culture.

If the Lebanese women I've met are representative of the general female population of Lebanon, the young men of Poland will not protest them settling in Poland.

News / "A merciful heart can share its bread with the hungry and welcome refugees and migrants" Pope Francis [89]

I'm convinced he wasn't calling for imperialism, but the problem is that we have to be convinced. He's like a Trump in that he says things off-the-cuff that leaves way too much open for interpretation.


I believe it's plentiful--we just don't see or recognize it. It's those who aren't, or we perceive as not being evangelically simplistic (and our perceptions can be wrong), that we tend to notice.

News / "A merciful heart can share its bread with the hungry and welcome refugees and migrants" Pope Francis [89]

When you put the Vatican's Press Office response to Francis' statement together with a decade's worth of clumsy Francis speeches, it seems quite obvious, at least to me, that Luke is correct in his above post. I miss JP2 and B16's clarity.

I have very little knowledge of the ROC. Little I do know makes it seem to be somewhat insular and nationalistic--but that could very well sound idiotic to someone who is knowledgable about the ROC.


Heck, there's always been corruption in one degree or another within Christianity (mainstream or outside the mainstream). What is remarkable is how the Deposit of the Faith hasn't been compromised by it...regardless of how much stench some church leaders emit.

News / "A merciful heart can share its bread with the hungry and welcome refugees and migrants" Pope Francis [89]

I have a confession to make:

As part of the Popish cabal I have access to the Vatican network. I unwittingly intercepted a dispatch early last Wednesday morning entitled "Address to the Mordorian Youth." As I read the dispatch it became clear that what I was reading wasn't a critique of Tolkien's masterpiece by some Vatican backbencher, but a prepared speech to be delivered by The Man in White himself.

As I continued reading it became clear that the address could either be a clarion call for angelic West or have major repercussions for world peace and stability. This address could be like dropping a neutron bomb over Mordor, and knowing Sauron's lack of moral rectitude and disregard for all things non-Mordorian, the response could be cataclysmic. The prospective harm was too much a gamble.

After 3 minutes and 27 seconds of agonizing over this moral tug-of-war, I decided to do something.

So, I passed it on to Bobko to edit the address. It is Bobko's edition that has become world news.

You see the dispatch I intercepted was the official speech Pope Francis was to give to the Russian youth.

I see now I've harmed fragile Catholics and Mordorian-haters.

To assuage this offense, I give you the original address Pope Francis was to give the Russian youth:

You despicable young Orcs of murderous RuSSia, the inferior RuSSia--den of sinners, thieves, and serpents. This loathsome wasteland of bankrupt and repulsive culture and reprehensible Orcanity. Throw away your murderous ways, renounce your ignominious history of treachery. Admit you are execrable and deplorable--heirs of wretchedness. Admit you are irredeemable and unworthy to exist in the City of Mankind. Recoil and beg for our mercy. Scum!

So, ultimately, I am the prick (with Bobko's aid), not Pope Francis.

Off-Topic / Best posters [886]

@GefreiterKania

Post #567 is not only funny, but a clinic on how to humorously and artfully slam a guy without invective or churlishness. It's an insult without being insulting. A slap across the face with the accompanying sting but without bitterness. An eff you sans vulgarity.

Which leads me to piggy back off this thread and give my Top 5 humorous posters:

1. GefreiterKania (who will always be Torq to me)
2. Bobko (a very close second--#567 gave Torq the go-ahead--but dude is a riot)
3. BB (his humor comes best in the form of witticism)
4. Novi (an 80 yo that pissed off and cynical is primed to rattle off some funny sh!t)
5. Alien (his humor is subtle--subtle humor is good).

News / Russian criticism of Poland - Soviet war memorial removal [332]


One of the unsettling things about the response in the West to the Russian invasion of Ukraine is how many self-ascribed "decent" people have spoken of Russians in dehumanizing terms..

I guess it allows them to justify their irrational hatred for Russia and Russians.

Plus, there's also a dearth of folks who just can't make distinctions.

Life / Poetry and Poets of Poland [58]


Emily Dickinson? I find most women poets uninteresting-they don't have the meat and bones needed for a good poem. Dickinson had some meat and bones.

Love / I am going to poland to meet my boyfriend's family and friends and need some advice [8]

@latingirl

Don't overcomplicate things. Just be yourself.

As far as the kiss on the cheek and all that: just follow the lead of whoever you are greeting. Poles are like everyone else, they are individuals with different personalities.

Poles are aware of how complicated their language is, if you only know "dzien dobry" they'll be charmed.

You'll find that a difficult Polish mother is a lot like a difficult Latina mother-only more reserved.