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ABC's Bogus "Pope Joan" Story Also Hocked Debunked "Rule of Thumb" Myth
Newsbusters.org ^ | 30 December 2005 | Dave Pierre

Posted on 12/30/2005 3:14:10 PM PST by infoguy

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ABC's Bogus "Pope Joan" Story Also Hocked Debunked "Rule of Thumb" Myth
1 posted on 12/30/2005 3:14:12 PM PST by infoguy
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To: infoguy
More good info here on the whole "rule of thumb" hoax:
http://www.debunker.com/texts/ruleofthumb.html
2 posted on 12/30/2005 3:17:22 PM PST by infoguy (www.frankenlies.com ... www.themediareport.com ...)
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To: infoguy

Breaking news: "Pope Joan" is a tired old myth.


3 posted on 12/30/2005 3:17:37 PM PST by La Enchiladita ("We never lose! We're the United States of America!!" Rush, 12/26/05)
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To: infoguy

It was pretty pathetic story, and I am no RC.

They kept referring to "old" texts, but "Pope Joan" was supposed to be in, what, the 800s? From when were the texts? If 800s, that's something. If 1500, that's another.

I did note that most of the sources were internal RCC, not protestant, and it was fairly accepted as true for sometime -- but that means little other than we have an old lie.

The one story that intrigued me got little mention in ABC --- the story of the pope who tried a dead pope for heresy.

This is actually a true story:

One of the most bizarre historical accounts involving the papacy involves an event known as the Cadaver Synod. Stephen, made pope in 896, ordered the exhumation of his predecessor, Pope Formosus, and had him tried for alleged crimes against the church. Formosus had only been dead for about nine months. Stephen dressed Formosus' corpse in papal robes and sat it in a chair. Stephen presided over the trial.

"E.R. Chamberline writes, 'The corpse was provided with a council, who wisely kept silent while Pope Stephen raved and screamed his insults at it. The pretext for the trial was that Formosus, contrary to canon law, had accepted the bishopric of Rome while he was still bishop of another diocese.

"'But few, if any, in the council chamber, were impressed by the charge. The real crime of Formosus was that he had been a member of the opposite faction and had crowned 'emperor' one of the numerous illegitimate descendants of Charlemagne after having performed the same office for the candidate favored by Pope Stephen's party.' (The Bad Popes, 1969, p. 209)

"Formosus was declared guilty. His remains were dragged through the streets of Rome and then thrown in the Tiber. The effect of the Cadever Synod backfired on Stephen. Formosus' supporters, appalled by Stephen's macabre trial, rebelled. He was deposed, imprisoned and strangled to death."


4 posted on 12/30/2005 3:21:18 PM PST by MeanWestTexan (Many at FR would respond to Christ "Darn right, I'll cast the first stone!")
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To: infoguy

So liberals are all upset about people who beat their wives hundreds of years ago but do not care that muslims beat, and kill, their wives regularly in todays world. Shows you the type of mind set they really have.


5 posted on 12/30/2005 3:25:22 PM PST by calex59
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To: infoguy

I couldn't believe that ABC actually did a show about that Pope Joan nonsense.

More disgusting, though, was the History Channel show last week about how Leonardo da Vinci could have made the Shroud of Turin!


6 posted on 12/30/2005 3:28:34 PM PST by okstate
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To: infoguy

Even being protestant, just the thought of this show sickened me.
I'm still waiting for the special broadcast showing Muhammed robbing, raping, pillaging, plundering, pedofiling, ...
still waiting...


7 posted on 12/30/2005 3:35:51 PM PST by Mrs. Shawnlaw (Rock beats scissors, don't run with rocks. NRA)
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To: infoguy
(DP: I'm not an expert in this era of history. Is this even true?)

No. Total BS.

8 posted on 12/30/2005 3:36:55 PM PST by Harmless Teddy Bear (Your shovel use permit has been revoked, please turn in all digging tools by noon tomorrow. -OP)
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To: calex59

So liberals are all upset about people who beat their wives hundreds of years ago but do not care that muslims beat, and kill, their wives regularly in todays world.

Perhaps the muslim "rule of thumb" is that you must not
use a stick smaller than your thumb.


9 posted on 12/30/2005 3:37:34 PM PST by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
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To: MeanWestTexan
"They kept referring to "old" texts, but "Pope Joan" was supposed to be in, what, the 800s? From when were the texts? If 800s, that's something. If 1500, that's another."

You're correct. They went over it very quickly, but the earliest documentation is 400 years after the so-called "Joan." This first writer also made a notation along the lines that the story needed to be checked out.

Also, the Vatican has coins from the actual Pope Leo who actually did rule during the reported "reign" of the phony "Joan." Here's a good link on the matter.

10 posted on 12/30/2005 3:39:11 PM PST by infoguy (www.frankenlies.com ... www.themediareport.com ...)
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To: La Enchiladita
"Pope Joan" is a tired old myth.

"President Hillary" is another tired old myth.

11 posted on 12/30/2005 3:42:22 PM PST by JOE6PAK ("We'll be Heironymus Bosch in Jest a Minute, but Faust...")
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To: infoguy

And from Diane Sawyer you expected...what?


12 posted on 12/30/2005 3:47:26 PM PST by Viet Vet in Augusta GA
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Comment #13 Removed by Moderator

To: infoguy

Didn't this "pope Joan" get official status by showing up on an "official" papal deed. I'm aware there are many versions of the deed as Rome tends to rework it from time to time. I have several of the lists myself. If it is a myth, why is it everyone elses myth instead of one induced by Rome itself.. lol


14 posted on 12/30/2005 3:50:22 PM PST by Havoc (President George and King George.. coincidence?)
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To: tet68
Perhaps the muslim "rule of thumb" is that you must not use a stick smaller than your thumb.

Actually I think they have the rule of stone. Any size stone is acceptable!

15 posted on 12/30/2005 3:54:17 PM PST by calex59
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To: infoguy
"According to Canadian folklorist Philip Hiscock, 'The real explanation of 'rule of thumb' is that it derives from wood workers... who knew their trade so well they rarely or never fell back on the use of such things as rulers. Instead, they would measure things by, for example, the length of their thumbs'." (p. 204, emphasis mine. Ms. Hoff-Sommers elaborates further.)

The width of an adult male's thumb across the joint is one inch.

16 posted on 12/30/2005 3:55:13 PM PST by Oztrich Boy (Free Speech is not for everyone, If you don't like it, then don't use it)
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To: MeanWestTexan
"Formosus was declared guilty. His remains were dragged through the streets of Rome and then thrown in the Tiber. The effect of the Cadever Synod backfired on Stephen. Formosus' supporters, appalled by Stephen's macabre trial, rebelled. He was deposed, imprisoned and strangled to death."

Wow... Papal succession used to be a lot more interesting than it is today.

17 posted on 12/30/2005 3:58:22 PM PST by Bear_in_RoseBear (16 years, gone by too fast)
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To: infoguy

More evidence Diane Sawyer is a complete lightweight and network news shows are increasingly irrelevant.


18 posted on 12/30/2005 4:01:26 PM PST by Casloy
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To: infoguy


Nothing surprising from ABC and not a surprise Diane Sawyer would be involved, typical leftist nonsense, I'm betting dannyboy had a hand in this, what was his famous line, false but accurate??? LOL!


19 posted on 12/30/2005 4:07:42 PM PST by rockabyebaby (I'm not afraid to say out loud what the rest of you are afraid to admit.)
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To: infoguy

BOYCOTT ABCAND ITS ADVERTIZERS.


20 posted on 12/30/2005 4:13:20 PM PST by avile
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