The hacking group Anonymous has taken down the Vatican website, saying it was targeting the "corrupt

[midnight]

Catholic Church.

The cyber attack came a day after a high-profile bust of the group's alleged leaders.
"Anonymous decided today to besiege your site in response to the doctrine, to the liturgies, to the absurd and anachronistic concepts that your for-profit organisation spreads around the world," the hackers said in a statement.
"This attack is not against the Christian religion or the faithful around the world but against the corrupt Roman Apostolic Church," said the group in a statement posted on the Italian-language version of the Anonymous website.http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0307/anonymous.html

[Electric Monk]

1. So what? It was just porn anyway.

http://twitter.com/#!/thetweetofgod

[chrisa]

2. They took down a website no one knew about?

Is that like a tree falling in the woods, with nobody around?

And furthermore, how could any computer operate within the Vatican? Image the pr0n cloggage.

[napoleon_in_rags]

3. Dem strategy: Repubs are waging war on women. Repub strategy: Dems are waging war on religion.

Which narrative does this action fit into?

[Kalidurga]

4. This isn't a war on Religion.

They did nothing to try to make people not believe. They have not tried to pass any laws against religion. They didn't even attack a single religious person in fact. They hacked into a computer that some corrupt religious leaders were using.

[Gregorian]

5. Well then, I think this is in order

Made by my good friend Kronos-

[Fawke Em]

6. I cried... hell, my Mom cried, when that Nazi was named Pope.

I was picking up my son from school - I was laid off, actually, and hunting for a job - and heard he was picked. My little boy got in the car and was worried someone had died because I was so teary.

I actually told my son, third grade at the time, that a damn Nazi had been named Pope (and I neither cuss much in front of my kids nor use the word Nazi) and it was sacrilegious. He said, "I'm sorry Mom. Jesus will make sure he doesn't do anything." Thus far, I think my son has been correct.

Your graphic made me laugh.

[RZM]

7. I'm not a Catholic. But I get annoyed when the Pope is called a Nazi

It's a bit like clinging to the notion that Jared Loughner was a Tea Partier.

Ratzinger came from a devout family that was cold to the Nazis for religious reasons. He tried to get out of his Hitler Youth duties and eventually deserted his unit after being drafted (while he was still a minor).

In terms of his relationship with the Nazi regime, he conducted himself about as well as any German born in 1927 could be expected to do.

[Fawke Em]

8. His predecessor was also alive during that time and didn't join.

It may "annoy" you, but you don't know the difference.

I'd look it up and post, but it's past 2 a.m. and I must sleep. If you'll give me the time, I'll look it up.

[RZM]

9. He was drafted

And Hitler youth membership was mandatory from 1939 on. He opposed the regime as much as you would have. Perhaps even more.

[pennylane100]

30. This is one of the many periods that do no reflect well on the catholic church.

So the present day pope if, as you say, opposed the regime, he did not get too much support from the church.



Catholic Church and the Holocaust, 1930-1965
Product Code: 0253214718
By Michael Phayer
The Catholic Church’s official silence during the Holocaust, its anti-Semitism, and its apparent lack of action to save lives – the record is damming. But was Pius XII “Hitler’s Pope”? In Phayer’s view, casting the spotlight relentlessly on Pius XII has skewed the question surrounding Catholicism and the Holocaust. Making extensive use of church documents, Phayer explores the actions of the Church and the actions of individual Catholics during the crucial period from the emergence of Hitler until the Church’s official rejection of anti-Semitism in 1965. Phayer’s research provides a sober record of what the Church did or did not do during Hitler’s years in power. Importantly, however, his account also tracks the evolution of official Catholic thinking during the rebuilding of Germany, the Cold War, and the gradual theological reforms that led to Vatican II.


This book is on sale at the United States Holocaust Memorial Center.

[whathehell]

15. His predecessor was an Adult.

It seems you "don't know the difference".

[pennylane100]

10. I am no longer a catholic

but I get annoyed when a nazi is called a pope.

[whathehell]

13. Me too...Thank you.

It's ridiculous to call a child a "nazi".

[JDPriestly]

11. I can understand the disgust with the corruption in the Catholic Vatican, but

there is something about Anonymous's activities that is very troubling. They put themselves against the law and they do violate individual and institutional privacy.

It's easy to applaud when a group like Anonymous uncovers something that we want to know or embarrasses some organization we don't like. But what if the tables were turned? What if it were our personal information that Anonymous was targeting?

The fundamental issue about Anonymous and about the assassination of Al-Awalaki is whether we have one law for all or whether powerful or skilled or clever people can set aside the law at their whim and act with impunity.

I know that Anonymous believes it is doing "the right thing" as do Holder and Obama, but in fact, they are all acting out of expediency.

When the power justify wrongdoing, whether their power is based on political authority or superior intelligence, they are still wrong.

[Electric Monk]

12. KILROY WAS HERE!

[Dreamer Tatum]

17. Just don't do anything that Anonymous wouldn't like.

It's that simple: don't offend a group of anonymous people with the power to ruin your life, and nothing
bad will happen to you.

[Leopolds Ghost]

18. Hmmm.... Perhaps.

> Offend a group of anons
> Get off scott free



"There was that time I ponified Ron Paul...."

Of course Anonymous is not a monolithic entity and I would imagine it takes time for their aims to coalesce.

[sudopod]

24. brohoof nt

[Leopolds Ghost]

28. /)*

[font color="grey" size="1"]#SAVEDERPY[/font]

[Marrah_G]

21. I'll feel sorry for the Vatican when ...

Cardinal Law is removed from his place of honor and prestige in Rome while families here still suffer the lasting effects of his crimes.

Just my unapologetic two cents.

[Leopolds Ghost]

19. I understand what you are saying, but I imagine that Anonymous would suggest

That their actions amount to nonviolent direct action while the actions of others amount to violent direct action.

Anonymous in general is a libertarian movement with left, right, anti-partisan, and anti-authoritarian elements. So they ascribe to the feeling that people in general should only do what they feel is appropriate given the tools that are at their disposal. More to the point, the general philosophy they espouse is that when the laws are corrupt that it is up to the people to determine what actions are right or wrong.

At least that is the impression I get. For instance in this case I think it's interesting that they elected to qualify their attack on the Vatican... they are willing to say that it is not an attack on religious people in general. I find this comforting, especially in light of the messaging of the Occupy movement... This is reflective of the fact that Anonymous is a largely ecumenical phenomenon, so to speak, although the circles they travel in seem to be as atheist as some segments of DU.

[JDPriestly]

22. But anyone could claim to be a part of Anonymous and

do something despicable and then blame it on Anonymous by using their name.

As I said, this is a conundrum because on the one hand, Anonymous has exposed some really shockingly bad conduct on the part of government and private individuals and institutions that have great power in our society. But on the other hand, they do what they do based on their own judgment calls. Those calls are strictly subjective. There is the possibility that they could harm innocent people.

So, I can't just give them a pass. They are taking on a huge responsibility. There is a certain arrogance in what they are doing.

[Leopolds Ghost]

23. On the other hand, no one is subject to more vicious attack by Anonymous

Than groups claiming to be Anonymous that do stuff that a majority of Anons find distasteful.

Of course, anypony can claim to be Anonymous but if they significantly piss off enough active Anons (i.e. persons who are more knowledgeable than the average tripfriend or fan club wannabe posting as Anonymous) then they're likely to have serious problems, especially since operating in such a fashion inherently puts their electronic presence out there.


[font face="Times" color="blue"]source = /pony/ paulbots .png[/font]

[JDPriestly]

25. How we use our abilities, our knowledge, our talents and time,

we have to make choices. I see a dilemma in what Anonymous is doing. And that is the moral one that any person faces when he makes decisions that affect others.

I have great reservations about Anonymous. They have exposed some things that we all need to know, but then what if your life were exposed to the world. I think any normal person is troubled by that fact. I do not even go on Facebook.

I'm sure that someone savvy about computers could discover who I am just from my posts on DU, but I do not do anyone any wrong when I post my opinions here. I do not infringe on anyone's privacy.

[Leopolds Ghost]

26. One of the interesting things is the origin of the whole Anon ethos seems to be what you mention

About concerns over one's own presence online.

Advocates for zero anonymity online were quick to point out that noone who has nothing to be ashamed of in what they say, or what they do, should have any objection to posting under their real name.

But advocates for anonymity quickly countered that everything you say and do in the public square is not monitored and recorded 24/7 for persons to use against you, or at least, should not be.



There's also the Greater Internet Fuckwad Theory to contend with, but Anon has successfully made that a part of their meme by insinuating themselves into the culture of "troll sites". But it seems lately with a number of different developments that Anon seems to have outgrown an exclusive attachment to such forums and is now concerning themselves with a wider audience.

[Electric Monk]

16. daytime kick, nt

[Marrah_G]

20. LOL

I love anonymous !!!!!!!!!

[JNelson6563]

27. Just checked it out, seems to be working.

[Leopolds Ghost]

29. As someone who uses the Vatican's website on a daily basis, I am outraged

Think of the CHILDREN!