Pope to resign

[oragator1]

Just got a text alert, no details yet...

[g8trjax]

First one since the 1400's. Failing health I guess.

[MastaG8r]

It's true (http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/02/11/3228030/vatican-says-pope-resigning-on.html).

Pope to resign Feb. 28, says he's too infirm (http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/02/11/3228030/vatican-says-pope-resigning-on.html)

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Benedict XVI announced Monday that he would resign on Feb. 28 because he was simply too infirm to carry on - the first pontiff to do so in nearly 600 years. The decision sets the stage for a conclave to elect a new pope before the end of March.

The 85-year-old pope announced his decision in Latin during a meeting of Vatican cardinals on Monday morning.

He emphasized that carrying out the duties of being pope - the leader of more than a billion Roman Catholics worldwide - requires "both strength of mind and body."

"After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths due to an advanced age are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry," he told the cardinals. "I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only by words and deeds but no less with prayer and suffering.

"However, in today's world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to govern the barque of St. Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary - strengths which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me."This conservative Catholic hopes the new Pope will be open to the idea of ending the celibacy requirement for priests and allowing them to marry. It is necessary for the salvation of the Church.

[rivergator]

First one since the 1400's. Failing health I guess.

I don't follow popes much, but I still find that really surprising. They're supposed to stay there until they die?

[tegator80]

It's true (http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/02/11/3228030/vatican-says-pope-resigning-on.html).

This conservative Catholic hopes the new Pope will be open to the idea of ending the celibacy requirement for priests and allowing them to marry. It is necessary for the salvation of the Church.

I'm not Catholic but my guess is that the biggest push is going to be for one from Central/South America. That seems to be the place of the most stability in the ranks.

[cocodrilo]

He's resigning so that the next pope can make him a saint before he dies. (Sort of like getting to be president on condition that you pardon your predecessor.)

[MichiGator2002]

It's true (http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/02/11/3228030/vatican-says-pope-resigning-on.html).

This conservative Catholic hopes the new Pope will be open to the idea of ending the celibacy requirement for priests and allowing them to marry. It is necessary for the salvation of the Church.

The Pope and CDF are just the messenger on such things. I do wonder what sort of Pope we will be given. I wondered last time if it might be one of the Chinese cardinals. I don't think there will be an American, and I almost hope their isn't.

[cocodrilo]

Whoever the new pope will be, I hope he doesn't try to look into Vatican bank corruption.

[MastaG8r]

The Pope and CDF are just the messenger on such things. Yeah I know but among people in general, some are more susceptible than others to receiving enlightenment on certain subjects.

[g8trjax]

I don't follow popes much, but I still find that really surprising. They're supposed to stay there until they die?

Yes, typically that's the case.

[thedyc09]

Will the next one have had a direct hand in covering up pedophiles also?

[Dreamliner]

He can't afford Obama's taxes.

[oaklandroadie]

When will the media begin their push for a transgender Pope?

[MichiGator2002]

Yes, typically that's the case.

They aren't "supposed" to do anything. It's a life term, but not a life obligation. His resignation is all within canon law. It just happens that the Pope almost always does stay on until he dies. I think Benedict may be doing this so that there is a more deliberate process, more time for Cardinals to think and pray on what they will be faced with. It is a pivotal moment for the Church and its mission, the next Pope, if younger, may lead the Church for a generation or more, and perhaps it is with an eye toward that that Benedict makes this rare move.

[Lawdog88]

Ending celibacy and passing the cup would do a lot to revive the tradition.

[gatorman_07732]

This was to be expected that he was just going very short term

[corpgator]

Good riddance.

[mocgator]

Good riddance.

Ahhh the soothing sounds of hope, change, and compassion.....

[corpgator]

Ahhh the soothing sounds of hope, change, and compassion.....

If you're not familiar with what he did before and after becoming pope, read this.

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/fighting_words/2010/03/the_great_catholic_coverup.html?wpisrc=most_viral

He's directly responsible for making sure priests were not prosecuted for raping thousands of children. But hey, have all the compassed you want for child rapists, they deserve it.

[GatorAvatar]

Will the next one have had a direct hand in covering up pedophiles also?

All of them are stinking pedophile-enablers.

[mocgator]

All of them are stinking pedophile-enablers.

I'm Catholic buddy.... Am I a pedophile?

[mdgator05]

I'm not Catholic but my guess is that the biggest push is going to be for one from Central/South America. That seems to be the place of the most stability in the ranks.

I would be surprised if it doesn't end up being somebody from the Southern Hemisphere or Central America. I think the thought last time was that they wanted to have a transitional pope, so they picked an older one with a more traditional background. But many of the candidates being considered were Central/South American or African.

On Masta's point, most of the African Cardinals are pretty opposed to changes in church doctrine like allowing clergy to marry. So I doubt we see much change in that fashion if one of the main African cardinals are elected, unless they have some sort of a Nixon goes to China moment. There were some really good candidates from Latin America that I would like to see.

[Allanon]

It's true (http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/02/11/3228030/vatican-says-pope-resigning-on.html).

This conservative Catholic hopes the new Pope will be open to the idea of ending the celibacy requirement for priests and allowing them to marry. It is necessary for the salvation of the Church.

Quick question for you. Who was the first Pope?

[gatorman_07732]

Quick question for you. Who was the first Pope?

Could it be a married man Simon Peter :happy:

[GatorAvatar]

I'm Catholic buddy.... Am I a pedophile?

Have you complained to your church about the rampant child abuse? But I digress...I'm referring to the top Catholic leaders.

[gatorman_07732]

Have you complained to your church about the rampant child abuse? But I digress...I'm referring to the top Catholic leaders.

Is there child abuse in his church?

[Allanon]

Could it be a married man Simon Peter :happy:

Yep. That was my point.

[gatorman_07732]

Yep. That was my point.

It's a good one A

[Lawdog88]

All of them are stinking pedophile-enablers.


Is that all Catholics, all priests, or all Popes ?

[reformedgator]

Quick question for you. Who was the first Pope?

It was not until the Council of Chalcedon in the 5th century that the bishop of Rome, Leo I, was designated pope. Previous to that time all priests & bishops were called popes. The Council attempted to restrict the title exclusively to the bishop of Rome & conferred it posthumously on all previous bishops of Rome in order to make it appear that an unbroken succession of popes had preceded from Peter.

[GatorAvatar]

Is that all Catholics, all priests, or all Popes ?

No. It's the Catholic institution. The members can either fold their hands and let kids be abused while the select few in position of power hide it. Or they can voice their concerns, the way they voice their concerns (loudly and publicly) regarding abortion, contraception etc. Remember when Notre Dame Catholics demonstrated against Obama speaking at their commencement, calling him a baby killer. They could do the same to the Priests and call them enablers of child abuse.

[Itssaul]

Saw a Meme that made me laugh, had scumbag Steve's hat and it read "chosen by GOD"






"Resigns"


Odd he decided to leave

[mocgator]

No. It's the Catholic institution. The members can either fold their hands and let kids be abused while the select few in position of power hide it. Or they can voice their concerns, the way they voice their concerns (loudly and publicly) regarding abortion, contraception etc. Remember when Notre Dame Catholics demonstrated against Obama speaking at their commencement, calling him a baby killer. They could do the same to the Priests and call them enablers of child abuse.

Except for the FACT that obama actually supports killing babies...

[GatorAvatar]

Except for the FACT that obama actually supports killing babies...

And the pope likes to protect sodomizing priests.

[rivergator]

Except for the FACT that obama actually supports killing babies...


so do most catholics.

[Allanon]

It was not until the Council of Chalcedon in the 5th century that the bishop of Rome, Leo I, was designated pope. Previous to that time all priests & bishops were called popes. The Council attempted to restrict the title exclusively to the bishop of Rome & conferred it posthumously on all previous bishops of Rome in order to make it appear that an unbroken succession of popes had preceded from Peter.

That's my point. Peter is considered the first pope and yet he was married. So where does the idea that a priest has to be unmarried come from?

[Minister_of_Information]

The next one is "Peter the Roman," right?

[Lawdog88]

No. It's the Catholic institution. The members can either fold their hands and let kids be abused while the select few in position of power hide it. Or they can voice their concerns, the way they voice their concerns (loudly and publicly) regarding abortion, contraception etc. Remember when Notre Dame Catholics demonstrated against Obama speaking at their commencement, calling him a baby killer. They could do the same to the Priests and call them enablers of child abuse.


Actually, the laity has raised their collective voices (loudly and publicly) against the abuse and demanded justice and change. And, the victims have sued.

Things have changed.

But I doubt you would first, know that, or second, acknowledge it if you did.

[reformedgator]

The next one is "Peter the Roman," right?

That's ironic, because if Peter was ever in Rome for 25 years, you got to wonder why Paul in his letter to the Romans never even mentioned Peter at the very same period he was supposed to be there. As they say, strange indeed!

[GatorAvatar]

Actually, the laity has raised their collective voices (loudly and publicly) against the abuse and demanded justice and change. And, the victims have sued.

Things have changed.

But I doubt you would first, know that, or second, acknowledge it if you did.

The only people raising their voices loudly and publicly are the victims and liberal nuns.

[Lawdog88]

The real baby killers are the people who are against gun regulations...they led to the slaughter of real, live babies at Sandy Hook.


And that has to do with this thread . . . or reality . . . how ?

[Lawdog88]

The only people raising their voices loudly and publicly are the victims and liberal nuns.


You are misinformed. But you can do your own research.

[rivergator]

Tell that to those who lost their precious children.

you're being ridiculous

[GatorAvatar]

Notice how that ended when more guns showed up?? The nut in Alabama last week as well.

Yeah...drones were involved, explosives, hidden cameras and SWAT team as well.

[GatorAvatar]

you're being ridiculous

Ok.

[gatorman_07732]

The only people raising their voices loudly and publicly are the victims and liberal nuns.

You couldn't be more wrong

[gatorman_07732]

so do most catholics.

That is highly debatable when you're talking about practicing catholics

[rivergator]

That is highly debatable when you're talking about practicing catholics

that's what the polls that I've read say

A slight majority of Catholics, 53 percent, said abortion should be legal in all or most cases,

link (http://ncronline.org/news/politics/study-majority-catholics-say-church-should-emphasize-social-justice-poor)

[reformedgator]

The real baby killers are the people who are against gun regulations...they led to the slaughter of real, live babies at Sandy Hook.

So if you can't see them when they're slaughtered, they're not real? Convoluted thinking at its apex!

[BigOlGator]

As a Catholic, I'm happy to see him go. Unfortunately, his successor is likely to continue the extreme conservative Catholicism advocated by Pope Benedict XVI.

If I were a Cardinal and had a vote, it would go to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AKvRvL5r3A

[lacuna]

The next one is "Peter the Roman," right?

http://www.insidethevatican.com/newsflash/2007/newsflash-jan25-07.htm

The Vatican’s diplomatic service, it is sometimes said, is the most experienced and capable in the world. This may be an exaggeration, but many ambassadors in Rome do judge the quality of their Vatican counterparts highly. Who are these diplomats?

We all know the key names. After the Pope, there is the secretary of state, now Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, and the "foreign minister," now Archbishop Dominique Mamberti. But there are other effective workers hidden from public view. Monsignor Pietro Parolin is one of them.

When the Pope met with Muslim leaders on September 25, Parolin was there. When the Pope met with Israel’s Prime Minister Ehud Olmert December 13, Parolin was there. When there were tensions in Vatican relations with Vietnam and North Korea, Parolin traveled to those countries on delicate diplomatic missions. In short, whether in Rome or abroad, Parolin has in recent years been one of the Church’s most tireless and effective diplomats. And, almost always, out of the headlines. And that is why we honor him publicly here, as one of our "Top Ten" people of 2006. ...

... On a lighter note, Parolin achieved a certain notoriety during 2006 via the internet as a possible future Pope. A note about the papal prophecies of the medieval Abbot Malachy posted on the Wikipedia website speculated that Parolin might be the "Petrus Romanus" ("Peter the Roman") whom Abbot Malachy predicts will be the last Pope before the end of the world. The Wikipedia entry reads: "Because no number is assigned to Petrus Romanus (Malachy’s 112th "Pope"), it is possible that (Peter the Roman) may take on the role of the Pope without putting on the robe of the Pope. Under this possible scenario, a catastrophe at the Vatican (perhaps a terrorist attack) could wipe out the top leadership of the Church during either a consistory or a conclave of the College of Cardinals. As a result, with no viable College surviving to elect a new pontiff, this particular scenario would have a surviving official of the Roman Curia succeeding to the top leadership of the Church but not as Pope. Since he would not rise to the papacy itself but instead would become, in effect, the top caretaker of the Church, he would not need to assume a new papal name such as Peter; thus he would keep the name he has had since his birth in Italy, and that name already would be Peter (or, in Italian, Pietro). Currently (that is, as of March 2006) there is only one such candidate for Petrus Romanus within the Roman Curia. His name is Pietro Parolin..."

In August, 2009 Archbishop Parolin was appointed to be the Vatican's representative in Venezuela. Cardinals are traditionally elected to the papacy but the only requirement stipulated by Canon Law is for the candidate to be an unmarried Catholic male.


Pietro Parolin:

http://www.6topoder.com/imagenes/2012/12/Monse%C3%B1or-Pietro-Parolin.jpg


Soon to be Ex-Benedict ...

http://media.salon.com/2012/12/pope_benedict-620x412.jpg


http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/files/2009/10/Eggs-Benedict-420x278.png

[MichiGator2002]

The real baby killers are the people who are against gun regulations...they led to the slaughter of real, live babies at Sandy Hook.

Real baby killers, kill real babies. So that woman... Melinda Herman, I think? Saved her own and two children's lives by shooting an adult with a weapon with the verboten capacity? Baby killer. If she were to get pregnant and abort a prospective third child? Not a baby killer.

[DeanMeadGator]

He's resigning so that the next pope can make him a saint before he dies. (Sort of like getting to be president on condition that you pardon your predecessor.)

How many people do you know who are 86 years old, maintain a grueling schedule, write often and frequently travel to other countries?

Who among us expects to work until we are 86 with a schedule that would make a middle aged man tired? For that matter, who expects to still be working at 86 years old?

[DeanMeadGator]

The only people raising their voices loudly and publicly are the victims and liberal nuns.

The children and parents of those children have a right to be outraged. However, to assume that all or the majority of priests are molestors is like assuming that all Vietnam vets murdered children or fragged their officers.

We live two house down from the Rector of the Cathedral in Orlando. He is 68 years [as I am}, visits the 33rd street jail, visits the numerous nursing homes in downtown Orlando and is often called one, two or three times a night to visit one of 3 hospitals to comfort the dying. He must sometimes visit hospitals to be with the parents of a dying child. To do so has taken a toll on him. He works harder than almost anyone I know.

About a year ago, I had the honor of meeting a priest who is 82 years old and still tending to his flock in the poorest parts of Appalachia. When he was a young man, he helped his parishioners to build their small houses, many of which have neither running water nor electricity.

He told of a family who had no floor in one bedroom because they had to burn it to keep warm two winters ago. He discovered it when visiting their small house.

He fell twice in one day while he was visiting our Church. Still, he helps his flock.

The Church has taken steps (albeit much too slowly) to curb such abuses.

Nevertheless, the vast majority of priests are good men who have given of themselves to serve others.

[JerseyGator01]

Unlike DC, Rome's leader doesn't wait until death to leave office.

CORRUPTION RULES!!!!!

[GatorAvatar]

The children and parents of those children have a right to be outraged. However, to assume that all or the majority of priests are molestors is like assuming that all Vietnam vets murdered children or fragged their officers.

We live two house down from the Rector of the Cathedral in Orlando. He is 68 years [as I am}, visits the 33rd street jail, visits the numerous nursing homes in downtown Orlando and is often called one, two or three times a night to visit one of 3 hospitals to comfort the dying. He must sometimes visit hospitals to be with the parents of a dying child. To do so has taken a toll on him. He works harder than almost anyone I know.

About a year ago, I had the honor of meeting a priest who is 82 years old and still tending to his flock in the poorest parts of Appalachia. When he was a young man, he helped his parishioners to build their small houses, many of which have neither running water nor electricity.

He told of a family who had no floor in one bedroom because they had to burn it to keep warm two winters ago. He discovered it when visiting their small house.

He fell twice in one day while he was visiting our Church. Still, he helps his flock.

The Church has taken steps (albeit much too slowly) to curb such abuses.

Nevertheless, the vast majority of priests are good men who have given of themselves to serve others.


I respect what you have said in your post. I hope you can read/watch this 60 minutes report about this brave Irish Archbishop Diarmuid Martin. Anything short of what he did, is not doing enough.

When Martin became archbishop, he provided the Murphy Commission with 65,000 files his predecessor had refused to turn over. In his sermons, he confronted the Church head-on for the behavior that caused the scandal. Now the church is at a breaking point; now is not the time to forget he says. "There's a real danger today of people saying, 'The child abuse scandal is over. Let's bury it. Let's move on,'" he tells Simon. "It isn't over. Child protection and the protection of children is something that will go on...for the rest of our lives and into the future. Because the problems are there," says the archbishop.

(CBS News) The child sex abuse crisis and cover-up in the Catholic Church of Ireland has taken a devastating toll on one of the most Catholic countries in the world. Some parishes that once saw 90 percent Sunday Mass attendance are down to 2 percent. A country that once produced so many priests that they were considered an important export now doesn't have enough for its own churches. And, despite the publication of the Murphy Commission's report, a scathing analysis of the abuse and cover-up, the scandal is not over, says Dublin Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, one of the highest ranking church officials to openly criticize the Catholic Church.

[tideh8rGator]

http://www.insidethevatican.com/newsflash/2007/newsflash-jan25-07.htm



In August, 2009 Archbishop Parolin was appointed to be the Vatican's representative in Venezuela. Cardinals are traditionally elected to the papacy but the only requirement stipulated by Canon Law is for the candidate to be an unmarried Catholic male.




lacuna, another very chilling possibility is Peter Turkson of Ghana.

If elected pope he becomes a Roman.

Google him and/or check his Wikipedia and note his views on globalism and the establishment of a worldwide economic authority.

[cocodrilo]

How many people do you know who are 86 years old, maintain a grueling schedule, write often and frequently travel to other countries?

Who among us expects to work until we are 86 with a schedule that would make a middle aged man tired? For that matter, who expects to still be working at 86 years old?

I know people 86 years old and older who still have a sense of humor.

[92gator]

I respect what you have said in your post. I hope you can read/watch this 60 minutes report about this brave Irish Archbishop Diarmuid Martin. Anything short of what he did, is not doing enough.

Well...up until last year, there wasn't any precedent in how to handle this type of institutional corruption. But now we know...

....a reduction of schollies, and a 2 year bowl ban, should do the trick. :nervous smile:

OK, there's really no defending the practice of covering up these abuse cases (let alone the actual abuse itself). It was straight up wrong.

But that doesn't make the whole Church wrong, and certainly doesn't serve to reverse or undo centuries of good the Church has done. What's more, the percentage of priests involved in such cases, is diminimus, and the number of victims compared to the Faithful who have been well served, is microscopic. Really, less than a zit on a cow's ass, proportionately speaking.

The Church has taken (and is taking) significant steps to address this issue; but again, wieghing the good of the Church vs. the bad represented by this issue, the Church comes out way ahead--far more so, than so many other institutions, which have even worse percentages, even on this issue (child sex abuse).

e.g.--should we dismantle public education for the very same reason? It has a higher incidence of child sex abuse than the Cat. Church (or most any other church, for that matter). And public education has given us more and worse criminals, than most churches, by far--while churches do way more to fix criminals....

[corpgator]

Well...up until last year, there wasn't any precedent in how to handle this type of institutional corruption. But now we know...

....a reduction of schollies, and a 2 year bowl ban, should do the trick. :nervous smile:

OK, there's really no defending the practice of covering up these abuse cases (let alone the actual abuse itself). It was straight up wrong.

But that doesn't make the whole Church wrong, and certainly doesn't serve to reverse or undo centuries of good the Church has done. What's more, the percentage of priests involved in such cases, is diminimus, and the number of victims compared to the Faithful who have been well served, is microscopic. Really, less than a zit on a cow's ass, proportionately speaking.

The Church has taken (and is taking) significant steps to address this issue; but again, wieghing the good of the Church vs. the bad represented by this issue, the Church comes out way ahead--far more so, than so many other institutions, which have even worse percentages, even on this issue (child sex abuse).

e.g.--should we dismantle public education for the very same reason? It has a higher incidence of child sex abuse than the Cat. Church (or most any other church, for that matter). And public education has given us more and worse criminals, than most churches, by far--while churches do way more to fix criminals....

I'd love to see you prove any of these claims.