The Pope is resigning.

[ramseycat]

...effective 2/28/13. A Pope has not resigned in 600 years. Our local news is having a segment on how local Catholics feel about it. How do you think they feel?? The dude is 85. Let him retire.

How DO you feel about it Mock Catholics and Heathens?

[Sphincter Cop]

I can understand the reasoning (health), but I never thought it was a position anyone resigned from. It's almost suspicious.

I sort of felt like he was a "lame duck" to me anyway. Just spouting off the same rhetoric from the previous Pope. It will be interesting to see how this is handled, since there is so much ceremony involved when a Pope actually dies. I wonder if he will be treated in the same manner when his day comes. I wonder who the cardinals will elect and if they get locked in a room as usual to do so.

On a sidenote, I recently watched a documentary on HBO (I think) that dealt with the abuse scandal that rocked the church. Pope Benedict came up often. Almost as if he assisted in trying to discourage the facts of the claims.

[Duchess]

How DO you feel about it Mock Catholics and Heathens?

Meh, I don't care one way or another, I look at them all with disdain, the integrity of the church has been destroyed for me. Many of them in positions of power within the religious community are no better than a common thug in thinking they are above the law.

Announcing a new Pope with smoke signals is as archaic as it gets. If you've ever seen them dressed in all their religious finery they resemble the KKK.

[Sphincter Cop]

If you've ever seen them dressed in all their religious finery they resemble the KKK.[/i][/size]

Or a real ugly drag queen with a big hat..........

[ramseycat]

I don't really care either. While part of me cherishes the traditions of the Catholic Church, I too am disgusted by the scandal and abuse. It always seems like they choose a Pope that is so old, he isn't in touch with today's Catholics.

[Sphincter Cop]

I love all the history in Italy and travel there often because of family being there. But the most odd thing I saw there were all the body parts of past Pope's in almost every church. A finger, liver, heart...really weird shit in shrines within the church. Regardless of the current opinions of the "church" or its "membership" this is truly an historic event. In 6 centuries no one has resigned.

[ramseycat]

Body parts in the church? What is the significance of that?

[QueenBee]

Body parts in the church? What is the significance of that?

Well..consider the Vatican a bunch of Wise Guys. When someone is eliminated...body parts show up everywhere. Even if it is from the Godfather

[username]

It's about time they started resigning. If you can't drive a fucking car anymore, why pretend you can function well as pope?

[ramseycat]

Body parts in the church? What is the significance of that?

Well..consider the Vatican a bunch of Wise Guys. When someone is eliminated...body parts show up everywhere. Even if it is from the Godfather

Lol

[Sphincter Cop]

Body parts in the church? What is the significance of that?

They are considered "holy relics." You will see people praying near them.

St. Peter's Basilica is built upon the remains of St. Peter who is considered by some the first Pope. Just some history there.......

[Older Than Dirt]

Assuming that the Pope himself (and or his physicians), made the decision, I think that is a selfless thing to do. I hope they go younger when they begin the process to appoint his successor..

[Sphincter Cop]

[JsMom]

^^^^^^

[username]

Was it just Mother Nature or a sign from God?

Lightning appeared to strike St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City on Monday just hours after Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation, according to the BBC. The lightning strike happened around 6 p.m. local time.

Global news agency Agence France-Presse was the first to publish the startling photo of a lightning bolt coming out of the heavens and appearing to strike the dome of St. Peter's Basilica, one of Catholicism's holiest sites.

AFP photographer Filippo Monteforte caught the amazing photograph on Monday evening during a storm. "It was icy cold and the rain was falling in sheets," he told AFP. "When the storm started, I thought that lightning might strike the rod, so I decided it was worth seeing whether – if it DID strike – I could get the shot at exactly the right moment.”

He waited two hours before lightning struck twice and he captured a still image. “The first bolt was huge and lit up the sky, but unfortunately I missed it," he told AFP. "I had better luck the second time, and was able to snap a couple of images of the dome illuminated by the bolt.”

Some questioned the authenticity of Monteforte's photograph.

But Fairfax Media photographer Nick Moir told Australia's The Age via The Sydney Morning Herald that the image looks legitimate. "It's probably not that rare for St Peter's to get hit," he told the publication. "The bolt is hitting a lightning rod to the side of the cross, it seems."







http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/12...f=religion

[Duchess]

We'll never know what but I think there is something serious going down in Vatican City. This is huge in the Catholic community, unprecedented really. A Pope doesn't resign due to failing health or any other thing, many of those old men have been wheeled out to feebly raise a hand in greeting and then wheeled back inside.

[Maggot]

Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord.
Revelation, 1. 7

[Duchess]

I don't find that comforting, matter of fact it scares me a little.

[Sphincter Cop]

A Pope doesn't resign due to failing health or any other thing, many of those old men have been wheeled out to feebly raise a hand in greeting and then wheeled back inside.

I question the validity of this whole resignation. Pope John Paul was surrounded by so many who went above and beyond in caring to the very end. There was a sense of devoutness as his final days came upon the world. Now we have a Pope that just quits; which has not been done in over 6 centuries. Maybe the illuminati got to him.

[Duchess]

This is one way to protect a perv enabler.

Pope Benedict's decision to live in the Vatican after he resigns will provide him with security and privacy. It will also offer legal protection from any attempt to prosecute him in connection with sexual abuse cases around the world, Church sources and legal experts say.

"His continued presence in the Vatican is necessary, otherwise he might be defenseless. He wouldn't have his immunity, his prerogatives, his security, if he is anywhere else," said one Vatican official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"It is absolutely necessary" that he stays in the Vatican, said the source, adding that Benedict should have a "dignified existence" in his remaining years.