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On tonight's show (4/18) Bill apologized to the pope for calling him a Nazi and pledged that he'd never use the joke again. He reminded everyone that he is a comedian, his statements are in a comedic form and the pope was really a member of the Hitler Youth.
He went on to say that the controversy overshadows a bigger issue: That if the pope were the CEO of a major company where thousands of children were abused by employees, he'd be in jail.
So do you agree with that statement?
What do you think of the apology?
Was it all much ado about nothing?
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(58 of 238)
Re: Bill's Apology to the Pope -- What do you think?
Apr 21, 2008 6:52 AM
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I think Bill shouldnt have apologized. he's made commentaries against the catholic church and the pope and religious people before and didnt apologize.
HBO had better leave him be, if they censor him or cancel his show I will cancel my HBO. there are an amazing amount of idiots here - my favorite is the idiot who thinks the earth is 6000years old. could he possibly be a subscriber? I doubt someone with that mentality could even operate a remote control.
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Re: Bill's Apology to the Pope -- What do you think?
Apr 21, 2008 6:33 AM
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Supposedly, the pope joined the Hitler Youth because he didn't know any better. Ironic that the people who flock after him also don't know any better.
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Re: Bill's Apology to the Pope -- What do you think?
Apr 21, 2008 2:30 AM
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Bhannema:
Make sure to change screen names before you praise your own post next time. 
To the person who said:
>There is a crowd that one can pander to by calling someone >of German descent a "Nazi", but that crowd is shrinking. Is >Maher aware of the fact that in 2003, Germany refused to >participate in the invasion of Iraq?
Maybe you should worry more about your own awareness. Are you aware that the Pope was a member of the Hitler Youth and fought in a Nazi uniform during WWII?
Calling the Pope someone who used to be a Nazi has a basis well beyond the fact that he is of German descent.
Like everyone else who wore a Brown shirt, an SS uniform, or an Army uniform in Hitler's Germany, the Pope now claims he didn't agree with the Nazis and was only following orders. In making that claim he will need to get in line. Nazi Germany was the most amazing place in history. It will stand forever as a country that took some of the most heinous actions of all time without the complicity or help of any of its citizenry. Quite an astonishing feat, indeed.
Everybody was forced to do what they did by one little house painter with dark hair and tiny moustache, who had absolutely no help or backing from anyone. If you believe that, I have a great true story about a Tree of Knowledge and an apple and an errant male rib to sell you.
Actually, the Pope himself did not make the claim that he was "only following orders." According to Maher, the Catholic League made that claim on the Pope's behalf.
Maybe the claim that Pope only pretended to be a Nazi to save himself is true, but the documented actions of this Pope, including complicity in injuring others to save himself, particularly when other methods to save himself were available, cannot be said to be the actions that Jesus Christ would have taken under similar circumstances, nor even the actions that Jesus teachings indicate should be taken under similar circumstances. As such, the actions of this Pope are not the actions of someone who can lay claim to the moniker, "His Holiness," and who can lay claim to being God's messenger on earth or an intermediary between those better than himself and Jesus.
Every Pope started as a priest, and if a priest can be less than holy then so can the Pope.
If there is one thing history teaches us, it is that the Roman sect of Catholicism is far from infallible.
Perhaps you can point to something this Pope has done that indicates he is not the same person who donned a Brown shirt or fought under the swatstika.
Did he take a stand to rid the priesthood of those who bugger children? Oh, that's right, this Pope was the main architect of the vatican coverup.
So perhaps it was this Pope's preaching of tolerance for homosexuals -- one of the groups victimized in Nazi Germany? Err, no, last I heard this Pope does not have much more tolerance for homosexuals than his Brown Shirt buds did.
Shall I go on?
--
Edited by PureTruthiness at 04/20/2008 11:37 PM PDT
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Re: Bill's Apology to the Pope -- What do you think?
Apr 20, 2008 10:53 PM
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Couldn't have said it better.
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(54 of 238)
Re: Bill's Apology to the Pope -- What do you think?
Apr 20, 2008 10:52 PM
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I didn't think it was much of an apology as Bill went on about it being a "comedy show" and that the Pope actually did much worse as a youth. I like your show Bill, but don't hide behind the comedy line when you said it with an edge.
Going further you tried to justify it by saying you make fun of muslims. Gee I didn't see making fun of "Jews" in there or do I see you saying anything with an edge in that direction. I don't want to go further, because I don't think they should be ridiculed either, but the Pope as a CEO of the priest abuse scandel was a bit too far.
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Re: Bill's Apology to the Pope -- What do you think?
Apr 20, 2008 9:38 PM
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I tend to have views that many would characterize as "liberal" (although I don't believe in labeling people). I used to respect Maher for his outspoken views, but that respect is gone forever.
There is a crowd that one can pander to by calling someone of German descent a "Nazi", but that crowd is shrinking. Is Maher aware of the fact that in 2003, Germany refused to participate in the invasion of Iraq? Maher is the ultimate bigot, given that he claims to be respectful of race and ethnicity, but uses the pope's German descent against the pope. To claim that he was joking is even worse, what a coward.
I watched the mass on TV today and felt that pope Benedikt is a kind, loving person. The people in the audience were shaking each other's hands, they weren't beating each other up. Funny, how bigotry works and how the ones who are self-righteous are the ones who are hateful.
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(52 of 238)
Re: Bill's Apology to the Pope -- What do you think?
Apr 20, 2008 9:34 PM
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Everything we know to be true and right and real is now changed. Bill Maher has decided that we came from monkeys over 160 million years ago, I mean a billion years ago I me over a trillion years ago.
Martin Luther King found his power from God's word as the Word of God is the power of God on earth.
But he was wrong. Our constitution was based on God's word but we were wrong. God never existed. It took us 5000 years to get the first billion on in 1962 and since have gotten up to over 6 billion.
If we were here 200 billion years wouldn't we have a trillion people here.
A crutch is when people to serve there own personal detestable habits and anatomically incorrect behaviors can only be supported by flawed logic that has a foundation in stupidity.
Maybe the world went to flat instead of round and everything we know as true changed when the Republicans got caught red handed and its time for the immoral minority to spread sick homosexuals to rule our televisions run our country when they only comprise a small number of us.
Not on my watch. Get back an shut up. I cast you and your foul ideas into a trench of foolishness. People will begin to see you as a babbling fool, fool.
The homosexual community have no place in politics much less the Democratic Party. Obama doesn't condone what you to support and in a couple years you'll see that.
Go home and shut up you reward is coming.
The America People have a dilemma I still can't cross.
Fox who correctly say God is real and steal kill and act like total criminals.
Bill Maher and immoral people sexually and personally who can see corruption for money and power but want to stuff atheism and sodomy down every ones throat.
The devil is at work here and I stand in the gap. Christians should love and support there fellow man and should be Democrats. That also means recognizing ridiculous logic for what it is stupidity.
If we were all animals and have no God no validity to reason above and ape but should;d take what we want why should we obey any other rules.
What is source of right and wrong there is none. Bill Maher you may want to live by animal rules in your bedroom but that is your damnation. I ask God throw a stumbling block to your feet and a rock to you mouth.
You also are a liar who tells lies. Your future is sealed and fate apparent. I have nothing to do in this but can see God's work coming.
The Earth has not changed in 6000 years you just woke up a fool. The truth is still the truth.
Get some crutches your going to need them. Watch.
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(51 of 238)
Re: Bill's Apology to the Pope -- What do you think?
Apr 20, 2008 9:04 PM
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I think what Bill stated was very wrong. If this comment was regarding Jews or Muslims, the world would have turned upside down. He should be punished for his statement and he should really apologize for his joke. You can have your opinion about how some some members of the church have done the church wrong, but taking cheap shots at a Pope, whose is only trying to fix a bad situation is wrong.
HBO will get a very bad name if they choose not to do anything about this matter. I know they are many efforts of people who are planning to stop his show. And even though I like his show, he should stick to what's going on in the world today then to take cheap shots at a Pope. What the heck is he doing to change the world?? what has he done to give back or make a difference??? I am really thinking about cancelling HBO now....very sad....and this is not his first time doing something foolish like that
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(50 of 238)
Re: Bill's Apology to the Pope -- What do you think?
Apr 20, 2008 7:02 PM
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I am a catholic. I consider myself very liberal, respectful, and open to others' lifestyles and beliefs. The churches protection of criminal priests is immoral. They are criminals and should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
That being said; last week Bill Maher basically said all Americans are stupid and anyone who believes in a higher power is stupid. Where is Bill's respect and tolerance for people who feel differently than he?
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(49 of 238)
Re: Bill's Apology to the Pope -- What do you think?
Apr 20, 2008 6:02 PM
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> > Referring to the alleged child abuse of a Mormon
> group in Texas, Bill compared the pedophilia of the
> clergy in the Catholic Church and said, "There's
> another religious cult that abuses children."
>
> Bill was wrong in making his comparison.
>
> The Texas group is accused of child abuse based on a
> single telehone call from an anonymous 16 year old
> who claimed to be pregnant from an arranged marriage
> to a named 40 year old who was able to prove to he
> has not been in Texas for many years. Based on that
> the Texas authorities removed 416 children from their
> parents. <
>
> Wait. Okay. Stop.
>
> The age of consent in Texas is 17 as long as the
> person having sex is within a 3 year boundary. So,
> from my understanding, a 20 year old is okay to have
> sex with a 17 year old, anything above 20 isn't.
>
Jim, I don't read the statute that way:
Here's the statute: "Sec. 21.11. INDECENCY WITH A CHILD. (a) A person commits an offense if, with a child younger than 17 years and not the person's spouse, whether the child is of the same or opposite sex, the person:
(1) engages in sexual contact with the child or causes the child to engage in sexual contact; or
(2) with intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person:
(A) exposes the person's anus or any part of the person's genitals, knowing the child is present; or
(B) causes the child to expose the child's anus or any part of the child's genitals.
(b) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this section that the actor:
(1) was not more than three years older than the victim and of the opposite sex;
(2) did not use duress, force, or a threat against the victim at the time of the offense; and
(3) at the time of the offense:
(A) was not required under Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure, to register for life as a sex offender; or
(B) was not a person who under Chapter 62 had a reportable conviction or adjudication for an offense under this section. "
17 is the age of consent. The statute, including the 3 year boundary, ceases to apply on the 17th birthday. But for one accused of a sexual offense with a minor 16 or under and being prosecuted under the statute, it's an affirmative defense that the offender was not more than 3 years older than the alleged victim, provided also that the offender did not use force or threat, and was not convicted as a sex offender or required to register as one.
So, if a 15 year old girl does something naughty with her 18-year-old boyfriend, he can't be convicted as long as he didn't use duress, force or threats, and has a lawyer smart enough to invoke this defense.
> In the state of Texas you must be 18 to get married
> without parental permission and then it is indeed 16.
> If you're under 16, you must have a court order.
>
> In no states is it legal to be married multiple times
> to different people at the same time.
>
> So my question is, if it's illegal to have sex with
> someone who is much older than you in Texas and who
> you're not legally married to (since polygamy is
> illegal), and who would be a convicted sex offender
> if convicted of having sex with someone underage --
> how can it not be classified as sexual abuse of a
> child?
Simple answer, it IS sexual abuse of a child, unless there's some other exception.
And there just have to be other exceptions, because the way that law is written, it would be an offense for a parent to bathe an infant or dress a child, and also for medical personnel to do an exam. Police doing a pat-down of a teenager under 17 would be breaking this law, too.
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(48 of 238)
Re: Bill's Apology to the Pope -- What do you think?
Apr 20, 2008 5:26 PM
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I applaud Bill Maher's comments and I think his apology for the one minor and immaterial error (e.g. Mr. Ratzinger was not a Nazi but a Youth for Hitler) is sooooo poignant. Keep up the great commentary, Bill. The world needs more highly intelligent soldiers, such as Bill, fighting to remove the stanglehold that ALL religions have on this world. Resign? God, (ha) no.
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(47 of 238)
Re: Bill's Apology to the Pope -- What do you think?
Apr 20, 2008 5:10 PM
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Bill's apology to the Pope was completely appropriate. I am one of many Catholics who have been extrememly disappointed in the way the Catholic Church has handled sex abuse. A lot of what Bill says is not far from the truth and that is what bothers people. Last time I checked we had Freedom of Speech in this country and HBO should not succomb to the rants of others who would like to silence all dischord.
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(46 of 238)
Re: Bill's Apology to the Pope -- What do you think?
Apr 20, 2008 3:42 PM
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Did not the CPS of Texas found several children that are currently pregnant?
I heard there was 5 girls underage that are pregnant. Who did it? God?
What about polygamy is that accepted in Texas, just because he husband did not ger a license, but had the ceremony still make him a polygamist.
--
A great change is at hand, and our task, our obligation, is to make that revolution, that change, peaceful and constructive for ALL.
Former President John F. Kennedy, televised address, June 11, 1963. Five months before he was assassinated.
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(45 of 238)
Re: Bill's Apology to the Pope -- What do you think?
Apr 20, 2008 3:38 PM
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Oppppppps and many blushes. I should check my spell checks changes. 
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Re: Bill's Apology to the Pope -- What do you think?
Apr 20, 2008 2:31 PM
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> Referring to the alleged child abuse of a Mormon group in Texas, Bill compared the pedophilia of the clergy in the Catholic Church and said, "There's another religious cult that abuses children."
Bill was wrong in making his comparison.
The Texas group is accused of child abuse based on a single telehone call from an anonymous 16 year old who claimed to be pregnant from an arranged marriage to a named 40 year old who was able to prove to he has not been in Texas for many years. Based on that the Texas authorities removed 416 children from their parents. <
Wait. Okay. Stop.
The age of consent in Texas is 17 as long as the person having sex is within a 3 year boundary. So, from my understanding, a 20 year old is okay to have sex with a 17 year old, anything above 20 isn't.
In the state of Texas you must be 18 to get married without parental permission and then it is indeed 16. If you're under 16, you must have a court order.
In no states is it legal to be married multiple times to different people at the same time.
So my question is, if it's illegal to have sex with someone who is much older than you in Texas and who you're not legally married to (since polygamy is illegal), and who would be a convicted sex offender if convicted of having sex with someone underage -- how can it not be classified as sexual abuse of a child?
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