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03-28-24 06:15 AM
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Xeogaming Forums - General Chat - The Pope's Resignation
  
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FX
Posts: 3736/3775
The atheist and gay statements were quickly backpedaled by the Vatican, unfortunately. But progress is progress.
Rogue
Posts: 9889/11918
So we're a few months into this new pope's reign and already we're seeing some positive changes.

Most recently, he's said that old church buildings should be used to house refugees.

He's also trying to get people to not look down at Catholic divorcees, he's said that he embraces gays who consider themselves devout followers of Christ, and people are still trying to sort out whether or not he actually said atheists and agnostics can go to heaven so long as they follow their conscience (it's people arguing over which translation is more accurate, mostly).

Hell, people even love the fact that he rides around in a regular car and not the Pope-mobile.
Rogue
Posts: 9504/11918
Well, no one expects the Catholic Church to take a progressive stance on homosexuality, abortion, contraception, euthanasia, or... well, women.

I hate to put it that way, and I'm in no way siding with my former faith here, but there will always be debates over women being allowed to be priests. It was a big deal just letting there be altar girls.

But then we could always take solace in the legend that previous popes had to sit in a chair with a hole in the seat and have their testicles grabbed just to be sure they're male.
Xeoman
Posts: 10131/11751
Especially with the timing of all the equality stuff going around thesedays.

Good luck buddy, lol.
Elara
Posts: 8336/9734
He also thinks that the role of women is to support the men and that no woman should ever hold public office.

That is going to cause problems. Major problems.
Rogue
Posts: 9487/11918
So the new pope is an Argentinian who studied chemistry before going into the priesthood, has positive relations with Muslims, opposes homosexuality and gay marriage but teaches that homosexuals should be treated with respect, considers child abuse to be a form of terrorism, and says homelessness is a type of "structural slavery."

Thoughts?
Rogue
Posts: 9443/11918
Whether it's proven or not, I still say this was a PR stunt.
FX
Posts: 3670/3775
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/02/14/pope-allegedly-sought-immunity-for-abuse-crimes-just-before-resigning/
http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/popebenedict.asp
Elara
Posts: 8308/9734
Oh wow, really? Got the article for that? I would love to read it.
Rogue
Posts: 9442/11918
To continue with my lack of surprise, apparently a week before the resignation announcement a warrant was issued to arrest the the pope for a child molestation charge.

He's desperately seeking immunity, and will probably live in the Vatican for the rest of his life so people won't get him, being its own country and all.
Xeoman
Posts: 10114/11751
It's Skywalker's time.
Astrophel
Posts: 2589/2724
Originally posted by Rogue
While this seems feasible, this could also easily pass for the Catholic Church's PR department attempting to overhaul the church's image in one swoop.

I heard a theory along similar lines, taking advantage of the difficulty in following John Paul II. According to said theory, Popatine was chosen as a "filler" Pope; a largely inoffensive choice internally, knowing it'd be too hard to live up to his predecessor so when the next one tries to do anything, he's being compared to Benedict XVI instead of John Paul II.
Elara
Posts: 8304/9734
Yeah, that is kinda where my thoughts went as well... wanting to revitalize the image, make it look strong again.

I did find out that there were set conditions that John Paul II had made that would trigger his recognition, and that some other Popes have had similar "if this happens, I auto resign" documents. The most logical was from back during WWII with the fear of the Pope being captured by Nazis.
Rogue
Posts: 9440/11918
I've had this post typed for the past few days, but just never finished and hit submit.

As a former Catholic, I was not shocked in the slightest, especially considering Cardinal Mahony finally losing all power on his full retirement just a few days ago.

I know Benedict XVI is citing his old age as reason enough to resign and considering how Pope John Paul II was pretty much wasted away to nothing mentally by the end. While this seems feasible, this could also easily pass for the Catholic Church's PR department attempting to overhaul the church's image in one swoop.

Benedict XVI wasn't exactly well-liked, especially when trying to follow an act like John Paul II.
FX
Posts: 3667/3775
I heard on the radio (a reliable source, I know), that there's a black guy that may be in the running. That'd be pretty cool.

Also, I've got to throw this out there:
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-february-11-2013/holy-quit----how-s-it-going-with-that-popey-changey-thing-?xrs=share_copy
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-february-11-2013/holy-quit----how-s-it-going-with-that-popey-changey-thing----tuiasosopo-d?xrs=share_copy
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-february-11-2013/holy-quit----how-s-it-going-with-that-popey-changey-thing----the-papal-successor?xrs=share_copy
Elara
Posts: 8301/9734
I honestly didn't know the Pope had the power to resign until yesterday, though I suppose I really should not have been that surprised. I do find it interesting that while I hear many jokes from the non-Christians, the most vehement criticism I've heard is coming from the Protestants that I know. The guy could barely walk without help, give him a break.

I do hope that a more moderate or even liberal Pope will be chosen, just to sort of slap all those idiots like Santorum in the face.
Cteno
Posts: 3024/3409
Originally posted by Astrophel
Well, there goes the Pope Palpatine jokes.

Unless the next guy looks like an unmasked Darth Vader, anyway.

If it happens, I will then believe in God once more.
Astrophel
Posts: 2588/2724
Well, there goes the Pope Palpatine jokes.

Unless the next guy looks like an unmasked Darth Vader, anyway.
Cteno
Posts: 3023/3409
Source
Originally posted by
WASHINGTON – The announcement by Pope Benedict XVI today that he will resign over health issues – the first time a pope has resigned in 600 years – left American Catholic leaders stumbling for words.

“We are, of course, all surprised today by the announcement of the pope that he will resign at the end of the month,” said Father Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life.

“Popes have the authority to do this, of course, though it has rarely been exercised.”

While speculation immediately was launched regarding a possible replacement, Pavone focused on what Benedict has done.

“We view the pope’s action here in a positive light, as an expression of his concern and love for the church. He wants the church to have a pope who can fulfill his role with the strength and vigor that the office requires,” said Pavone.

Pavone’s organization is the largest Catholic group dedicated to ending abortion and euthanasia.

“My own interactions with Pope Benedict have been in the arena of his defense of human life, and we at Priests for Life thank him in particular for the ways in which he has continued to announce and implement the church’s pro-life teachings,” he said.

In an interview with WND, Pavone said the resignation was “an act of responsible leader.”

“He signaled to the church … that there is a great stability to the church. He has recalled this and that the teachings remain and has in a beautiful way articulated these positions.”

Pavone noted the church’s expansion in Africa and Latin America, a pursuit the new pope undoubtedly will continue.

He said, too, that a new pope will be “concerned more with the new evangelization” mission than the dynamics of any liberal-conservative tension.

Catholic League President Bill Donohue said the pope’s legacy is secure.

Benedict, he said, “made it clear that religious freedom was not only a God-given right, it was ‘the path to peace.’”

In a posted statement, the organization said Benedict’s “many references to what he called ‘the dictatorship of relativism’ were a constant reminder that one of the greatest threats to freedom today is the abandonment of the search for truth.”

The Catholic League noted the pope’s work on reaching out to non-members and his crackdown on priestly sexual abuse.

The pope’s “willingness to step aside comes as a surprise this Monday morning. What is not surprising is his humility,” the statement said. “Indeed, it is one of his most defining characteristics, one that separates him from today’s egocentric public figures.”

Benedict’s resignation letter said: ” 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.”

The author of “From Sabbath to Sunday” spent years at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, and explains the “political, social, pagan and Christian” factors that changed “a Holy Day into a holiday.”

New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan told CBS he was as startled as the rest of the world.

In a statement, Dolan said Benedict “unified Catholics and reached out to schismatic groups in hopes of drawing them back to the church.”

“More unites us than divides us, he said by word and deed.”

A number of Washington lawmakers who are Catholic express sadness along with their surprise.

In a report in The Hill, House Speaker John Boehner said people were “inspired” by Benedict when he visited the U.S.

“The prayers and gratitude of American Catholics are with Pope Benedict XVI today,” he said. “The Holy Father’s decision displays extraordinary humility and love for the Church, two things that have been the hallmarks of his service.”

Other reaction:

Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., tweeted, “With the courage & conscience he’s shown in his tenure, @Pontifex steps down. He will be missed by Catholics and the world’s faith community.”
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., “Today Pope Benedict XVI displayed the qualities of an excellent leader and a true man of God by putting the interests of the Vatican and the Catholic Church over his own papacy. Since becoming Pope in 2005, Pope Benedict XVI has served the Church honorably, particularly through his work promoting charity across the globe.”
Rep. Michael Grimm, R-N.Y., “Like most Catholics throughout the world, I was surprised and saddened to hear the news of Pope Benedict’s resignation,” Grimm told The Hill. “For seven years, he served honorably as our holy pontiff, seeking to reawaken Christianity throughout the world.”
President Obama said he “appreciated” working with Benedict.

Former Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum, now chairman of Patriot Voices, said, “The news of Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation comes as quite a surprise to Karen and me. We respect his decision and see it as an example of his great humility, spiritual leadership, and commitment to his faith. We pray for the church, St. Peter and all the Saints, for the church’s leadership, and for the faithful for the work they will do in the coming weeks to elect a new Pope. May God bless and keep Pope Benedict XVI.”
Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2013/02/popes-resignation-surprise-even-to-insiders/#wBqKhyLW0Ez2mElk.99


Well, I can honestly say that I didn't see that coming. Thoughts?
Xeogaming Forums - General Chat - The Pope's Resignation



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