Pope Benedict XVI to Retire

[La literatura]

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/be...aratio_en.html

Dear Brothers,

I have convoked you to this Consistory, not only for the three canonizations, but also to communicate to you a decision of great importance for the life of the Church. 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. I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only with 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 Saint Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength 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. For this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter, entrusted to me by the Cardinals on 19 April 2005, in such a way, that as from 28 February 2013, at 20:00 hours, the See of Rome, the See of Saint Peter, will be vacant and a Conclave to elect the new Supreme Pontiff will have to be convoked by those whose competence it is.

Dear Brothers, I thank you most sincerely for all the love and work with which you have supported me in my ministry and I ask pardon for all my defects. And now, let us entrust the Holy Church to the care of Our Supreme Pastor, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and implore his holy Mother Mary, so that she may assist the Cardinal Fathers with her maternal solicitude, in electing a new Supreme Pontiff. With regard to myself, I wish to also devotedly serve the Holy Church of God in the future through a life dedicated to prayer.

From the Vatican, 10 February 2013
BENEDICTUS PP XVI

On one hand, I am floored by the news. On the other hand, I am glad he is able to rest and enjoy retirement. I think this will set a healthy precedent.

[La literatura]

Originally Posted by Garcia Bronco

Is the Pope the head catholic church? yes

Then he's just as responsible as every other administrator in the Catholic Church. Unless you're argument is that they are incompetent.

My argument is that the child abuse incidents mostly occurred in the 1960s to early 1970s. Pope John Paul II became Pope in 1979. Pope Benedict XVI became pope in 2005. This was well after the incidents had occurred, so to say that they were complicit in the incidents as Pope is just flat out wrong. To say that they were complicit in the incidents as Church authorities has never been shown.

That isn't to say that the Popes of the 1960s and early 1970s were complicit in the child abuse, either, which your argument would be. The dioceses are largely independent. The Church is not run like a modern-day corporation.

[Garcia Bronco]

Originally Posted by La literatura

My argument is that the child abuse incidents mostly occurred in the 1960s to early 1970s. Pope John Paul II became Pope in 1979. Pope Benedict XVI became pope in 2005. This was well after the incidents had occurred, so to say that they were complicit in the incidents as Pope is just flat out wrong. To say that they were complicit in the incidents as Church authorities has never been shown.

That isn't to say that the Popes of the 1960s and early 1970s were complicit in the child abuse, either, which your argument would be. The dioceses are largely independent. The Church is not run like a modern-day corporation.

There are constant reports in the 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's, 00's and so on. It's like gravity. It's a constant. Not to mention these guys were cardinals before they were Popes.

[Cave Johnson]

Originally Posted by La literatura

Yes, it does matter. And it's not what Ratzinger did, the issue is what the office did not do, which was be more pro-active in pursuing the claims. If we're going to charge Ratzinger with complicity in child molestation, we better have evidence that shows he knew it was occurring and allowed it to happen.

Proactive? Yes, but not in the direction you're claiming. And spare me the following JP2's orders malarkey.

In 2001, Pope John Paul II placed this department in charge of the investigation of child rape and torture by Catholic priests. In May of that year, Ratzinger issued a confidential letter to every bishop. In it, he reminded them of the extreme gravity of a certain crime. But that crime was the reporting of the rape and torture.

The accusations, intoned Ratzinger, were only treatable within the church’s own exclusive jurisdiction. Any sharing of the evidence with legal authorities or the press was utterly forbidden. Charges were to be investigated “in the most secretive way … restrained by a perpetual silence … and everyone … is to observe the strictest secret which is commonly regarded as a secret of the Holy Office … under the penalty of excommunication.” (My italics). Nobody has yet been excommunicated for the rape and torture of children, but exposing the offense could get you into serious trouble. And this is the church that warns us against moral relativism!

http://dish.andrewsullivan.com/2013/...and-ratzinger/

[Branden Albert's Huge Balls]

Yup. Worst Pope ever. That's the 2012 equivalent of 1400s atrocity.

You want proof of Satan that's the closest thing we'll see in our lifetime.

[Branden Albert's Huge Balls]

It ****ing baffles me how this organization is allowed to continue existing. It is the world's oldest and most potent form of evil. **** Al Qaeda...they got nothing on these guys.

The scary thing is we probably have no idea what they are up to.

[La literatura]

Originally Posted by Cave Johnson

Proactive? Yes, but not in the direction you're claiming. And spare me the following JP2's orders malarkey.



http://dish.andrewsullivan.com/2013/...and-ratzinger/

That's an incredibly negative spin. The letter was actually Ratzinger's show of force in combating the cover-up. Also, the grave sins were not discussing it in public, but the sex abuse. It's not surprising that Christopher Hitchens, who hated the Church, wrote that.

[Dave Lane]

Originally Posted by mnchiefsguy

I think history is going to look unfavorably upon his term as Pope.

Yaaa think??????

[Dave Lane]

Originally Posted by GoWalrus

It ****ing baffles me how this organization is allowed to continue existing. It is the world's oldest and most potent form of evil. **** Al Qaeda...they got nothing on these guys.

The scary thing is we probably have no idea what they are up to.

Drone bomb 'em!

[Cave Johnson]

Originally Posted by La literatura

That's an incredibly negative spin. The letter was actually Ratzinger's show of force in combating the cover-up. Also, the grave sins were not discussing it in public, but the sex abuse. It's not surprising that Christopher Hitchens, who hated the Church, wrote that.

Here's a non-Hitch source. You've got a huge intellectual blind spot on this issue, btw.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2005...hildprotection

[RNR]

It is good Ratzinger will quit falsely claiming to be the Vicar of Christ. I hope he lives many more years reflecting on his embarrassing behavior. Oh well this church will prop up another as the substitute of Christ on earth. It is stunning this church is still able to put on this skit and be taken seriously by so many~

[La literatura]

Originally Posted by Cave Johnson

Here's a non-Hitch source. You've got a huge intellectual blind spot on this issue, btw.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2005...hildprotection

That's just reporting of spin. Here's the actual letter: http://www.bishop-accountability.org...ulaEnglish.htm

[La literatura]

Originally Posted by RNR

It is good Ratzinger will quit falsely claiming to be the Vicar of Christ. I hope he lives many more years reflecting on his embarrassing behavior. Oh well this church will prop up another as the substitute of Christ on earth. It is stunning this church is still able to put on this skit and be taken seriously by so many~

He didn't convert you?

[RNR]

Originally Posted by La literatura

He didn't convert you?

uh no~

[Branden Albert's Huge Balls]

new pope

[stevieray]

....according to St Malachy, only one more left...Peter the Roman...

let it ride.....