Pope resigns

[haveaharp]

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.

by dealing with the pass crimes and making the Church more relevant to the modern world, without losing it's true values.

What chance is there of that? I'd say its akin to urinating into a force 8

[Milltown Row2]

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.

Are there any Popes that fit that age bracket that are in with a shout? What changes would you like to see if a young Pope was announced?

Priests to be allowed to marry
Contraception to be allowed
Acceptance of gays
Women priests
Divorcees to be able to re marry in church

Add to these I'm sure there is a lot more

[haveaharp]

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.

Are there any Popes that fit that age bracket that are in with a shout? What changes would you like to see if a young Pope was announced?

Priests to be allowed to marry
Contraception to be allowed
Women priests
Divorcees to be able to re marry in church

Add to these I'm sure there is a lot more

Priests to be allowed to marry
Contraception to be allowed
Women priests
Divorcees to be able to re marry in church

that would go a long way to modernising the church and dragging them out of the 14th century. Although i think back then priests and popes were allowed to marry!

[Main Street]

Back then, even the likes of Jeremy Irons was Pope.

[02]

I'm not religious so not really bothered about what the church does or doesn't do, but I don't really understand this modernising agenda. Clubs are entitled to have rules and if you don't like them then don't sign up!

[theticklemister]

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.

Is loughlynn in roscommon. Love the song woodlandsof loughlynn but never had a clue where it was!!!

[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.

t

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?

My family are Atheists, Agnostics and Liberal Catholics as far as I can tell. I myself was a Liberal Catholic with no time for the Pope and my own views on religion rather than following dogma, I progresses to becoming Agnostic briefly and then realised it was moronic and realised I was an Atheist. I actually started to think God couldn't be possible before my teens about the time I stopped believing in Santa, somehow managed to ignore my better judgement for several years and adhere to the bullshit of pretending just maybe. I think lots of Religious on here are just afraid to accept they really deep down know God couldn't possibly exist.

[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.

t

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?

My family are Atheists, Agnostics and Liberal Catholics as far as I can tell. I myself was a Liberal Catholic with no time for the Pope and my own views on religion rather than following dogma, I progresses to becoming Agnostic briefly and then realised it was moronic and realised I was an Atheist. I actually started to think God couldn't be possible before my teens about the time I stopped believing in Santa, somehow managed to ignore my better judgement for several years and adhere to the bullshit of pretending just maybe. I think lots of Religious on here are just afraid to accept they really deep down know God couldn't possibly exist.

You are quite typical of a lot of people today. Born into a Catholic family, rebel, declare that their is no God and go about your life.

Most that go down that path will return to their religion in later life when they realise that it is a lonely place without faith and they don't want to face death without it. A lot of people return to their faith when faced with death or terminal illness.

[Milltown Row2]

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.

t

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?

My family are Atheists, Agnostics and Liberal Catholics as far as I can tell. I myself was a Liberal Catholic with no time for the Pope and my own views on religion rather than following dogma, I progresses to becoming Agnostic briefly and then realised it was moronic and realised I was an Atheist. I actually started to think God couldn't be possible before my teens about the time I stopped believing in Santa, somehow managed to ignore my better judgement for several years and adhere to the bullshit of pretending just maybe. I think lots of Religious on here are just afraid to accept they really deep down know God couldn't possibly exist.

You are quite typical of a lot of people today. Born into a Catholic family, rebel, declare that their is no God and go about your life.

Most that go down that path will return to their religion in later life when they realise that it is a lonely place without faith and they don't want to face death without it. A lot of people return to their faith when faced with death or terminal illness.

They will return to whatever faith that takes them up to heaven's door, where ever that is, and Peter will be there with a guest list, Sorry you names not down and you are not getting in, you have lived a decent life and not harmed anyone but Catholics only here, no prods, Jews, newborn christians, Hindus...........

Sure just say before you die I'm sorry for all my sins and as god is very forgiving, then you're sorted.

[mouview]

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.

t

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?

My family are Atheists, Agnostics and Liberal Catholics as far as I can tell. I myself was a Liberal Catholic with no time for the Pope and my own views on religion rather than following dogma, I progresses to becoming Agnostic briefly and then realised it was moronic and realised I was an Atheist. I actually started to think God couldn't be possible before my teens about the time I stopped believing in Santa, somehow managed to ignore my better judgement for several years and adhere to the bullshit of pretending just maybe. I think lots of Religious on here are just afraid to accept they really deep down know God couldn't possibly exist.

Maybe that's what Faith is - hoping for or wanting to believe in a higher power.
There are no atheists in a foxhole, so they say!

[haveaharp]

I'm not religious so not really bothered about what the church does or doesn't do, but I don't really understand this modernising agenda. Clubs are entitled to have rules and if you don't like them then don't sign up!

A fair number of us werent really asked whether we wanted to sign up.

[Milltown Row2]

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.

t

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?

My family are Atheists, Agnostics and Liberal Catholics as far as I can tell. I myself was a Liberal Catholic with no time for the Pope and my own views on religion rather than following dogma, I progresses to becoming Agnostic briefly and then realised it was moronic and realised I was an Atheist. I actually started to think God couldn't be possible before my teens about the time I stopped believing in Santa, somehow managed to ignore my better judgement for several years and adhere to the bullshit of pretending just maybe. I think lots of Religious on here are just afraid to accept they really deep down know God couldn't possibly exist.

You are quite typical of a lot of people today. Born into a Catholic family, rebel, declare that their is no God and go about your life.

Most that go down that path will return to their religion in later life when they realise that it is a lonely place without faith and they don't want to face death without it. A lot of people return to their faith when faced with death or terminal illness.

What if you keep your options open when you are facing death? Pray to all of the religions. Be pretty shite if you got up there and Peter was called Osama and was wearing a turban!! Unless there are separate heaven's for different religions, all very complicated

[give her dixie]

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0212-mahony-pope-20130212,0,5122056.story

Mahony voting for a new pope rankles some Catholics

Nearly two weeks ago, Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez announced he had removed Cardinal Roger Mahony from all public duties amid revelations that he plotted to conceal child molestation by priests from law enforcement.

But Mahony on Monday found himself back at the center of church business, as one of 117 cardinals who will elect a successor to Pope Benedict XVI.

Mahony was quick to weigh in on the papal news — posting a statement on his online blog at 8:38 a.m., two hours before the archdiocese announced that Gomez would issue his own remarks at the midday Mass at the downtown Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.

In the posting, Mahony called Benedict an "extraordinary" successor to St. Peter and that he intended to participate in choosing the next pontiff.

"I look forward to traveling to Rome soon to help thank Pope Benedict XVI for his gifted service to the Church, and to participate in the Conclave to elect his successor," Mahony wrote.

Benedict's unexpected decision to step down created a seemingly awkward situation in the Los Angeles Archdiocese, which is reeling over newly released documents showing how church leaders handled the abuse cases. Documents show that Mahony and Bishop Thomas Curry worked to shield abusers from police. Both have since issued detailed apologies.

Gomez wrote in a letter to parishioners last month that the priest files were "brutal and painful reading. The behavior described in these files is terribly sad and evil. There is no excuse, no explaining away what happened to these children."

Gomez wrote that Mahony, his predecessor as leader of the archdiocese, "has expressed his sorrow for his failure to fully protect young people entrusted to his care. Effective immediately, I have informed Cardinal Mahony that he will no longer have any administrative or public duties." A church spokesman later clarified that Mahony remained a priest "in good standing" and that he maintained all his powers as a cardinal.

Mahony is one of 11 U.S. cardinals who will vote for the next pope.

Father Thomas Rausch of Loyola Marymount University said Mahony has no choice in the matter: Church law requires him to vote, along with all cardinals under age 80, he said.

"It is a sacred responsibility of every cardinal of the church who is able to attend the conclave to vote," said Tod Tamberg, archdiocese spokesman.

Still, Mahony's role in selecting a pope drew mixed reactions among Catholics in Southern California.

Manuel Vega, a retired Oxnard police officer who as an altar boy was molested from the age of 12 to 15 by Father Fidencio Silva, said Mahony would bring shame on the Catholic Church by going to Rome to vote.

"Mahony is going without clean hands. His hands are dirty ... from covering up years of sexual abuse. How can he be part of the conclave?" Vega asked.

Other Catholics said they were pleased that Mahony would be voting. They said they hoped that he would bring a more liberal and American point of view to the conclave, which will be dominated by the conservative cardinals whom Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI have appointed over the last three decades.

Jane Argento, a parishioner at Holy Family Church in South Pasadena, said she was livid at Mahony when she read about his actions after the archdiocese's release of sex abuse documents. But she said the relatively liberal Mahony reflected her own Catholic convictions about larger roles for women in the church, among other issues. Mahony, she said, was the architect of a pastoral associate program in Los Angeles that had trained several women to run parishes, including her own.

"I'm relieved that Mahony is going," Argento said. "Frankly, it's one more vote for a more progressive church."

Larry Loughlin, 77, a parishioner and social worker, said it was reasonable that Mahony vote, given church rules, and that he was not the only cardinal accused of failing to remove predatory priests from churches and schools. Others include Cardinal Justin Regali, who was accused of ignoring evidence of sex abuse, including rape, in the Philadelphia archdiocese before retiring in 2011.

"Mahony is not the only cardinal to be accused of protecting priests, it is a worldwide crisis," Loughlin said.

Parishioners who attended Monday's midday Mass at the downtown cathedral said they were saddened by news of Benedict's resignation but hailed it as a chance to renew a church still suffering from the repercussions of the abuse scandals. The scandals also appeared to be on the mind of Gomez, who celebrated the Mass and called for prayer "for anyone who has been hurt by a member of the church" and for "the healing for wounds and restoration of trust."

[heganboy]

one decision that needs taken before they decide who the pope is going to be is a choice between becoming a broader church or a narrower one.
Broader, embrace social reality, improve role of women, appeal to younger population
Narrower smaller more fundamentalist and devout church.

when that decision is made then the suitable candidate for each role can be found. Given however that maybe 90% of the current voting cardinals (under age of 80) are JPII or Benedict appointees, its likely to be a narrower focus, which could lead to a Italian, Canadian or even an American Pope.
should the cardinals decide that more people on the planet are in their target audience then a Ghanian or Argentinian pontiff could happen. If I remember correctly (unlikely) 42% of catholics live in South America, only 25% in Europe, about 15% in Africa

[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.

Is loughlynn in roscommon. Love the song woodlandsof loughlynn but never had a clue where it was!!!

Yes. There are a lot of suspiciously dark people around there.