Althouse: The Pope has "specifically requested" coca leaves.

June 30, 2015

The Pope has "specifically requested" coca leaves.

And he will chew them if he thinks it's "right."

16 comments:

YoungHegelian said...: Pope Benedict preferred bennies or dexies.; 6/30/15, 5:01 PM
Mark said...: He is being South American. I am sure it will stick in some people's craw, however.

Having been raised Catholic and been turned off by the zealots recently [Bishop Morlino in particular], it's nice to have a Pope who seems aware the modern world exists - I am enjoying the fact this Pope seems to have actually met both gay people and women. I wasn't so sure about the last guy [nor our Madison Bishop].; 6/30/15, 5:09 PM
YoungHegelian said...: @Mark,

I am enjoying the fact this Pope seems to have actually met both gay people and women

I lived three semesters in a seminary. Not just any seminary, either, but one of the two known for their alumni going on to be American bishops. Trust me, every priest has had ample contact with gay people.; 6/30/15, 5:30 PM
cassandra lite said...: He prefers the diet coca leaves.; 6/30/15, 5:35 PM
Fernandinande said...: "Vin Mariani [6mg to 7.2mg of cocaine per fluid ounce] was very popular in its day, even among royalty such as Queen Victoria. Pope Leo XIII and later Pope Saint Pius X were both Vin Mariani drinkers. Pope Leo awarded a Vatican gold medal to the wine, and also appeared on a poster endorsing it.

Thomas Edison also endorsed the wine, claiming it helped him stay awake longer. Ulysses S. Grant was also a fan of the wine, which he began drinking while writing his memoirs towards the end of his life."; 6/30/15, 5:48 PM
Gahrie said...: When the Pope is a drug using Commie, you know the world has gone to hell.; 6/30/15, 5:48 PM
Anonymous said...: It's fine if he is going to be at altitude.; 6/30/15, 6:00 PM
Steve M. Galbraith said...: When the Pope starts to sound like Bill Maher it's time to wonder just what the hell is going on out there.; 6/30/15, 6:11 PM
PB said...: do the drug of choice, everywhere you go!; 6/30/15, 6:26 PM
sinz52 said...: "Pope Leo XIII purportedly carried a hipflask of Vin Mariani with him"

IOW, he was hooked.

Notice how in the 19th century, we dealt with this issue without SWAT teams and the DEA. Today, they would have sentenced Thomas Edison to 10 years in prison.; 6/30/15, 6:36 PM
Joe said...: Maybe he should shoot up heroin, or smoke weed.; 6/30/15, 6:47 PM
kcom said...: Maybe he picked the wrong week to stop sniffing glue.; 6/30/15, 7:56 PM
Known Unknown said...: Thomas Edison also endorsed the wine, claiming it helped him stay awake longer. Ulysses S. Grant was also a fan of the wine, which he began drinking while writing his memoirs towards the end of his life."

Sounds like something I need to get some shit done.; 6/30/15, 9:01 PM
Marc in Eugene said...: Just for the information of the commenters here, Mark, would you mind describing Mons Morlino's 'zealotry'?

Am not commenting on the coca business, ha, until I read up on e.g. what question was actually asked and what was actually answered. The Guardian's record as a reliable interpreter of things Catholic is not great.; 6/30/15, 9:55 PM
Marc in Eugene said...: Oh, the Guardian.... So I went to read the article AA linked, and while the writer gets some details right etc etc it is of course the principal reason for the Pope's visit to the US-- the international assembly in Philadelphia on the family, to which Cuba, the UN, Fr Serra's canonisation at the National Shrine have all been added-- that has been reduced to 'visit to a soup kitchen'. Pft.; 6/30/15, 10:06 PM
Quaestor said...: Why do you think they call it pope?; 7/1/15, 3:41 AM