From first impressions he seems a personable fella. More personable than Pope Benedict seemed to be.

We shall see.

Orthodox on matters sexual and 'liberal' on social issues, apparently.

Perhaps a miracle would be needed for the Catholic church to admit the link between the two.

It's Jim Bowen! Nothing in this game for two in a bed.

How is it Pope Francis I ?

Shurely you only get the numerical qualifier once you had a second Pope Francis, to distinguish between the two?

In her time, was Elizabeth ever referred to as "Elizabeth the First"? Er, no.

Gone from ex-Hitler Youth to someone who colluded with Galtieri's junta in extra-judicial kidnap. Progress.

They can't let their standards slip

[url=http://morallowground.com/2013/03/13/the-sins-of-pope-francis-jorge-bergoglios-shameful-role-in-argentinas-us-backed-dirty-war/Good piece here.[/url

Hmm, very liberal on social issues indeed.

An irrelevance - the previous pontifs have been unable to prevent their own cardinals from following their interpretation of the bible. Does anyone really believe if you have homosexual genes you will refrain from having a same sex physical relationship because Francis pontificates ?

Looks like he's got a lot to answer for but I bet he's already been given absolution.

My philosophy on it is that anyone who wants a job that comes with in-built infalliability must have some pretty big skeletons in an enormous closet somewhere.

I'd love for it to be an irrelevance, but unfortunately, it's not.

The Vatican has a huge amount of power – not as much as it used to in Europe, but certainly in the developing world. And it's entrenched attitudes on contraception in particular do nothing to help tackle poverty in those areas and, indeed, hinder progress.

The same can be said of dealing with HIV/Aids.

Then there's the question of abortion. Does anyone, for instance, really think that, were it not for the church's continued attitude, Ireland would maintain laws forbidding any abortion? Or in Nicaragua, where the government outlawed all abortion to please the church, and women are now dying as a result?

And that's without touching on how it still tries to impose it's views in this country, by various means including emotional blackmail.

That got me thinking. We've had extensive revelations about child abuse, indecent assaults on priests etc. but now the new guy names himself after Francis of Assisi - the patron saint of animals.

Surely not that?

Surely you're not suggesting bestiality are you ?

I thought it might be after Frank Sinatra, but then there are skeletons in THAT closet too. Allegedly

There were probably some very literal skeletons in that closet, including a few horse skeletons with no head attached.

Should have listened to Tom Hagen the Don's consigliere!

[uPedants' corner.[/u
1. Homosexual genes is a bit of a puzzler, how do they get passed on to another generation?
2. Being as how he's the Pontiff, isn't it now Francis's job to pontificate?

Don't mind me, I'll go away soon.

So, are you confirming that in your opinion that people are not "born" homosexual? Or at least they are destined to be single-generational (within their family's context) abberations? If people are neither born nor choose to be homosexual how does homosexuality come about? Serious question.

No, he's not.

And there are possible (as in discussed by the scientific community) reasons for the development of sexuality that don't involve genes or choice.

Quote ="Dally"So, are you confirming that in your opinion that people are not "born" homosexual? Or at least they are destined to be single-generational (within their family's context) abberations? If people are neither born nor choose to be homosexual how does homosexuality come about? Serious question.'" I don't think he was, but he can speak for himself. However as the world's leading scientific brains haven't found the answer to that yet, I am thinking your question that El Barbudo should explain it is a tad demanding. It might be more fruitful for you to google 'epigenetics'. A whole libraryful of work has been done on the subject across the globe, and here's just one interesting study: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3030621/

Quote ="Dally"So, are you confirming that in your opinion that people are not "born" homosexual? Or at least they are destined to be single-generational (within their family's context) abberations? If people are neither born nor choose to be homosexual how does homosexuality come about? Serious question.'" I don't think he was, but he can speak for himself. However as the world's leading scientific brains haven't found the answer to that yet, I am thinking your question that El Barbudo should explain it is a tad demanding. It might be more fruitful for you to google 'epigenetics'. A whole libraryful of work has been done on the subject across the globe, and here's just one interesting study: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3030621/

No, of course I am not confirming that, I was simply (light-heartedly) puzzling over how such a gene could be passed on.
Whether someone is born homosexual is neither proof nor refutation of whether a genetic predisposition to homosexuality exists.

However (and I'm guessing here), I'd reckon that a recessive gene could maybe do it, only showing up a characteristic in an individual where two genes have a matching allele.
That's how certain genetic characteristics can skip a generation or several before showing up again.


You seem to under the illusion that characteristics determined by genes will show up in every generation.
This is not the case.

If it is ever proven that there is a "homosexual gene", I get the feeling that you'll be recommending gene therapy for gays rather than accepting that is natural.

Could there perhaps be a multiplicity of "causes"?

How do you explain the significant % of gay men that have very feminine traits - high voices, very slim bodies effeminate mannerisms is that all learned/copied?

.....I know, its like when these 'celebs' like Will Young, Nick Grimshaw, that chap from Steps and there have been many more, decide to 'come out' and the general reaction of most people is '...and he hadn't come out already?' type of thing.

I can't believe these feminine traits are learned or copied - I recall going to school with a lad who was extremely camp, even at junior school age, and it came as no shock years later when he 'revealed' he was gay....Most of us used to tell him that at school in a typical kids-at-school sort of way....