Princely House of Thurn und Taxis 2: July 2008 - July 2011

[Jo of Palatine]

Originally Posted by Al_bina

I wonder what special information about the conclave Furstin Gloria is privy to. I mean conclaves happen in private and the public are not allowed in. Could a participant of a conclave share information with his friends?

Gloria is a leading member of the German section of the very catholic "Souverain Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta" and has excellent relations with the bishops of Regensburg and München-Freising as well as a long-standing acquaintance with the former Cardinal Ratzinger whose private home (shared with his brother) is close to Regensburg where Gloria resides officially. So I guess she is indeed privy to information about the conclave and the pope.

[Al_bina]

WOW!!! To be privy information about the conclave is quite impressive. At the same time, I think that Furstin Gloria is a person of extremes to a certain extent. She was a wild child, who used not to fit into an aristocratic mould ... She has made a U turn by having strong religious beliefs and showing this in the way she lives her life and behaves. In the end, I have to say she is the person to be admired.

[Avicenna]

Originally Posted by Marengo

Furstin Gloria is being interviewed on the ARD at the moment on the programme 'Marschberger'. She is telling about her relations with a cardinal, about the death of the ormer pope and about the conclave, when cardinal Ratzinger was proclaumed the new pope etc.

She tries to go to mass every day but that is not possible as they don't have masses everywhere anymore. But in biger cities it is still possible.

And here is a picture of the show: Fürstin und Kardinal: "Beten als Medikation" - SPIEGEL ONLINE - Nachrichten - Kultur

[Boris]

IMO the Princess of Thurn and Taxis is not a person to be admired at all.
Quotes from the show:
"Taking the pill equals abortion."
"Condoms don’t help against AIDS"
And her stand on homosexuality?
"Praying, praying, praying" can cure it...
I am very sorry, but her statements on the show were dangerously silly. Total ignorance doesn't deserve admiration, it may not even deserve respect.

[Al_bina]

Personally I admire her for turning her life around and becoming a good mother and a head of the Princely House. I do not factor her personal views on the hot social topics mentioned by you in my admiration. She is not going to rule any country and has got a full right to have an opinion that differs from mine or yours.

[iceflower]

A pic from the book presentation today:

Gloria of Thurn and Taxis and cardinal Joachim Meisner present
their book 'Die Fuerstin und der Kardinal' ('The princess and the
cardinal') in Cologne, Germany, 10 September 2008

----> Pic

[giov]

Originally Posted by Boris

IMO the Princess of Thurn and Taxis is not a person to be admired at all.
Quotes from the show:
"Taking the pill equals abortion."
"Condoms don’t help against AIDS"
And her stand on homosexuality?
"Praying, praying, praying" can cure it...
I am very sorry, but her statements on the show were dangerously silly. Total ignorance doesn't deserve admiration, it may not even deserve respect.

Boris, I respect your opinions but, it is well known that the Princess is a Catholic extremist. She said on the show exactly the same things a Catholic priest or even the Pope would say, and any very religious Catholic should say (in their opinion).
One can totally disagree with them, of course, but IMO you cannot say she is dangerously silly, ignorant and she doesn't need respect!
That is her religion, one cannot criticize her for that!

[Boris]

You're correct: Whether taking the pill equals abortion or not can indeed be matter of religious and ethical discussion - it's an opinion which I don't share but have to tolerate.
Whether condoms help protect you from AIDS can not be matter of discussion.
In fact they do, the statement that they do not is factually false, and giving this statement as a public person on TV regardless does IMO indeed equal ignorance.
Unfortunately there might be people out there who believe her, that's why I addionally called that irresponsible quote dangerous.

[giov]

Originally Posted by Boris

You're correct: Whether taking the pill equals abortion or not can indeed be matter of religious and ethical discussion - it's an opinion which I don't share but have to tolerate.
Whether condoms help protect you from AIDS can not be matter of discussion.
In fact they do, the statement that they do not is factually false, and giving this statement as a public person on TV regardless does IMO indeed equal ignorance, unfortunately.

You are right, but as you wrote "her statements on the show", not "her statement on Aids", you can be misunderstood!
You wrote she not a person to be admired at all! Come on!
Anyways, did she really say that about Aids?

[Boris]

Yes, she did - the original in German:
"Kondome helfen nicht gegen AIDS." / Condoms don't help against AIDS.
Mixing up a discussion about contraception with a discussion about protection from AIDS was most incompetent on her part.
Unfortunately, the quote promptly made headlines in Germany, though mostly negative ones in the serious press.

[giov]

Boris, she says what all priests say. I am not surprised!

[pamk]

Originally Posted by Avicenna

no make-up -> good for your skin
a few more kilos on your hips and elsewhere -> no or less wrinkles
frumpy clothes -> I wouldn't call a Dirndl frumpy!!!

All in all a classy life.

Aside from the classic, very pretty dirndl, she wears comfy clothes and sensible shoes and always has a smile on her face. She doesn't have to put on a show - she is as she is and looks happy going about her way and enjoying life. I bet that she doesn't put on airs either.
I sure would love to have her gorgeous pearls though!

[Jo of Palatine]

Originally Posted by Al_bina

WOW!!! To be privy information about the conclave is quite impressive. At the same time, I think that Furstin Gloria is a person of extremes to a certain extent. She was a wild child, who used not to fit into an aristocratic mould ... She has made a U turn by having strong religious beliefs and showing this in the way she lives her life and behaves. In the end, I have to say she is the person to be admired.

Unfortunately she is a racist as well telling twice in TV that the reason for AIDS in Africa is that "the negroes love to f*** around" - well, she didn't really say the f-word but used another one which similarily refers to having sex without love or emotions for the sake of the experience. The way she phrased it was clearly rascist.

[Boris]

The protestant German bishop of Niedersachsen Margot Kaessmann called Gloria von T& T's statements about AIDS and black people ‘shocking’, ‘cynical’ and ‘inhuman’ and suggested the Princess should travel to Africa to inform herself before speaking in public about the issue again.
Article in German:
http://www.faz.net/s/Rub867BF88948594D80AD8AB4E72C5626ED/Doc~EC329D3B85A754D0C9ACBE410BCA3468C~ATpl~Ecommon~Scontent.html?rss_googlefeed

[Al_bina]

Originally Posted by Jo of Palatine

Unfortunately she is a racist as well telling twice in TV that the reason for AIDS in Africa is that "the negroes love to f*** around" - well, she didn't really say the f-word but used another one which similarily refers to having sex without love or emotions for the sake of the experience. The way she phrased it was clearly rascist.

Well ... I believe that Furstin Gloria is fully entitled to have her very special opinion on AIDS as well as other social matters. She is not just politically correct. Furthermore, she does not care about what other people might think of her and her views.

[Boris]

Originally Posted by Al_bina

Well ... I believe that Furstin Gloria is fully entitled to have her very special opinion on AIDS as well as other social matters. She is not just politically correct. Furthermore, she does not care about what other people might think of her and her views.

I am very sorry Al bina, but I don’t share this attitude. In a democratic society, it’s most important not to tolerate racism, sexism and discrimination, especially when spread by a public figure.
I think it’s also fair to say that Princess Gloria does care what others think about her views – otherwise she wouldn’t co-write a book which is meant to promote those views and appear on national television to hold forth on them.
Apart from that, some of Princess Gloria’s statements were actually not politically incorrect, but incorrect period, meaning: False, as a matter of fact.

[Al_bina]

Boris,
You are free not to tolerate any form of the discrimination or any -isms in the territory of the USA. Furstin Gloria is a German national. Thus, it is up to the Germans to debate her on hot social issues and tell her that she is completely wrong. Furstin Gloria has a right to express her very specif opinion due to freedom of speech, whereas the other side has a full right to disagree with her views due to freedom of speech. Is Furstin Gloria going on a crusade to impose her views on others by force? No... She can talk as much as she wishes.
Given the direction this discussion may take, I think that it would be better to abstain from further discussions.

[Boris]

I happen to be a German citizen, Al Bina...
...and after six years in the US, I am actually in Germany at the moment.
However, this forum would be rather deserted if only the citizens of the respective countries would be allowed to voice their opinions about those countries' Royals and Nobles.
I guess it's best if we full-heartedly agree to disagree on this one and see if other posters might (re-)join the discussion.

[Avicenna]

Originally Posted by Al_bina

Well ... I believe that Furstin Gloria is fully entitled to have her very special opinion on AIDS as well as other social matters. She is not just politically correct. Furthermore, she does not care about what other people might think of her and her views.

Al bina, of course Fürstin Gloria is entitled to believe no matter what. However, what she believes is published not only in books, but also all over the media. If one person gets AIDS because of listening to her erronous opinion of condoms it matters at least to me for it would be completly unnecessary.

From my point of view she displays an inhuman attitude.

From a sidepoint, I wonder what she tells her very own daughters ... if the girls, or I should say young women don't use condomns it would be careless and negligent.

[qui mal y pense]

People with lots of money can usually always voice their opinions, no matter what those opinions might be. Now, since no one knows how much money I've got... I think royalty and nobility, furstins, etc. should wear nice clothes, lots of jewels, look nice and keep their mouths shut.