Pope Joan?
 

"Was there a Pope Joan — a woman with nerve enough to disguise herself as a man and serve as pope for more than two years in the ninth century? It is one of the world's oldest mysteries. Her story first appeared in histories written by medieval monks, but today the Catholic Church dismisses it."

-ABC News

http://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/story?id=1453197&page=1

To my knowledge, no serious scholar today believes a female pope Joan existed.

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08407a.htm

I wondered how long it would be until you responded to this.

God-boy strikes again! ;-)

So let me get this straight--Catholics believe in a virgin birth, but a woman being elected Pope while posing as a man is so far-fetched? Hmmm...

Those crazy Catholics.

Of course - a woman's place is in the home, having babies and cooking and cleaning.

Am I right or am I right, ladies?

*kidding*

No, unfortunately, you're wrong. See, a woman's place is actually in Burberry or some other such lovely store, spending her husband's money. :p Come on, after cooking and cleaning all day, don't we deserve something?

Leave all that Popin' business to the men.


"Tell me the truth, you weren't always a chick, right?"

Umm... Yeah...

Most of the Pope Joan stuff hit a peak in the lead up to the Reformation - what with all the fun stories of corruption, scandal and such... how else would someone top them - invent a female Pope! Ah those wacky Germans and their various herasies ;)

My personal favourite Pope Joan story is the one about how she died: giving birth to the Anti-Christ :rolleyes:

As you can see slagging the Church has a very long and colourful history :p

Actually, I think is is beleiveable knowing a little of the Roman Catholic Church.

While Not a Scholar, it doesnt take much imagination to follow this!

At one time, The Church, (Bishops) had Wives, Larger Land Holdings than the Regal Heads, and Bigger Armys to protect both.

They Killed many people during the Inquisiations for doubting them. This was the time when the Roman Church wanted to show who was in charge.

If They Lost Power, They would Lose Money, Property, and Control.

The Time of Two Popes, Italian and French. Who was going to be the Head Cheese?

What is the smallest Self Governing State, Not Country in the World?

The Roman Church is unto it self as no other!:)

Do I beleive, Yes I Do!


One has to read a little abuot of Joan De Arch. The Saviour of France The Dauphine, who became so Powerful that She was found to be a Heritic accordinding To THe Roman Church as a Women Could Never Have the Ear of God! She Was Burned at The Stake!:confused: What @ 17?

Martin Luther? ;)

When's the book coming out?

Tom, unfortunately you really do need to do some research.

After about 3AD (at the latest probably - I can try and find an exact time if you really would like) BISHOPS were not allowed to be married. Proof of this is found in the Eastern Orthodox Churches were if you are a married priest you will never be able to be a Bishop. I think you are confusing this fact with the Holy Roman Empire - which is basically the original Roman Empire with the word HOLY added when it got the blessing of the Pope.

The Inquisition - where are you getting the idea that many people were killed during this period? Hollywood? English/Protestant history books? Monty Python? VERY FEW people were actually killed because of the Inquisition.

Vatican City is in FACT a country in Europe. If it were only a state in Italy it would not have its own diplomatic corp - nor its own money (up until joining the EU) and postal system. Basically it has everything that the US has with the exception of a standing army. Vatican City became its own country back in the ealy 20th century, by the way.

Joan of Arc was actually burned by the ENGLISH and the French Dauphin did nothing to stop them. By the way, Joan of Arc was NOT the Dauphin - who is the crown prince of France. If the Roman Catholic Church thought she was a heretic, why was the canonized? The English declared her to be a witch because they were nervous of her (like most people today are nervous around people who claim to hear voices).

Oh, and by the way, there were a couple of times when you had two popes - one appointed by the Holy Roman Emperor and one that was properly elected.

Sarah

I stand corrected on some of the points as I was typing in a hurry and has been a long time in studying any of this.:)

While there was Canon law about relationships it was not necessarly followed was it?:(

But, it is not to say that there were not many things that were askewance in the old days of The Roman Catholic Church.

Is there a possibility, maybe yes, maybe no.:)

I was not there to note what was actually happening, but it does read well doesnt it?:D