Pope resigns

[stew]

At the risk of being serious for once, a little bit of reverence wouldn't go amiss.

Despite the rise of religious scepticism, conspiracy theories and hatred for anything to do with the Catholic clergy, there are still a number of people who believe and respect the Church.

Are you serious?

As an Atheist and as a Republican why would I show reverence to the Head of a religious cult or a Monarch.

He never mentioned the monarchy in his last post, you did.

He didnt mention reverence in his last post.

Christianity was seen to be a cult when it started, it is no longer a cult no matter how you and you fellow non believers look at it.

[Puckoon]

I'm ready to admit I am a skeptic, but when I saw the Pope's rationale for leaving his position be questioned today by some rather more liberal friends of mine on the old FB, I admit to feeling a touch of sadness for the guy.

[mayogodhelpus@gmail.com]

At the risk of being serious for once, a little bit of reverence wouldn't go amiss.

Despite the rise of religious scepticism, conspiracy theories and hatred for anything to do with the Catholic clergy, there are still a number of people who believe and respect the Church.

Are you serious?

As an Atheist and as a Republican why would I show reverence to the Head of a religious cult or a Monarch.

He never mentioned the monarchy in his last post, you did.

He didnt mention reverence in his last post.

Christianity was seen to be a cult when it started, it is no longer a cult no matter how you and you fellow non believers look at it.

The Pope is a Monarch, he is an elected Emperor the Princes of the Church. I wonder who you meant by "The Monarchy", have you been conditioned to think there is only one?
Are you blind, he does mention reverence.

[mayogodhelpus@gmail.com]

I'm ready to admit I am a skeptic, but when I saw the Pope's rationale for leaving his position be questioned today by some rather more liberal friends of mine on the old FB, I admit to feeling a touch of sadness for the guy.

In all honesty, I believe there has been a coup.

[The Iceman]

I'm ready to admit I am a skeptic, but when I saw the Pope's rationale for leaving his position be questioned today by some rather more liberal friends of mine on the old FB, I admit to feeling a touch of sadness for the guy.

Its a sensitive topic. I'm still somewhat in shock. He never really wanted the role of Cardinal never-mind Pope, but JP II wanted him for the job and how could he refuse.
This has been on the cards for a while if you read my earlier post. He has been contemplating this since 2009 and maybe even earlier.
In today's modern world where everything is visible and you have to be "on" all the time, the servant role of Pope is very much a younger man's vocation. I am sad to see him step down but hopeful of a new era in the Church.

[Puckoon]

I think Iceman you are right, the new era cannot be understated. It would be a tremendous time for the church to win back some lost hearts and minds. I don't think it's impossible.

[stew]

At the risk of being serious for once, a little bit of reverence wouldn't go amiss.

Despite the rise of religious scepticism, conspiracy theories and hatred for anything to do with the Catholic clergy, there are still a number of people who believe and respect the Church.

Are you serious?

As an Atheist and as a Republican why would I show reverence to the Head of a religious cult or a Monarch.

He never mentioned the monarchy in his last post, you did.

He didnt mention reverence in his last post.

Christianity was seen to be a cult when it started, it is no longer a cult no matter how you and you fellow non believers look at it.

The Pope is a Monarch, he is an elected Emperor the Princes of the Church. I wonder who you meant by "The Monarchy", have you been conditioned to think there is only one?
Are you blind, he does mention reverence.

The Pope is not a monarch!

As for Monarchy, they are ten a penny around europe, he's not one of them.

I missed the part on reverence!

[Eamonnca1]

I wonder if he's going to come out as an atheist. "Right lads, it was all a load of ballix all along, so you may pack up your things and go home. Show's over."

[mayogodhelpus@gmail.com]

At the risk of being serious for once, a little bit of reverence wouldn't go amiss.

Despite the rise of religious scepticism, conspiracy theories and hatred for anything to do with the Catholic clergy, there are still a number of people who believe and respect the Church.

Are you serious?

As an Atheist and as a Republican why would I show reverence to the Head of a religious cult or a Monarch.

He never mentioned the monarchy in his last post, you did.

He didnt mention reverence in his last post.

Christianity was seen to be a cult when it started, it is no longer a cult no matter how you and you fellow non believers look at it.

The Pope is a Monarch, he is an elected Emperor the Princes of the Church. I wonder who you meant by "The Monarchy", have you been conditioned to think there is only one?
Are you blind, he does mention reverence.

The Pope is not a monarch!

As for Monarchy, they are ten a penny around europe, he's not one of them.

I missed the part on reverence!

The Pope in Rome is a monarch. A simple google of the characteristics of a monarch will tell you that. Popes/Patriarchs are ten a penny too 

[upmonaghansayswe]

I wonder if he's going to come out as an atheist. "Right lads, it was all a load of ballix all along, so you may pack up your things and go home. Show's over."

Wouldn't be the first

[ziggy90]

So if the next occupant is from the dark continent ole Nostradumus could have been on the money and we can all start praying for forgiveness or partieing till the end depending on your outlook

Nostradumus said the next man is from Roscommon?

Loughglynn/Fairymount to be precise.

[Canalman]

Not too pushed either way but would wish him well in his retirement. Don't think he was as disliked as the majority of the media would like us to believe.

[muppet]

Aside from appearing to prioritise the protection the Church, rather than it's children, when leading the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, as Pope he claimed and received diplomatic immunity from a trial for child molestation: http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/04/01/us-pope-abuse-idUSTRE62U5RF20100401

To me his church told us to listen to our hearts, while he listened to his lawyers.

[EC Unique]

At the risk of being serious for once, a little bit of reverence wouldn't go amiss.

Despite the rise of religious scepticism, conspiracy theories and hatred for anything to do with the Catholic clergy, there are still a number of people who believe and respect the Church.

Are you serious?

As an Atheist and as a Republican why would I show reverence to the Head of a religious cult or a Monarch.

Were you born into an atheist family?

[ziggysego]

I'm ready to admit I am a skeptic, but when I saw the Pope's rationale for leaving his position be questioned today by some rather more liberal friends of mine on the old FB, I admit to feeling a touch of sadness for the guy.

Its a sensitive topic. I'm still somewhat in shock. He never really wanted the role of Cardinal never-mind Pope, but JP II wanted him for the job and how could he refuse.
This has been on the cards for a while if you read my earlier post. He has been contemplating this since 2009 and maybe even earlier.
In today's modern world where everything is visible and you have to be "on" all the time, the servant role of Pope is very much a younger man's vocation. I am sad to see him step down but hopeful of a new era in the Church.

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, as he was then, encouraged Pope John Paul II to retire as Pope when he got bad with Parkinson's and it affected his ability to oversee the day-to-day responsibilities of being the Bishop of Rome. So it can come as no big surprise that once Pope Benedict XII felt that his body and mind were affecting his abilities to lead the Catholic Church, that he should take his own advice.

This should herald the need for a younger Pope in his 50s or 60s to be elected as the next Pope and someone who can lead the Church into the 21st Century, by dealing with the pass crimes and making the Church more relevant to the modern world, without losing it's true values.