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Pope Benedict to resign at the end of the month, Vatican says

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nota bene

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Rome (CNN) -- The spiritual leader of 1.2 billion Catholics, Pope Benedict XVI, surprised the world Monday by saying will resign at the end of the month "because of advanced age."
It's the first time a pope has resigned in nearly 600 years.

"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 said, according to the Vatican.

Pope Benedict to resign at the end of the month, Vatican says - CNN.com

This, in my opinion, is a selfless act of humility. I hope it inspires the Lenten experience of Roman Catholics and others who observe Lent.
 
Good riddance. He did nothing but pay lip service to the victims of Catholic priest child abuse. He said there was no room in the church for those who abuse kids and/or shelter those who do--well, ratzy, that includes you, too..!
 
solletica said:
Good riddance. He did nothing but pay lip service to the victims of Catholic priest child abuse. He said there was no room in the church for those who abuse kids and/or shelter those who do--well, ratzy, that includes you, too..!
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Which part of the world did that happen? Did the state do anything about it?
 
Here is the Pope's resignation statement ...
"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 bark 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 recognise my incapacity to adequately fulfil the ministry entrusted to me."

... and here is the edited MSNBC version ...

"After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my ministry has deteriorated in me”
 
RDS said:
Which part of the world did that happen? Did the state do anything about it?
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The cops anywhere can't arrest any priests without evidence of allegations against them, and the church has had a long documented history of concealing those allegations and shuffling the molesting priests to other dioceses to avoid trouble for them.

At the end of the day, popie ratzinger was nothing but an (assistant) professional child molester .
 
bubbabgone said:
Here is the Pope's resignation statement ...
"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 bark 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 recognise my incapacity to adequately fulfil the ministry entrusted to me."

... and here is the edited MSNBC version ...

"After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my ministry has deteriorated in me”
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Sounds more like--"after having it up to here with mounting allegations of sexual abuse as well sexual abuse cover-ups from the Vatican, I'm quitting before anything more gets traced back to me."
 
solletica said:
The cops anywhere can't arrest any priests without evidence of allegations against them, and the church has had a long documented history of concealing those allegations and shuffling the molesting priests to other dioceses to avoid trouble for them.

At the end of the day, popie ratzinger was nothing but an (assistant) professional child molester .
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Have some respect. Thats all.
 
RDS said:
Have some respect. Thats all.
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I have nothing but the greatest respect for children abused by the catholic church, and their fight for justice.
 
Solletica, I began this thread in this forum in the hope of an earnest and respectful conversation. I was hoping to avoid breathtakingly ignorant and ugly posts.

In the Breaking News forum, there's a 13-page thread where you can bash "old Ratzy" to your heart's content. Would you be so kind as to deposit your uninformed and hateful droppings there rather than on this thread?

Thanks.
 
nota bene said:
Solletica, I began this thread in this forum in the hope of an earnest and respectful conversation. I was hoping to avoid breathtakingly ignorant and ugly posts.

In the Breaking News forum, there's a 13-page thread where you can bash "old Ratzy" to your heart's content. Would you be so kind as to deposit your uninformed and hateful droppings there rather than on this thread?

Thanks.
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I agree with your assessment -it takes guts to admit when it is time to go, as opposed performing at bare minimum just to do the time.
 
solletica said:
Anyone who wants the truth on old ratzy, see below. . .

BBC News - Viewpoint: Benedict a disappointing leader in troubled times
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Decent article although it says this about Ratzinger:

And yet, Ratzinger was prevented from acting decisively in part by John Paul's intransigent unwillingness to face the facts about abusive priests and bishops who covered for them.

In the final days before John Paul's death, Cardinal Ratzinger spoke an extraordinary prayer at a Good Friday service, recognising the "filth" in the Catholic Church - a clear reference to clerical abusers - and saying how often the Church seemed "like a boat about to sink".
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To the OP: It seems like a sound decision on his part although I don't think there's an American on the list of possible next Popes which is disappointing.
 
I read Dolan's name being mentioned instantly.
 
Our Pastor touched on the resignation during today's sermon.

He indicated that JP II was a very apostolistic, in that he recognized the need to travel worldwide to promote Catholicism.

He indicated that Benedict recognized that his age and health would not allow the same level of international traveling and the ensuing connections.

He respected Benedict's resignation.

I thought this to be an excellent summary.
 
I'm more than a little foggy on the details, but I vaguely understand that Ratzinger was ready to retire long before he became Pope but that John Paul II insisted that he needed him.

When Karol Wojtyla was elevated, I remember the Newsweek cover, and one phrase stuck in my mind forever. He was described as "virile," both intellectually and physically. He was a skiier, a playwrite, a Renaissance man. So much younger than Ratzinger when he became Pope. No comparison, really.
 
Ha! I knew it! Read 'em and weep! I mean, since when does "ill health" ever cause a Pope to quit? They have been Poping people, with one foot in the grave, for centuries.

Pope Benedict, Joseph Ratzinger, has scheduled a meeting with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano for Saturday, February 23 to discuss securing protection and immunity from prosecution from the Italian government, according to Italian media sources. <snip>

Ratzinger's meeting follows upon the apparent receipt by the Vatican of a diplomatic note from an undisclosed European government on February 4, stating its intention to issue an arrest warrant for Ratzinger, who resigned from his pontificate less than a week later. <snip>

"I need not remind you, Mr. President, that under international law and treaties that have been ratified by Italy, you and your government are forbidden from granting such protection to those like Joseph Ratzinger who have aided and abetted criminal actions, such as ordering Bishops and Cardinals in America and elsewhere to protect known child rapists among their clergy.

"Your obligation to the Vatican through the Lateran Treaty does not negate or nullify the requirements of these higher moral and international laws; nor does it require that you give any protection or immunity to a single individual like Joseph Ratzinger, especially after he has left his papal office." <snip>


Pope Benedict to seek immunity and protection from Italian President Giorgio Napolitano on February 23 ~ RiseEarth
 
I do hope that avoidance of prosecution is not one of the reasons for the Pope's resignation.

I google search on the subject shows many news references to Captain America's information.

I am very frustrated that we continually see that the RCC hierarchy is continually exposed for their protection of pedophile priests.

It seems that there is no end to evidence that it continues, in spite of the current knowledge that the decisions are wrong, illegal, and are completely against the teachings of Jesus Christ.

My Aunt, a Catholic Sister of Charity for 55 years, gave me the best advice - she told me to not let the actions of the RCC negatively effect my relationship with Jesus Christ.

I try to hold on to that thought these days, but it can be very difficult at times.
 
Of course it isn't. Why would you surrender sovereign immunity to escape prosecution. It is possible the Vatican is making sure Italy understands its obligations under the Lateran Treaty and it may be concerned if the ex-Pope travels abroad, but obviously it isn't the reason he resigned!
 
SMTA said:
I do hope that avoidance of prosecution is not one of the reasons for the Pope's resignation.

I google search on the subject shows many news references to Captain America's information.

I am very frustrated that we continually see that the RCC hierarchy is continually exposed for their protection of pedophile priests.

It seems that there is no end to evidence that it continues, in spite of the current knowledge that the decisions are wrong, illegal, and are completely against the teachings of Jesus Christ.

My Aunt, a Catholic Sister of Charity for 55 years, gave me the best advice - she told me to not let the actions of the RCC negatively effect my relationship with Jesus Christ.

I try to hold on to that thought these days, but it can be very difficult at times.
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Your aunt gave you sound advice. No matter where you hang your hat, that one-on-one relationship is all that matters.
 
nota bene said:
Your aunt gave you sound advice. No matter where you hang your hat, that one-on-one relationship is all that matters.
Click to expand...

My Aunt is very wise indeed, and greatly cherished!

Thank you!
 
SMTA said:
I do hope that avoidance of prosecution is not one of the reasons for the Pope's resignation.

I google search on the subject shows many news references to Captain America's information.

I am very frustrated that we continually see that the RCC hierarchy is continually exposed for their protection of pedophile priests.

It seems that there is no end to evidence that it continues, in spite of the current knowledge that the decisions are wrong, illegal, and are completely against the teachings of Jesus Christ.

My Aunt, a Catholic Sister of Charity for 55 years, gave me the best advice - she told me to not let the actions of the RCC negatively effect my relationship with Jesus Christ.

I try to hold on to that thought these days, but it can be very difficult at times.
Click to expand...

Just make sure you get the other side of the story as well, child abuse unfortunately takes place everywhere there are children, the RCC is not a special case and the people in the RCC are not all saints they're just human which means some of them are going to be despicable pieces of garbage. The difference here is that the media has had it in for the RCC for a long time now so much so that they neglect other cases.

One thing that a lot of people don't know or don't care about is that the first and main case that came to light of abuse in the Church was actually reported to the police, they didn't find any evidence supporting the accusations, so what is the Church suppose to do if the state government fails to take any action? Now I'm not saying that the Church is entirely blameless because that clearly is not the case, but she doesn't deserve such hate and persecution and neither do those kids who suffer elsewhere and are being ignored because no one cares about them unless it was a Catholic Priest who abused them.
 
From a Denver Post blog:

[Pennsylvania State University Prof. Philip] Jenkins said there has been no formal study comparing denominations for rates of child abuse. However, insurers have been assessing the risks since they began offering riders on liability policies in the 1980s. Two of the largest insurers report no higher risks in covering Catholic churches than Protestant denominations.

Wisconsin-based Church Mutual Insurance Co. has 100,000 client churches and has seen a steady filing of about five sexual molestation cases a week for more than a decade, even though its client base has grown.

“It would be incorrect to call it a Catholic problem,” said Church Mutual’s risk control manager, Rick Schaber. “We do not see one denomination above another. It’s equal. It’s also equal among large metropolitan churches and small rural churches.”

Iowa-based Guide One Center for Risk Management, which insures more than 40,000 congregations, also said Catholic churches are not considered a greater risk or charged higher premiums.

“Our claims experience shows this happens evenly across denominations,” said spokeswoman Melanie Stonewall.

Catholic priests no guiltier of sex abuse than other clergy
 
I wouldn't be so quick to use Wisconsin in any sentence about the RCC after Dolan's recent court appearances.
 
I'm not sure what you're getting at. What does an insurance company based in Wisconsin have to do with Dolan?
 
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