As our English section is part of the Papa Ratzinger Forum, we cannot organize our topics the way the main forum can. In other words, we are in the same relation to the main forum as the “Fans from France” and “Fans from Germany” sections in the RFC.

Theoretically, we can open as many new threads as we want to, BUT this could result in an unwieldy and lengthy jumble of topics. Therefore, I would suggest that we first make use of already existing threads before opening a new one – that is, when trying to post something, we should first try if we can do it on an existing thread by the Rispondi (or Reply) mode, rather than hitting the Nuova (for New) button, which will open a new thread.

PLEASE GIVE US YOUR INPUT ON ALL THIS.

For easy reference, here is the list of currently existing as well as predictably forthcoming threads, with a description of what each thread contains or should contain.

Benvenuti da tutti noi (Welcome from all of us)-
Where Ratzigirl and the Italian members welcome every new member to the forum.

Registration questions
You may also post here any other technical problem that may be encountered within the forum, such as logging in, avatars, posting, etc., to be answered by those who are competent to do so.

Hooray! I logged in
First greetings from new members

Chatter
A catch-all for idle comments or exchanges among members on topics not covered elsewhere!

Books about Benedict
News, reviews and comments

Books by Benedict/Joseph Ratzinger
News, reviews and comments

News about Benedict
Significant (“serious”) news items and commentary about the Pope

Audiences and Angelus
News accounts of regular Papal events

Homilies, discourses, messages
Full or partial texts.

Pope-pourri
The lighter side and trivia about Papa

A visit with Papa
Personal accounts of any encounter with the Pope/JR

People around the Pope
All about his close associates and aides

A conversation with Joseph Ratzinger
Questions you would ask him if…

Papal travels
Advisory on upcoming/possible trips

Papal events on TV
Advisory on upcoming/possible TV broadcasts

The experience of April 19, 2005
Where were you and how did you react that day?

People around the Pope
All about his close associates and aides

News about the Church
Significant news items and commentary about developments
within the Church itself or affecting the Church

Pictures and Videos
You can also post any audio links here (taped interviews with JR or JR-associated music that are available online)

Good morning!
Ratzi-pix for a Ratzi-fix to start our day.

Useful site links
For sites recommended to be visited regularly.

Comments and discussions will take place within each thread, but those who wish to start a discussion thread on any topic not belonging to any of the existing threads may start one. For instance -

Heaven/Hell/Purgatory/Limbo
Creation and evolution
Bioethics
Etc.

ONCE AGAIN, PLEASE GIVE US YOUR INPUT ABOUT THESE SUGGESTIONS! THANK YOU.

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12/5 update - Some "independent" threads like "Newbie says Hi and "Am I in?" have been incorporated into the "Hooray, I'm in" thread. Am adding a thread for Useful site links.

[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 05/12/2005 16.25]

[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 05/12/2005 16.26]

Since Joseph Ratzinger gave countless interviews, wrote numerous articles and delivered all sort of lectures, discourses and homilies before he became Pope, this thread will be devoted to this aspect of his literary output. Occasionally, short excerpts from his books may be posted when appropriate or when the occasion is suitable.

this is good Teresa! i myself do post in several forums mostly *music* related and i know how forums gets flooded with posts that actually do belong to an existing one..

thats why moderators have some work to do like edting,merging or even deleting threads as per requests of the thread starter.

as of now,we have i think enough thread topics to cover Papa
so far. if topics arise which dont belong to existing ones,then by all means we can open new ones!

so lets all make *our* special and dear Papa Ratzi forum clean and organized as much as we can!

Our Italian sisters started a thread called "Buona notte, Benedetto" a few weeks back, in which one can write Papa a good-night message - and it has elicited some of the sweetest, most poetic thoughts about our Beloved Benedict. So I think we should have a similar corner where any member can feel free to express what spills over from the heart - in any form you wish, including poetry. It will also accommodate translations of messages posted in the Italian and French sections.

I beg the indulgence of everyone. Once in a while, one of us needs to do this in the interests of order.

PLEASE TRY AND POST IN THE APPROPRIATE EXISTING THREAD - we named them so they are broad enough to cover most of the topics associated with the Pope, the Church, and our practice of the faith.

If you think none of the existing threads suit your contribution, then post it provisionally in CHATTER or PICTURES & VIDEOS where they are sure to be seen right away as these are our most-viewed threads. We can always transfer it to an appropriate thread afterwards.

Thank you for your cooperation.