Quote Originally Posted by JCoyote
Why is it not right? The rest of the world sees you turning on a friend as a knee-jerk reaction to a pompous old guy.

Reputation is like what your general social group thinks of you. The Pope asking you to break an alliance is like your local pastor asking you to publicly snub a close friend. Just because the pastor asked you to, do you think that means everyone else is still going to trust you as much? Of course not, because you just proved your friendship comes second to the demands of some old authority.

Now, make yourself a King... a RULER. Not only have you just proven your alliance means less to you than some old coot's demands, you've also proven you are acting subservient to another authority... if you're not a vassal, why are you acting like one? Are you a KING? Or a subject?

And by the way, reputation counts a lot more than just other catholics. Do you think the Muslim and Orthodox are going to trust you as much once you showed you'll bail on a friend for having a tiff with the pope?

Yeah, it's a tough choice with no perfect answer... life's full of them. Get over it. Keep the alliance and give the pope some cash and map information to make up for it... after that you'll find he's a pretty forgiving kind of guy.
You´re missing the whole point Coyote. X-coms are the devils spawns and must be routed out. As king I´m annointed by god through his representatives on earth. X-coms have turned away from god and his representation so no ordinary bonds or rules applies, period. Would you stay friends if your m8 murdered, raped or sodomized a kid? I think not m8. End of argument.