A good pair of shoes is a wonderful gift to a homeless person. Try living on the streets without proper footwear and maybe then you would understand just how much of a blessing it could be to get a decent pair.

What an evil bastard! Imagine how much food or clothing could have been purchased for the price of such shoes. Clearly the "Holy See" of the Church of the Holy Pedophiles just doesn't get it.

Wow. I guess it never crossed your mind that those shoes could be auctioned off to raise some money for the shelter; or that man cannot live by bread alone, hmm?

In fact, one of the temptations Jesus faced from the devil was to feed the world's bodies without giving any thought to their spiritual hunger. Is this not also in the Biblical teachings (to whomever made their snide anti-Catholic comment about the "catholic" bible).

Way to attack something of which you have little knowledge. Still, we should forgive you for you know not what you do.

To all who have commented on the "shoes" piece, you are not getting it. The original article clearly states: "(Father) Johnson said Benedict got the shoes from an Italian shoemaker who asked that they be distributed to the poor." It is the spiteful Ms. Metz who distorted the whole issue by putting her own spin on it to make the pope look bad. To billie kelpin, your misfortunes have made you angry and bitter and I hope there will be gentle people in your life who will be kind to you.

The underlying disrespectful predisposition to anti-Catholic bigotry is quite obvious in criticizing the pope's personal kindness to homeless individuals.
I bet that self rightteous hypocrite has never done any good to homeless individuals superior to this little gesture of the pope.
The shoes were probably donated and he thought of a good way to pass them on, giving happiness to its wearers. He was expressing to them their own dignity as persons were worthy of being given finest quality shoes from the pope himself. How special it would make them feel, uplifting them.
Social work, health care systems are for agencies focused on that.
Has that author ever done for even one person what he expects the pope to do? I have. For many.

This article and many of the comments reminds me of the old adage "I'm damned if I do and I'm damned if I don't."
Another sayings that could work for the author and some commentators is "Let God be the Judge."
Oh, I can't resist this last one, "Get a Life."

I'm not sure why this strange gift would surprise anyone. After all, this is a man who is totally out of touch with the world around him. This is a shepherd who has no idea what his flock needs. If he did, not only would he not give shoes to the homeless, he would do something about the sexual abuse scandal of his priests. Let's be realistic here....the pope is not a man who is concerned with the people around him, except when they are applauding him. That may sound petty, but it is true. The most important priority in his life is how he looks. How the man ever became pope in the first place is really questionable. I used to believe that the Holy Spirit had something to do with the election of the pope. Now, I know that this is entirely run by human men.

This is a very peculiar pope. I suppose the shelter could auction off the Pope's shoes to a few faithful who want a papal souvenir and then make the profits go further for getting the homeless what they really need. Hard to imagine that the person who is spiritual head to many is involved in such mundane things as desire for fine shoes.

#12 you are very angry and I will say a prayer for you.

# 12 I am sorry that you are so angry. I will pray for you.
#19 You couldn't have said it better.

There are literally thousands upon thousands of Catholic Charities throughout the entire world.

The Shoes were above and beyond all that is already done by the church for the poor...NO other religion has ever done more since the history of the church.
This is just a small list.

http://dir.yahoo.com/Society_and_Culture/Religion_and_Spirituality/Faiths_and_Practices/Christianity/Denominations_and_Sects/Catholic/Organizations/Charities/

Wow -- I hope they have something in their closets that will go with those shoes! God bless the Pope and his thoughtfulness.

I suspect that Ann (comment 13) has it absolutely right. To a homeless person few things ( but for obviously food/water access) can be more important than a comfortabe pair of shoes. I can't understand why this seems to be turning into comments on religion. I also suspect that some of respondants have never been in a homeless situation or they might understand a bit more. I'm a caring atheist.

if the shoes were actually his own stinky but stylish exorbitantly priced sweatbox shoes, then he can shove them up his nazi asshole, and if they were as suggested, donated on the poops behalf by some poor italian shoemaker putz, then OMG . did il papa not even put his hand in his/the church's pocket to effect this gift from God ??.
you guys said it all . CHEAPSKATE ..... whatt the FORK is the poope doing, having exotic taste in shoes ??? how WEIRD is that ????????
yeah, too right, the whole gesture IS highly insulting
bet some of those folks would much rather have been given a cheap mattress, or some blankets, rather than forking posh shoes ???
don't get me started hahaha

I work at a homeless shelter. The ladies are always excited when someone gives something other than their worn out leftovers or castaways. They would be thrilled with some nice Italian shoes.
By the way, I wonder what the author has ever given to the homeless?

The Sex scandals have been addressed and the actual % of Ped in the Clergy is significantly lower than the general population. A ped will seek out environments where he can seek out children aka a Wolf in Sheep's clothing. Do not judge an entire religion for the sins of a few....Otherwise you may as well as judge all men based on the pervs in this world. Genuine Catholics are caring and generous people who have done so much more than probably all religions combined for the poor and underprivileged of this world...Many claim he is out of touch with the modern world...all I have to say to that is he is Following God...who is the same today as yesterday and will be the same tomorrow.

To Number 22...Why play the my religion is better than the rest card? What happend to being humble? Nice to see you went to the trouble to make a list of alllll the catholic charities...as Im sure you didnt do that with the others. Playing that card makes u no better than the people in here who have stated their opinions that you dont agree with. Atleast my religion doesnt toot their own horn and say we have done more..or say...we are better...I certainly hope u dont represent the catholic majority. I bet ur the type that donates to charity....and then tells everyone..look what I did...and how much...others are more happy with being humble..And we donate and do things to help others....Not to say... Look what I did....If u donate...do it to help...not to try and make yourself look like a saint.

Hello....the intention for these shoes was to distribute them to the poor. Mary Jo Copeland believes that if your feet feel good so does the rest of your body. I think you would have to agree. IT'S A SHAME PEOPLE NEED TO TURN SOMETHING SO GOOD INTO A NEGATIVE.

God Is the same today as he was yesterday and will be the same tomorrow and the Catholic church understands that...that is for those who feel the church is out of touch with the modern world

The Church has done more for the poor and underprivileged of this world than probably all other religions or charities combined. There are thousands and thousands and thousands of missionary's, orphanages, homeless shelters, relief programs, etc. throughout the world....
A pair of shoes is just a token of the generosity already displayed by the church

And for those who think the church is made up of a bunch of pedo.....
The actual % of clergy who are peds is so significantly lower than the general population and most abusers are a child's own father. If you condemn a whole religion based on the sins of a few you might as well as condemn all of mankind.
Also....Remember a Pedo will seek out an environment where he can foster his behavior....They were pervs before they entered the church and they have greatly tarnished the churches reputation..Exactly as the devil would have them do they come as wolves in sheep's clothing to deceive.

I'm afraid the Pope's gift might be cause for the homeless recepients to get mugged! He could have done something more practical if he really wanted to help!