Pope Francis Suspends “Bling Bishop”

[DJ_KiDDvIcIOUs]

Pope Francis suspended Germany's infamous “Bishop of Bling” today after learning that the bishop spent as much as $55 million renovating his official residence, including a Bloombergian-$20,000 on his bathtub.

Bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst met with Pope Francis earlier this week to discuss the cost of his home's renovation, which includes $20,000 on a new bathtub, $35,000 on a single conference table, $1.1 million on a garden, and $4 million on a private chapel. The total cost could reach $55 million, far more than the already substantial $7.5 million approved for the project by Tebartz-van Elst's predecessor.

"The Holy See deems it appropriate to authorize a period of leave from the diocese for Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst," the Vatican said in a statement. "A situation has been created in which the bishop can no longer exercise his episcopal duties."

Tebartz-van Elst is also under investigation for improper use of church money during a recent trip to India, during which the bishop reportedly flew first class.

Pope Francis has made living humbly a priority of his papacy, shunning the Vatican's more decadent practices and refusing to live in its luxurious papal residence, choosing instead the less opulent Casa Santa Marta.

I'm not catholic but I'm digging what this new Pope is throwing down t:

 

[NickNitro]

I saw this earlier and couldn't be more proud of our new Pope.

 

[Teelie]

While I'm not a fan of the Vatican or Catholicsm in general, this new Pope has definitely been earning points for cleaning (the holy) house.

 

[NickNitro]

^ This

 

[Hurm...]

He's been doing a lot of unconventional things. I dig it.

 

[NickNitro]

Apparently he doesnt live where the Pope is supposed to because he deems it too flashy. He is asking the cardinal's, bishops to live more humble lifestyles. This is such a fantastic way to go about fixing a system that clearly has been drunk with power for decades.

 

[Teelie]

Decades? Try centuries.

 

[Piper Maru]

I'm not a religious person, but I like this new Pope.

 

[Eddie Dean]

Blind Bishop looks suspiciously like James Carville.

 

[KevanG]

Good for this pope. I hope he keeps it up and does something about the other 'indiscretions' the church has had over the past decades.

 

[NickNitro]

Decades? Try centuries.

Centuries? Try millennia!

Good for this pope. I hope he keeps it up and does something about the other 'indiscretions' the church has had over the past decades.

He's already been quoted saying that the Church should not put soo much effort into same sex marriage and that it is not his place to judge them. They aren't changing their beliefs that they think its going against the Bible, but he also see's all the hate mongering and bigotry it's causing in the world and I can see where he wants to try alleviate it.

Religion at its core for all types is peace in humanity, its sad that when technicalities in each are tested against one another, that hatrid and death are born

 

[DarkSentinel]

Francis knows what's up.

 

[amazingfantasy15]

This new pope might just get me to go back to church. Although I'm betting that in many places the pope's word hasn't trickled down yet and maybe never will.

 

[BestGirl]

This new pope might just get me to go back to church.

Replace "go back to church" with "call myself a Catholic again" and you have my thoughts.

 

[enterthemadness]

I'm so tired, I was reading the comments and thought you all were happy that this guy was spending $55M on a house and what not lol.

 

[Breogan]

I hate to say it, but along with those listed and some other humbling stances and reforms, like not wearing the ruby slippers and fancy trappings, washing the feet of convicts (females no less), not appearing on balconies but instead bellow among the masses (on their level) etc.. he has also chosen not to use the famous bulletproof Pope-Mobile. Putting his fate in anothers hands.

In other words, he is likely going to get shot.

His sweeping reforms, house cleaning, and demand for transparency are going against centuries of power, money, and corruption among those who want to protect the privileged lifestyle, and every second he is there he exposes them more and more.

 

[Teelie]

If he is shot he'll become a martyr. Hopefully however he leaves the office his successor learns something from him though.

 

[DarkSentinel]

Francis is using a Christian philosophy that I've used myself for years (in my personal life, not on the Hype. ). "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind." and "Love your neighbor as yourself."

Francis knows that he was chosen for a position that was originally a position of service for the church that Jesus left behind on earth. Sad to say as it is, but this is exactly why I choose not to attend church anymore (but I still fellowship, which is distinct and different from "church"): if you leave men in charge of God's work, they're going to **** it up and get greedy.

By Francis not only eschewing all the "trappings" of the historically lavish ideal of a "Pope" but furthering that by leading by example, we may see a resurgence of confidence in the church, not as a "Catholic" institution but as a body of people of the same faith who simply want to make the world a better place.

Go Francis

 

[Ant-manic]

i'm still an atheist. but the new pope seems like good people.

 

[KevanG]

Go Pope Frank!

Many of the clergy won't be interested in doing what he wants though. Just because he is essentially Gods chosen to represent Him on earth doesn't mean he can tell them what to do.

 

[Breogan]

Reminds me of this guy, also refused to live in the so called "palace", ride in the limos, actully gives more than he takes etc... they are also from the same region - http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/05/w...ica&adxnnlx=1382558641-oYC7UW3EwwE7aIPwcI+PNw

These kind of humbling "statements" by people in supposed power, tend to upset the actual most powerful and corrupt, who want to justify and maintain their power.

Must be something in the Mate