pope

Dolly Parton, Pope Benedict XVI, Coming Soon To Broadway!

3:49PM Clem Bastow | It seems Papal fever is still infecting the editors and photo editors of our country’s fine digital newspapers! They just can’t get enough of that sweet, sweet Catholicism! Reader Daniel forwarded us The Age’s ‘Entertainment News’ e-newsletter, adding, “You know, when I think of Broadway musicals and Dolly Parton, my mind also goes immediately to the Pope.” This is what he was referring to: You know, people will say this is just the photo equivalent of a typo, but I think there’s something deeper happening here – I get it, Benedict looks just like Dolly! Top work, The Age! Keep up the Catholic cats! More »

Pope Benedict XVI’s Visit Sparks LOLPOPE Fever In Photo Editors

9:52AM Clem Bastow | As Defamer Australia’s fearless leader noted yesterday, Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Australia for World Youth Day has induced intense excitement in the Catholic/Christian community – but it seems that the photo editors of the nation just can’t get enough of that Papal goodness, either! Here are a sampling of today’s efforts. First we have this rather subtle, blink and you’ll miss it offering:Pope Benedict hearts you! And then there is this equally subtle, yet slightly confusing and disorienting number:It reminds me of the bit in Mortal Kombat where the dude’s head pops up, shouting “TOASTY!” And the Peter Cundall reference – why?? But the front page of today’s Herald Sun website saves the best ’til last:Truly, as I once read an anonymous forum sprite exclaim after seeing a particularly good animated GIF, “Guys, I am standing up and applauding right now – this is the greatest party for my eyes.” Top work, everyone! May the Papal fever never be cured! More »

PAPALPALOOZA 08: Pope Benedict XVI’s Visit Down Under Has Aussie Catholics Singing “Celibate Good Times, Come On!”

7:55AM Jess McGuire | All across the country, Catholics are clutching their rosary beads with excitement at the news Head Dude of the Roman Catholic Church hit our golden soil yesterday, arriving at Richmond RAAF Base in the afternoon, where he was greeted with a friendly “Welcome to Oz, fuckface!” by Prime Minister Keven Rudd (well, he probably didn’t use those exact words, but who knows for sure anymore now that the PM’s potty-mouth has been uncovered?). The spiritual leader of the world’s 1.1 billion Catholics was met by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Sydney Archbishop George Pell as he began his nine-day trip, his first here since becoming pontiff in 2005. Pope Benedict expressed “great joy” about the visit, saying World Youth Day events had the ability to open frontiers between nations and bring cultures together. In an official statement to the “great southern land of the Holy Spirit” he wrote that all Australians were in his thoughts. As are the lyrics of Icehouse too, it would seem. What next, B-dog? Getting a billion people to kneel during Sunday Mass at Randwick Racecourse before theatrically using the line “On my knees, help me Jesus, tell me what can I do… electric blue” in your prayer? Stating same sex relationships are “Nothing Too Serious” and thus the entire notion of gay weddings denigrate the institution of marriage? I can’t think of any more appalling Icehouse-based wordplay, but you catch my drift. I look forward to seeing what the coming week of Catholic-mayhem brings. The fact that there’s a popedownunder Twitter account, meaning we can get succinct updates regarding exactly what’s happening during this Papalpalooza, is bloody brilliant. Frankly, entries like this - Breaking news: a kitten called ‘Bella’ has been brought into the Kenthurst Study Centre to help Pope Benedict feel at home - are so amazingly stupid that it seems fairly obvious to me that the Pope is going to feature on this little ol’ blog quite a bit this week. Bring it on. Kool & The Gang-inspired part of the post title courtesy of one-man wit machine, Swords & Sandals creator, and all round Sydney heartthrob Oliver Shirley’s Facebook status update. I salute you, sir. More »

The Pope Preaches Love and Tolerance For All (Only If You’re Catholic)

12:01PM Busty St Clair | So the Pope Benedict XVI reckons his church is better than the rest Protestants can’t properly call themselves churches, while orthodox churches can but are “wounded”, the Vatican says in a document released yesterday. The new document, issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which the Pope used to head, reaffirms traditional teaching that the Roman Catholic Church is the only true church — though “elements of truth” are found in separated churches. The Anglicans have replied with equal maturity. “Of course, they would think that — we think they’re a bit dodgy, too, but we’ve come a long way from saying the Pope is the antichrist. In Sydney, we get on well (with the Catholics) because we both accept there are irreconcilable differences. But that doesn’t stop us loving each other.” Hmmm. Loving each other, fine. But hopefully not “knowing” each other… in the Biblical sense. More »

Gisele And The Pope Battle It Out For The Souls Of Brazilian Youth

3:00PM Jess McGuire | We’re always mighty chuffed when models step off the catwalk and leap carefully coiffed hairstyle first into social issues. In this instance, Leonardo DiCaprio’s ex Gisele Bundchen has declared the Pope’s views on sexuality to be obsolete, and insists “no one” is a virgin when they get married. Bundchen is idolised by many young women in Brazil, the world’s largest Catholic country, where debate over sexual issues has intensified around a visit by Pope Benedict last month. The Pope stressed the church’s firm opposition to abortion and contraception and railed against sex outside of marriage. The Brazilian beauty, one of the world’s top models, told Folha de S.Paulo newspaper in an interview that, when the church made its laws centuries ago, women were expected to be virgins. “Today no one is a virgin when they get married … show me someone who’s a virgin!” she said. “Ahem.” Indeed. More »