Intelligence Squared Debate - The Catholic Church Is A Force For Good In The World

Unlike other branches of Christianity, flexibility has never been a feature of the Roman Catholic Church. The Vatican believes that the Pope is God's representative on earth, and that what he has to say - whether it's about morality, the role of women, condoms, or alleviating African poverty - must be obeyed. What this means, in theory at least, is that Catholicism's billion adherents have a structured framework for leading productive, charitable, and dignified lives.

But, with the modern world listening less and less to what were once its figures of authority, Catholicism has come under attack. The Church stands accused of collaborating with the Nazis during World War II, discriminating against homosexuals, protecting its paedophile priests and stubbornly refusing to concede that we need to promote contraception to curb the spread of Aids.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• religion
• christopher
• hitchens
• stephen
• fry
• debate
• catholicism
• god
• christianity
• vatican
• aids
• pope
• africa
• poverty
• women
• darwin
• evolution
• creationism

[23RMD]

Whats the point of this debate when Stephen Fry is God?

[jiveturky3000]

Ann Widdecombe has the most irritating voice.

[dotwod]

The Archbishop didn't stand much chance against a man like Stephen Fry who's command of language makes it possible for him to express his heartfelt feelings so well. He is an honest man with a brilliant mind and if there is a Biblical God out there, He is well pleased with this man who uses the gifts he was given so well.

[jiveturky3000]

that bishop is a bumbling fool

[BelieveNoGod]

@Londron WEll the church have had at least 10 lifetimes to do it

[Cherubaby]

@Froish Oh give us a break! The Inquisition was ONLY for Catholics! Look up "Catholic Inquisition Myths Busted" on YouTube. The Crusades were a band of Mercenaries, hired to take back the lands they lost to the invading Islamic armies - who by the way killed thousands of CHRISTIANS! Next thing you're gonna tell me is the RCC killed 30 million people during the Middle Ages (even though the pop. of Europe was only 30 mill) like those idiotic Seventh Day Adventists claim! What a load of SHIT!

[Froish]

@Cherubaby so the crusades weren't evil, the inquisition wasn't evil? both are things that were started, funded, and maintained by the catholic church. If you cant even blame the church for those things than there's no hope for you.

[Cherubaby]

@Cherubaby There are bad people everywhere, yes even in the Church! The Teachings of the Church however have benefited mankind immensely over the Centuries. She is the Light of the World in Ethics and Morals.

[Cherubaby]

@Froish Catholic Church hasn't done anything "evil." Christianity is Love.

[blindedbro]

great vid, thx for the upload. atheist destroyed in this debate

[blindedbro]

@Cherubaby that the catholics created