We’ll keep any jokes about my Church to a number of zero, thank you. You don’t see me going around making jokes about jews or muslims. There should be no double standard in respect to which faiths we respect and which we insult.
And he is holding his mitre in his hands. The famous hat with the pointy ends that all bishops wear.
Robert, it sounds like you experience the gentle poking of the fun at this Cardinal’s appearance to be an attack on the Church and the Faith that you so dearly love. I see your point, but do not agree with it and would ask you to reconsider.
Surely you must see that even those in high leadership positions of the Catholic Church are still human and that sometimes this “humanness†is reflected in appearance. Understand that not everyone has what is such a fortunate experience for you, of being so devoted to your Faith. Remind yourself of what you already know, that free will is one of the great gifts we are given: just as you are free to practice your Faith, everyone else is free to decide for themselves whether to love or even acknowledge the existence of God or not, and to show that love or lack thereof, as they see fit.
Why do you come to the site of the Manolo, if not to share in the enjoyment of how he entertains us and how we try to entertain each other? You know this is not a malevolent place.
Mimi, you’re a lot nicer than I would’ve been. Last time I checked this was Manolo’s Shoe Blog, and not Robert’s Shoe Blog, so who he thinks HE is to be dictating content, I do not know… And it wasn’t even a “joke about [the] church,” for heaven’s sake (no pun)! I think Robert needs a blowjob.
And yes, Robert, I KNOW it’s a mitre. But it still LOOKS like a Depends.
As a Catholic who’s got very strong opinions on his church, NONE OF WHICH ANYONE HERE CARES ABOUT, I have to side with the majority and everyone that this is a good natured blog, and some gentle humor should not be taken the wrong way.
Perhaps a little perspective might help. To me, Robert seemed to be reacting less to the Monolo photo and caption, than to the comment about making “sordid” jokes about the Catholic. I remind Robert that this commenter, in fact, did not indulge.
Considering what has been the news lately, it’s not so hard to understand how the average devout member of the Catholic laity (feeling frustrated and horrified by things beyond their control) would get tired and not a little defensive.
This Presbyterian would offer you the small hand pat of sympathy and respect, Robert.
Annalucia says, the Cardinal he is not a bad-looking fellow for someone pushing the eightieth birthday. Also the snow-white hair is a very handsome color. But he will not be Pope. Neither will the Cardinal Arinze nor the Cardinal Dias nor any of the others who are loved by Las Vegas and the British bookies.
The new Pope will be someone of whom the bookies will say “Who? Never heard of him!” while there is the weeping and gnashing of teeth among the bettors.
Chloe, it will not be the Cardinal from Belgium because he is possessed of a name which frequently occurs in the movies of Mr. W. C. Fields. In the days of the Hays Office when one could not use profanity upon the silver screen, Mr. Fields was wont to exclaim “Godfrey Daniels!” in order to indicate the displeasure. So you see, it would never work.
As a Catholic, I have to say that if Ratzinger becomes Pope… well, hmm, I wonder if the Episcopals will have me? At least the Archbishop of Canterbury isn’t an ex-Nazi!
Badtux is being unkind. Young Germans during the Hitler era were *automatically* enrolled in Hitler Youth; they and their parents had no say in the matter unless they really wanted to end up in prison, unemployed, or dead. Young Ratzinger showed more gumption than most by running away from the HJ camp to which he was assigned.
Anyway Cardinal Ratzinger is now Pope Benedict XVI. I am surprised (I thought it would be someone virtually unknown, as Karol Wojtyla was before his elevation) but not displeased. He is solid. And I think Badtux should not exchange Rome for Canterbury. With an Archbishop who moonlights as as Druid and a very flamboyant newly-installed Bishop, he would definitely be getting the worst of the deal.
I’ve been sending links to your page to all my good Catholic friends (and I am a Catholic myself, born and raised in ITALY!)- we had a great laugh, but now we’re retorting: MANOLO YOU JINXED IT!! Now we are stuck with Ratzinger as our Pope. Let’s hope he sees the Light… :)
Still giggling, though, the new Pope is Uncle Fester… :D
The Archbishop of Canterbury is not a Druid in the neo-pagan sense of that word. The award he was given in Wales called “archdruid” is the Welsh equivalent of the Nobel or Pulitzer prize. It is given for literature and Dr. Williams was awarded it because, in addition to his other many gifts, he is a poet of some note. Christian hymns were sung at that award ceremony. People who slander others really should check their facts first.
I for one am satisfied with Benedict XVI. Liberal Catholics are upset that he has not endorsed, well, everything , conservative catholics are upset that he has not mandated the Latin Mass, so it should all work out OK.
The Manolo is the genius.
But wait….Have any of us ever seen The Manolo and the new Pope in the same room? I mean, really, could we have been conversing with the heir to the Throne of Peter all these days?
Habemus Papum! Yay! I’m happy with the elevation of Ratzinger as well, but appreciate fully the Manolo, his little Uncle Fester joke. This somewhat conservative Catholic, she loves the joke, even if aimed at something she deems the holy. And she know the Manolo is all in good fun.
And BadTux, it might be the fair to acknowledge that while Papa Razi he was enrolled in the Hitler Youth movement (as was anyone his age living in Germany) and was in the German Army in WWII, he was never involved in the Nazi party, and risked his life when he defected from the German army and became a POW of Allied Forces. That and the small fact that Pope JPII, himself persecuted badly by the Nazis, saw fit to have this man has his closest advisor since the early 80’s. But far be it from me to let these other facts get in the way of the frothing: Nazi! Nazi! Ayyyy!
Ugh, Ratzinger. This man is the chief writer for JP2s right wing diatribes against birth control, forbidding women from participating in the mass, not to mention condemming homosexuality as a “intrinsic moral evil”. The man should be ashamed of trying to drag the world and the church, back to the 16th century.
It is incorrect to say that people of Ratzinger’s age were forced to join the Hitler Youth. My (German) father was only a few years older than Ratzinger and did not. He and many others scorned the Nazis but had to be very careful about how they did it. This business about him being very brave to desert in 1945 is also crazy. By then the war was lost, the Russions were coming and virtually anyone – with any sense – was doing it.
Comments
Dave Schuler 20 years ago
Yep. Ratzinger’s a real charmer. However, while we’re on the subject of Popes I notice that you didn’t comment on JPII’s shoes.
Yvonne 20 years ago
LMAO!
Robert 20 years ago
Ratzinger is such an asskicker. And who wouldn’t want Uncle Fester as a pope?
mango 20 years ago
separated at birth: C. Ratzinger & U. Fester!
elayne 20 years ago
BWAH!
Two things though… he looks like he has breasts, and what is that in his hands, a Depends Undergarment? Oy.
Finishing.Law.School 20 years ago
Oooooooooooooooh…that was good! And thoroughly funny.
MaleWhore 20 years ago
i did not realize how conventionally handsome men they were until now. i guess you live(browse) and learn.
Bibliovixen 20 years ago
Pope Fester. The mind careens with the sordid jokes about that and the Church…
Robert 20 years ago
We’ll keep any jokes about my Church to a number of zero, thank you. You don’t see me going around making jokes about jews or muslims. There should be no double standard in respect to which faiths we respect and which we insult.
And he is holding his mitre in his hands. The famous hat with the pointy ends that all bishops wear.
Nick 20 years ago
Robert, is it okay to make fun of your church if I throw in some Jew/Muslim/Pole jokes at the same time?
Mimi 20 years ago
Robert, it sounds like you experience the gentle poking of the fun at this Cardinal’s appearance to be an attack on the Church and the Faith that you so dearly love. I see your point, but do not agree with it and would ask you to reconsider.
Surely you must see that even those in high leadership positions of the Catholic Church are still human and that sometimes this “humanness†is reflected in appearance. Understand that not everyone has what is such a fortunate experience for you, of being so devoted to your Faith. Remind yourself of what you already know, that free will is one of the great gifts we are given: just as you are free to practice your Faith, everyone else is free to decide for themselves whether to love or even acknowledge the existence of God or not, and to show that love or lack thereof, as they see fit.
Why do you come to the site of the Manolo, if not to share in the enjoyment of how he entertains us and how we try to entertain each other? You know this is not a malevolent place.
elayne 20 years ago
Mimi, you’re a lot nicer than I would’ve been. Last time I checked this was Manolo’s Shoe Blog, and not Robert’s Shoe Blog, so who he thinks HE is to be dictating content, I do not know… And it wasn’t even a “joke about [the] church,” for heaven’s sake (no pun)! I think Robert needs a blowjob.
And yes, Robert, I KNOW it’s a mitre. But it still LOOKS like a Depends.
JoeB 20 years ago
As a Catholic who’s got very strong opinions on his church, NONE OF WHICH ANYONE HERE CARES ABOUT, I have to side with the majority and everyone that this is a good natured blog, and some gentle humor should not be taken the wrong way.
So this Jew walks into a bar, and….
JoeB 20 years ago
Insert the word “remind” on line 2 . Should read, “…I have to side with the majority and remind everyone that this…”
Please excuse my typing malfunction.
Cecelia 20 years ago
Blessed are the peacemakers….
Perhaps a little perspective might help. To me, Robert seemed to be reacting less to the Monolo photo and caption, than to the comment about making “sordid” jokes about the Catholic. I remind Robert that this commenter, in fact, did not indulge.
Considering what has been the news lately, it’s not so hard to understand how the average devout member of the Catholic laity (feeling frustrated and horrified by things beyond their control) would get tired and not a little defensive.
This Presbyterian would offer you the small hand pat of sympathy and respect, Robert.
Now, let’s go back to the shoe fetishes.
Alex 20 years ago
Cheese and crackers! It’s called a sense of humor. You should get one; they’re nice.
Manolo, you just keep on, keeping on with your fabulous self!
P.S. Yes, I am Catholic.
Annalucia 20 years ago
Annalucia says, the Cardinal he is not a bad-looking fellow for someone pushing the eightieth birthday. Also the snow-white hair is a very handsome color. But he will not be Pope. Neither will the Cardinal Arinze nor the Cardinal Dias nor any of the others who are loved by Las Vegas and the British bookies.
The new Pope will be someone of whom the bookies will say “Who? Never heard of him!” while there is the weeping and gnashing of teeth among the bettors.
chloe 20 years ago
My dough is on the Patriarch of Venice but I’d prefer the dude from Belgium.
(cradle Catholic, currently non-practicing, but I was in Rome during Holy Week and that St. Peter’s is most impressive!)
Glitzy 20 years ago
Oh my…I am still recovering from all the laughing…..
Annalucia 20 years ago
Chloe, it will not be the Cardinal from Belgium because he is possessed of a name which frequently occurs in the movies of Mr. W. C. Fields. In the days of the Hays Office when one could not use profanity upon the silver screen, Mr. Fields was wont to exclaim “Godfrey Daniels!” in order to indicate the displeasure. So you see, it would never work.
BadTux 20 years ago
As a Catholic, I have to say that if Ratzinger becomes Pope… well, hmm, I wonder if the Episcopals will have me? At least the Archbishop of Canterbury isn’t an ex-Nazi!
– Badtux the Catholic Penguin
Madame Fabulous 20 years ago
The Manolo gets it exactly right.
Somewhere, angels weep.
Annalucia 20 years ago
Badtux is being unkind. Young Germans during the Hitler era were *automatically* enrolled in Hitler Youth; they and their parents had no say in the matter unless they really wanted to end up in prison, unemployed, or dead. Young Ratzinger showed more gumption than most by running away from the HJ camp to which he was assigned.
Anyway Cardinal Ratzinger is now Pope Benedict XVI. I am surprised (I thought it would be someone virtually unknown, as Karol Wojtyla was before his elevation) but not displeased. He is solid. And I think Badtux should not exchange Rome for Canterbury. With an Archbishop who moonlights as as Druid and a very flamboyant newly-installed Bishop, he would definitely be getting the worst of the deal.
Bridging Jones 20 years ago
I’ve been sending links to your page to all my good Catholic friends (and I am a Catholic myself, born and raised in ITALY!)- we had a great laugh, but now we’re retorting: MANOLO YOU JINXED IT!! Now we are stuck with Ratzinger as our Pope. Let’s hope he sees the Light… :)
Still giggling, though, the new Pope is Uncle Fester… :D
Starphuck 20 years ago
YOU MADE FUN OF THE POPE!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! THE WORLD WILL END NOW
Lisa 20 years ago
When I heard the news, my first thought was, “Ah, the Manolo, he is the prophet, and Uncle Fester, he is the daddy.”
Ellie 20 years ago
The Archbishop of Canterbury is not a Druid in the neo-pagan sense of that word. The award he was given in Wales called “archdruid” is the Welsh equivalent of the Nobel or Pulitzer prize. It is given for literature and Dr. Williams was awarded it because, in addition to his other many gifts, he is a poet of some note. Christian hymns were sung at that award ceremony. People who slander others really should check their facts first.
JoeB 20 years ago
I for one am satisfied with Benedict XVI. Liberal Catholics are upset that he has not endorsed, well, everything , conservative catholics are upset that he has not mandated the Latin Mass, so it should all work out OK.
The Manolo is the genius.
But wait….Have any of us ever seen The Manolo and the new Pope in the same room? I mean, really, could we have been conversing with the heir to the Throne of Peter all these days?
All hail Pope Manolo I !!!
I genuflect to His Fantasticalness!!!
JoeB 20 years ago
Oh, man, I am SO going to Hell now. Or at least a long stop in Purgatory…
willow 20 years ago
Habemus Papum! Yay! I’m happy with the elevation of Ratzinger as well, but appreciate fully the Manolo, his little Uncle Fester joke. This somewhat conservative Catholic, she loves the joke, even if aimed at something she deems the holy. And she know the Manolo is all in good fun.
And BadTux, it might be the fair to acknowledge that while Papa Razi he was enrolled in the Hitler Youth movement (as was anyone his age living in Germany) and was in the German Army in WWII, he was never involved in the Nazi party, and risked his life when he defected from the German army and became a POW of Allied Forces. That and the small fact that Pope JPII, himself persecuted badly by the Nazis, saw fit to have this man has his closest advisor since the early 80’s. But far be it from me to let these other facts get in the way of the frothing: Nazi! Nazi! Ayyyy!
Hot Bisexual Model 20 years ago
For Christ’s sake give him a lazer skin resurfacing … and some eye cream for those horrid snake circles. He’s scarying the children.
tioedong 20 years ago
I thought it was hilarious…
But then, I love both Manolo and Ratzinger.
Did you know there is a webpage the Cardinal Ratzinger fan club?
SuzanH 20 years ago
I totally snorted.
Because it’s FUNNY!
Steve 20 years ago
Ugh, Ratzinger. This man is the chief writer for JP2s right wing diatribes against birth control, forbidding women from participating in the mass, not to mention condemming homosexuality as a “intrinsic moral evil”. The man should be ashamed of trying to drag the world and the church, back to the 16th century.
Frank 20 years ago
It is incorrect to say that people of Ratzinger’s age were forced to join the Hitler Youth. My (German) father was only a few years older than Ratzinger and did not. He and many others scorned the Nazis but had to be very careful about how they did it. This business about him being very brave to desert in 1945 is also crazy. By then the war was lost, the Russions were coming and virtually anyone – with any sense – was doing it.
Plucky 20 years ago
Interesting COmparison….