I'm watching the funeral of the pope

[n2mark]

I keep hearing clapping or is this the sound. Clapping at at a funeral? Guess the loudest claps came for the Cardinals. Am I hearing things?

It makes me sad, guess the media knows who is the selected one. I never watch CNN thought I would do it for the first time in months. Guess I'll back to shutting it down.

[peekaloo]

1. Clapping is a show of respect. Have they booed El Douchebag yet?

[Fridays Child]

2. What next? The wave?

nt

[DemBones DemBones]

10. As a matter of fact, thousands of the mourners, most of them young,

and most of them Polish, were chanting "Magnus" (meaning he should be known as John Paul the Great -- in all of history and 260+ popes, only two have been called "the Great") and "Santo Subito" (Sainthood Immediately), waving Polish flags and holding up large banners that read "Santo Subito." He was a hero in Poland, having done much to help Solidarity and free the country from communism, and Catholics everywhere celebrate his life, though we're sad that he's gone now. I think they timed the chanting properly, doing it during the homily and at other points when they weren't interrupting prayers or the Consecration.

[rwheeler31]

3. I would not watch

the right wing is taking my constitution and my faith.

[AutumnMist]

4. From What I Understand

many clapped when it was announced that the Pope had died. It is out of respect and celebration for the life, not the death of the person they are applauding I assume. :)

[xultar]

5. Death is sometimes seen as a celebration! Don't be so down on

others customs.

In the Black community it is seen as a celebration. They are clapping to celebrate the life and the serviceof the Pope.

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[glarius]

8. In your cynicism don't forget to add....made loving gestures towards

the Jews and Muslims by apologizing to them and asking for forgiveness for past sins Christendom has committed against them.....Castigating the wealthy countries for exploiting the people of the poorer countries of the world.....and generally having a loving heart towards all people....Nobody's perfect!

[ElectricIron Sweeney]

12. Thank you

for reminding me that he also talk to our president and said something negative about our involvement in Iraq, and backed it up with absolutely nothing. Catholics support this war, and I know because I is one. He was not the enemy of truth justice or freedom; just not much of a friend. What was wrong with him is wrong with us, and that is the tendency to accept authority on earth as granted by God. The organization is wrong. The Authority is wrong. And it is the willingness to accept authority without criticism or examination that weakens every good indentation in our lives. Individualism is not natural to human beings, but we are stuck with it. Have the courage to stand alone, because now you have no choice. Be good and do good as well as you can see good, and try to see popes and all other moral police for what they are and where they stand. Aristotle said: The line between vice and virtue is one that divides all of mankind. Which side was the pope on? Which side are you on?

[ElectricIron Sweeney]

13. remember James,

when you are tired, you have to check spell check.

[glarius]

16. "said something negative about our involvement in Iraq, and backed it up

with absolutely nothing.".....What did you expect...that he should send in the Swiss Guards?

[DemBones DemBones]

11. And what have you contributed to humanity? nt

[ElectricIron Sweeney]

14. I have edufied myself.

kin't you till?

[DemBones DemBones]

7. Italians/ Europeans clap at funerals out of respect for the dead.

It's not a CNN tthing, I watched Vatican footage on EWTN. I quit watching CNN during the Democratic convention but have seen a little of their coverage this week and it was okay.

They weren't clapping for the cardinals but for John Paul. The media do not know who the next pope is; the cardinals don't know, either. Nobody knows until they vote and get a 2/3 majority.

There are always favorites but there is also a saying "He who goes into Conclave a pope comes out a cardinal" -- i.e., the ones considered to be most likely to be pope are rarely elected.

This is the fifth time I've been through this (Pius XII died in 1958, John XXIII in 1965, Paul VI in 1977, I guess, and John Paul I in 1978) and I'll only be surprised if they elect one of the cardinals being mentioned as having the inside track. There's always gossip and the talk will go on all during the Conclave but I'm just ignoring it as meaningless.

I've watched a bit of CNN since the pope died and it's been OK; I just prefer EWTN (global Catholic network) for stories about the Church -- they get the news just as soon, they don't get into a lot of silly speculation, and they use video from Vatican television.

[onehandle]

9. Wow! A Pope's funeral mass is pretty much like a regular mass.

Interesting.

The applause was for the Pope. He was very loved by Hundreds of millions.

[DemBones DemBones]

15. Yep, just with lots more people than most funeral Masses.

I haven't wached the whole three hours yet so I don't know where the extra length comes from, probably the long Litany of the Saints plus the time it takes to give Communion to such a large crowd, maybe extra music. Oh, and all the cardinals were concelebrants so they all processed in and kissed the altar.

Keith Olberman did a good special on it tonight and it's starting the re-run now, FYI.

[onehandle]

17. Big scale, same structure.

I wonder if we get EWTN on our digital cable box. Other room.