Pope Resigns

[rdowns]

Nice of him to give two weeks notice.

Rome (CNN) -- Pope Benedict XVI will resign on February 28, his spokesman Father Federico Lombardi told CNN Monday.

The 85-year-old pope is resigning "because of advanced age," Benedict told the cardinals of the Catholic Church on Monday.

"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," the pope told the cardinals, according to the Vatican.

The last pope to resign was Gregory XII in 1415. He did so to end a civil war within the church in which more than one man claimed to be pope.

Link

[ChristianJapan]

Totally unexpected, but honest decision to be respected. Hope the next pope will be a "bit" younger when elected.

[yg17]

Good riddance

[chrono1081]

Good riddance. Someone in his position could do a lot of good by helping at least the Catholic wing of Christianity return to its roots of caring for others, not judging, etc.

Instead he used his position to spread hate and bigotry (supporting Uganda's kill the gays bill author comes to mind).

I do feel bad for him for having aging take its toll but its good that he will be out of the position. I hope someone with better knowledge of the Bible and Christian values (real ones, not the ones you see touted by Michelle Bachman and the like) takes his place and works towards ending discrimination and hate.

[WestonHarvey1]

Originally Posted by chrono1081

Instead he used his position to spread hate and bigotry (supporting Uganda's kill the gays bill author comes to mind).

Source? I assume you mean the pictures of the pope giving her a blessing? Like he would do for absolutely every human being he ever encountered, regardless of what they have done?

Unless you have some evidence he actually "supported" her in some way, you are just showing your ignorance of the Catholic Church.

[Don't panic]

a welcome and surprisingly modern decision by a reactionary man who set the church back decades.
At least he leaves behind one action that garners some respect.

Now hopefully the conclave picks someone more in line with the times.

[chrono1081]

Originally Posted by WestonHarvey1

Source? I assume you mean the pictures of the pope giving her a blessing? Like he would do for absolutely every human being he ever encountered, regardless of what they have done?

Unless you have some evidence he actually "supported" her in some way, you are just showing your ignorance of the Catholic Church.

There are lots:

http://www.google.com/search?q=pope+...hrome&ie=UTF-8

EDIT: I just reread your post and you are correct yes he blessed her, and that no one knows what was actually said. You'd think someone in his position would try explaining to her that she is completely wrong, however since the pope considers gay marriage "a threat to peace" its safe to say he didn't try and dissuade her from getting the bill passed.

[ugahairydawgs]

Originally Posted by chrono1081

There are lots:

http://www.google.com/search?q=pope+...hrome&ie=UTF-8

EDIT: I just reread your post and you are correct yes he blessed her, and that no one knows what was actually said. You'd think someone in his position would try explaining to her that she is completely wrong, however since the pope considers gay marriage "a threat to peace" its safe to say he didn't try and dissuade her from getting the bill passed.

Oh come on. While followers of Christ do believe that homosexuality is a sin, we also consider murder to be a sin as well. You don't offset one by committing another.

[chrono1081]

Originally Posted by ugahairydawgs

Oh come on. While followers of Christ do believe that homosexuality is a sin, we also consider murder to be a sin as well. You don't offset one by committing another.

I'm a Christian but I don't consider homosexuality a sin. The only time its deemed as a sin is when its A. Either taken out of context or B. Mistranslated.

Also murder being a sin didn't stop "Christians" from killing people all throughout history.

[NT1440]

Originally Posted by ugahairydawgs

Oh come on. While followers of Christ do believe that homosexuality is a sin, we also consider murder to be a sin as well. You don't offset one by committing another.

Is it a sin to kill what others don't consider human? You should read some of the horror stories from gays in Uganda, it's sickening.

[iStudentUK]

Originally Posted by Don't panic

Now hopefully the conclave picks someone more in line with the times.

I really can't see that happening - the whole institution is decades/centuries behind the modern world.

The best we can hope for is the Catholic Church continuing to be less and less relevant in civilised society.

[obeygiant]

who else doesn't give crap?

[ugahairydawgs]

Originally Posted by chrono1081

I'm a Christian but I don't consider homosexuality a sin. The only time its deemed as a sin is when its A. Either taken out of context or B. Mistranslated.

Also murder being a sin didn't stop "Christians" from killing people all throughout history.

Never said that someone proclaiming to be a Christian has never done anything horrible. We've had a lot of bad apples in our bunch over the years for sure.

[mobilehaathi]

Hmm, I didn't even know the pope could resign. I doubt God loves a quitter.

[Eraserhead]

Originally Posted by mobilehaathi

Hmm, I didn't even know the pope could resign. I doubt God loves a quitter.

I think this is a good step to be honest. Maybe you can then get a pope who isn't 90...

----------

Originally Posted by ugahairydawgs

Never said that someone proclaiming to be a Christian has never done anything horrible. We've had a lot of bad apples in our bunch over the years for sure.

Good to admit .

[jav6454]

Unluckily it is the bad apples that give bad taste. People remember more the bad taste than the good things.

[ugahairydawgs]

Originally Posted by jav6454

Unluckily it is the bad apples that give bad taste. People remember more the bad taste than the good things.

Pretty much how all stereotypes are born.

[NT1440]

Originally Posted by ugahairydawgs

Pretty much how all stereotypes are born.

Does it matter to you at all that many of the horrendous things from the church have been institutional, or the institution itself covering up for the bad apples?

I say structurally the church is self is rotten to the core, its followers are a different story.

[7thson]

When I read the post title, I could hear "The Times They Are A Changing" in my head. Here's to hoping the next one will herald in more tolerance and compassion for everyone.

[yg17]

Originally Posted by 7thson

When I read the post title, I could hear "The Times They Are A Changing" in my head. Here's to hoping the next one will herald in more tolerance and compassion for everyone.

Sadly, I wouldn't count on it.

[noisycats]

First Sarah, now the Pope. It's a nice trend I'd like to see continue.

[Moyank24]

Originally Posted by NT1440

Does it matter to you at all that many of the horrendous things from the church have been institutional, or the institution itself covering up for the bad apples?

I say structurally the church is self is rotten to the core, its followers are a different story.

And it will stay like that until the followers stop going to Church and putting dollar bills into the basket.

Originally Posted by 7thson

When I read the post title, I could hear "The Times They Are A Changing" in my head. Here's to hoping the next one will herald in more tolerance and compassion for everyone.

He won't. They have made absolutely no indications that they are going to change any time this milennium.

[ugahairydawgs]

Originally Posted by NT1440

Does it matter to you at all that many of the horrendous things from the church have been institutional, or the institution itself covering up for the bad apples?

I say structurally the church is self is rotten to the core, its followers are a different story.

Sure it bothers me. When non-Christ followers fail to follow the teachings of Christ it's sad, but it's understandable. If they do not believe then obviously they are not going to follow. So it's impossible to hold those folks up to the standards set forth by Christ.

Now self-proclaimed Christians on the other hand....that's a whole different story. To say that you are a follower of Christ and do some of the horrible things have happened.....it's maddening (the folks at that Westboro Church are the first that come to mind). To hate in the name of God is, quite simply, blasphemous. Jesus gave us the greatest commandment in Matthew 22 (37-40)

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

This is not something that is negotiable. Far too often Christians like to play God with their actions and all it does it push away those they are trying to "help" and push people in general away from God. It is both tragic and completely avoidable.

[LIVEFRMNYC]

Someone's definitely blackmailing him to resign. I don't believe the generic health excuse at all.

[dscuber9000]

Originally Posted by LIVEFRMNYC

Someone's definitely blackmailing him to resign. I don't believe the generic health excuse at all.

I think he's going senile and they don't want a senile pope. Or at least, an unpopular senile pope.