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hunter

(40,977 posts)

90. That would be disappointing if it's all about the money.

Mon Feb 11, 2013, 12:20 PM

Feb 2013

Does everything in this modern world have to be about the money? Frankly, I'd prefer any other kind of scandal to that.

What the church needs is someone who can lead it into the 21st century as a liberal institution promoting peace and social justice, but I have very little hope this will happen.

I think what will happen is various mergers and schisms, leaving us with a church divided. A powerful figure will unite the authoritarian right wing patriarchy of the Catholic-Orthodox-Anglican churches. Modern liberal communities will be excluded and form their own loose coalitions with their own lines of succession. This liberal church will be the one that survives the increasing transparency of the internet age.

But if modern communication systems fail, well then, we're all fucked. Earth becomes the hot radioactive hell we've always feared as the fundamentalists fight it out for world domination.

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Pope to step down 28 February per Italian news and BBC [View all] Spider Jerusalem Feb 2013 OP

BBC Link: muriel_volestrangler Feb 2013 #1

OMG Scairp Feb 2013 #118

Wants to spend more quality time with his family... mpcamb Feb 2013 #140

Lol Scairp Feb 2013 #145

Joe Madison talking about it now on SiriusXM BumRushDaShow Feb 2013 #2

Good n/t FreeState Feb 2013 #3

Is this so he can have a say in his successor? FreeState Feb 2013 #11

He wouldn't be able to have a say Posteritatis Feb 2013 #18

That is not exactly true... SkyDaddy7 Feb 2013 #23

Handwavey opinion doesn't make something untrue. (nt) Posteritatis Feb 2013 #141

Since he's over 80, he wouldn't get a vote himself anyway, as a cardinal (nt) muriel_volestrangler Feb 2013 #26

Regarding motives... DesertRat Feb 2013 #103

What weak, aged, ill pope hasn't stuck it out to the end? HooptieWagon Feb 2013 #115

you're entitled to your opinion DesertRat Feb 2013 #137

Pope is for life. HooptieWagon Feb 2013 #138

Just heard this on my local NBC affiliate morning news! Rhiannon12866 Feb 2013 #4

NBC Special Report with Matt Lauer just broke in Rhiannon12866 Feb 2013 #13

actually the last Pope to resign was melm00se Feb 2013 #35

But that was to resolve the Great Western Schism starroute Feb 2013 #82

You're right! Thanks! Rhiannon12866 Feb 2013 #163

No more Hitler Youth leading the world's Catholics? n/t Fire Walk With Me Feb 2013 #5

I really wish people would stop trying to portray Pope Benedict as a Nazi Fortinbras Armstrong Feb 2013 #38

Agreed. A much better description would ChairmanAgnostic Feb 2013 #59

That is one of my beefs with this pope. He's like .... he's a mess in every way. loudsue Feb 2013 #99

Not to mention his active persecution of us LGBT folks. Zorra Feb 2013 #133

Okay then... awoke_in_2003 Feb 2013 #114

That he earned fair and square Retrograde Feb 2013 #116

Yep. There's plenty of problems but the Hitler Youth angle is just stupid. (nt) Posteritatis Feb 2013 #142

No fan of the Pope either, but I wish this meme would die. AngryOldDem Feb 2013 #154

The only thing I can say is...Holy Shit! Ken Burch Feb 2013 #6

No! LeftInTX Feb 2013 #113

One wonders whether the child abuse is going to hit the fan. 6000eliot Feb 2013 #7

Bingo ! Berlum Feb 2013 #15

That was my first thought! nt City Lights Feb 2013 #69

You can be sure skepticscott Feb 2013 #8

One who never should have been Pope.... Auf Wiedersehen! hlthe2b Feb 2013 #9

Isn't papacy a life long commitment? darkangel218 Feb 2013 #10

For the past 500 years, it has been, but there is precedence (apparently, if you go back that far) hlthe2b Feb 2013 #14

If you are the head of a superstition based industry Richard_uk Feb 2013 #36

Thank you for that piece of atheistic bigotry Fortinbras Armstrong Feb 2013 #39

I prefer to call it rational thought Richard_uk Feb 2013 #46

You prefer to absolve your bigotry. Fortinbras Armstrong Feb 2013 #57

How magnanimous of you. However you do bring up an interesting point. Am I a bigot? Richard_uk Feb 2013 #68

Unfortunately you are painting 'religion' with an very broad brush. Stonepounder Feb 2013 #108

why do poeple need others to respect their mythology? snooper2 Feb 2013 #81

"I am not sorry that I appear to have upset you" demwing Feb 2013 #65

why do you hate the constitution so much? Richard_uk Feb 2013 #74

Oh stop the sanctimonious nonsense. ForgoTheConsequence Feb 2013 #85

The constitution guarantees free speech demwing Feb 2013 #97

No, the US constitution does not allow "freedom of though and freedom of speech". uppityperson Feb 2013 #151

I wasn't juror #2 LOL - gee I wonder who alerted. Hassin Bin Sober Feb 2013 #79

Not being rude to religious DUers demwing Feb 2013 #98

Except being rude about the Muslim faith... Drunken Irishman Feb 2013 #102

A thread like this is a target for a virulent group of "discriminated-against atheist minority" NBachers Feb 2013 #177

I AM IN TOTAL AGREEMENT WITH YOUR corneliamcgillicutty Feb 2013 #134

I provide a factual response to the other poster. Do not include me in your attacks & ugly bigotry hlthe2b Feb 2013 #42

I admit that I was a little sarcastic Richard_uk Feb 2013 #52

Catholics who chose to follow their religious beliefs in their own manner (and quite often lunasun Feb 2013 #80

Google might be your friend... hlthe2b Feb 2013 #87

thank "god" someone mentioned it... TruthBeTold65 Feb 2013 #47

Hey, a little more respect. Beacool Feb 2013 #72

Live and let live I do like that idea, Richard_uk Feb 2013 #77

+1 n/t PasadenaTrudy Feb 2013 #93

He did not want his body placed for extended public viewing like his predecessor's was. John1956PA Feb 2013 #19

A pope wanting to preempt Dark Age rituals? Brickbat Feb 2013 #66

Not all popes and R. C. clergy believe the church dogma. John1956PA Feb 2013 #125

Well he doesn't quite have the status of the previous pope LiberalFighter Feb 2013 #76

It's legitimate, just very, very rare Posteritatis Feb 2013 #20

Maybe they will go without a pope. darkangel218 Feb 2013 #158

Supreme Court used to be, too. Bucky Feb 2013 #33

That's what they say. AngryOldDem Feb 2013 #156

First papal resignation since 1415 Posteritatis Feb 2013 #12

Holy moley! longship Feb 2013 #16

He's doing the right thing, but it can't have been easy for him struggle4progress Feb 2013 #17

The man is 86 years old fasttense Feb 2013 #21

Obviously ... he's too pooped to Pope Auggie Feb 2013 #89

Auggie you made my day. I couldn't stop laughing. Thanks. n/t fasttense Feb 2013 #172

But I thought the Pope was "infallible". Zoeisright Feb 2013 #124

He is only infallible when he speaks ex cathedra. And there is no evidence that he is senile. totodeinhere Feb 2013 #129

That's not what papal infallibility means. Posteritatis Feb 2013 #143

Maybe he got some wits... MrMickeysMom Feb 2013 #162

One can only imagine the scandal that would force this Pope out of msanthrope Feb 2013 #22

Or, a wealth of new candidates. Sounds kind of crazy, but the first thing I thought when I saw this: freshwest Feb 2013 #105

Thought the job was gonna be all child's play. Ichingcarpenter Feb 2013 #24

Boy oh boy oh boy oh boy Richard_uk Feb 2013 #40

LOL! nt Lucky Luciano Feb 2013 #54

You nailed it, lol! n/t PasadenaTrudy Feb 2013 #96

As a non-practicing Catholic, I'm encouraged to see this. Kath1 Feb 2013 #25

From a barely practicing Catholic, we need someone life long demo Feb 2013 #29

Thank you. Kath1 Feb 2013 #61

Pope will tell all Ichingcarpenter Feb 2013 #27

Alright, how old was the boy involved? Lucky Luciano Feb 2013 #28

That was my first thought, too. Odin2005 Feb 2013 #45

Italy suspends Vatican bank card payments PADemD Feb 2013 #48

That would be disappointing if it's all about the money. hunter Feb 2013 #90

Thanks! That was my first thought: Vatican banking scandal about to erupt. Peace Patriot Feb 2013 #107

Scandals over the Vatican Bank aren't exactly new! LongTomH Feb 2013 #132

Yeah, but there's a new scandal brewing--current investigation of Vatican banking... Peace Patriot Feb 2013 #175

New Pope selection process will make it more modern Ichingcarpenter Feb 2013 #30

If this man speaks with god? Richard_uk Feb 2013 #31

Lol! Could be. Peace Patriot Feb 2013 #111

So the Vice Pope moves up until the next election cycle? Bucky Feb 2013 #32

The prophecy of St. Malachy OnlinePoker Feb 2013 #34

Here's an easy fix to that. NO MORE POPES. NO MORE NEXT ONE. valerief Feb 2013 #37

Hell yes! PasadenaTrudy Feb 2013 #94

The Last Pope by John Hogue PADemD Feb 2013 #41

A likely 16th century forgery ButterflyBlood Feb 2013 #58

Wow, that came out of nowhere! Odin2005 Feb 2013 #43

You have to give up something for Lint Ichingcarpenter Feb 2013 #49

Must be a specific illness. Hopefully, he will have no hand in choosing his successor. nt onehandle Feb 2013 #44

No, Popes don't resign because of illness. He's a monarch. Monarchs don't resign. nt Peace Patriot Feb 2013 #112

Except for the many who resign or otherwise abdicate, that is. Posteritatis Feb 2013 #144

The Vatican doesn't live in the last decade. It lives in the 10th century. Peace Patriot Feb 2013 #169

Actually they do and have resigned. 840high Feb 2013 #161

the Pope isn't a monarch TorchTheWitch Feb 2013 #174

next time someone without the unwashable soul taint of the nazi horror n/t Sunlei Feb 2013 #50

During Lent? ButterflyBlood Feb 2013 #51

Maybe it's FOR Lent. Iggo Feb 2013 #53

That floored me too. Beacool Feb 2013 #73

If he was that ill, why not just wait until he dies? starroute Feb 2013 #84

Just what will an ex-Pope do? Historic NY Feb 2013 #55

Good riddance. nt truebluegreen Feb 2013 #56

Pope placed on gardening leave after accepting lucrative offer to join Islam dipsydoodle Feb 2013 #60

He's retiring to Mount Olive, but Popeye says "no way" TheCowsCameHome Feb 2013 #62

You rascal dipsydoodle Feb 2013 #64

10...9...8...7...6...It is Obama's fault! nt mfcorey1 Feb 2013 #63

I heard that he got a better job offer from the Mormons Yavin4 Feb 2013 #67

This is confirmed by the Vatican's own web site: happyslug Feb 2013 #70

I'm utterly shocked. Beacool Feb 2013 #71

The timing is strange LeftInTX Feb 2013 #122

Yes, it is strange, unless he's too ill to be able to last at the job that long. Beacool Feb 2013 #131

It goes back closer to 750 if you only count ones who really had a say in the matter Posteritatis Feb 2013 #149

Good point. Beacool Feb 2013 #157

per France24: ucrdem Feb 2013 #165

Checking my twitter account and thought it was a joke. Wow!! LiberalFighter Feb 2013 #75

Maybe Ringo will get the job. dipsydoodle Feb 2013 #78

Given the current climate Courtesy Flush Feb 2013 #83

Mea Maxima Culpa CANDO Feb 2013 #86

Wrong man for the wrong times Franker65 Feb 2013 #88

No--perfect man to oversee the destruction of a corrupt, msanthrope Feb 2013 #92

He will not be missed. Dawson Leery Feb 2013 #91

Hallelujah!! loudsue Feb 2013 #95

I was thinking that his reign would not be long. Third Doctor Feb 2013 #100

Scary bloke Ian Iam Feb 2013 #101

Perhaps now a (more) decent one can be chosen. NYC Liberal Feb 2013 #104

Pope Ratzo leaving? Hard Assets Feb 2013 #106

February 11 is when Saint Bernadette saw the vision of Our Lady of Lourdes lovuian Feb 2013 #109

Alzheimers'? patrice Feb 2013 #110

No, the Vatican is a monarchy. Monarchs don't resign. Peace Patriot Feb 2013 #119

Yep. And I bet he wouldn't be the first Alzheimers' pope, even if that is true. nt patrice Feb 2013 #121

What do you know about the Papal Order of the Golden Spur? One of the most recent recipients of patrice Feb 2013 #123

My first thought when the bbc quoted 'citing poor health' eom tawadi Feb 2013 #120

My first thought was "he's in his late eighties" Posteritatis Feb 2013 #146

I understand the sucessor will most likely be a Cardinal. Do you think he will come from 24601 Feb 2013 #117

Post removed Post removed Feb 2013 #126

Scalia is evil! why would you want an evil man to do that. hrmjustin Feb 2013 #128

I'm glad I'm not Catholic.. Permanut Feb 2013 #127

It's not that painful actually. redwitch Feb 2013 #130

Ya got me on that one, redwitch.. Permanut Feb 2013 #170

'Sex-Abuse Mohony' to Help Choose New Pope tomm2thumbs Feb 2013 #135

Do you think they'll send Cardinal Law back home to Boston to face the music now that the Pope Paper Roses Feb 2013 #136

Good riddance. But, I doubt the next one will be any better. rateyes Feb 2013 #139

Bye Bye Pope Maledict, We Won't Miss Ya AndyTiedye Feb 2013 #147

Resignation accepted... Bosonic Feb 2013 #148

A signal from above ? dipsydoodle Feb 2013 #150

Wonder fresh scandal with his name on it is coming soon? REP Feb 2013 #152

Something about this just isn't adding up. AngryOldDem Feb 2013 #153

Good riddance, you wont be missed. darkangel218 Feb 2013 #155

Probably wants to go hunting with the Big Dick... NYtoBush-Drop Dead Feb 2013 #159

While I was never a fan of Pope Ratzinger happynewyear Feb 2013 #160

Trying to Remember ~ Is he the Pope goclark Feb 2013 #166

yes he was happynewyear Feb 2013 #168

Auf Wiedersehen NAZI pope! triplepoint Feb 2013 #164

Wow! goclark Feb 2013 #173

At long, long last ... BlueMTexpat Feb 2013 #167

This just in! PMcDee Feb 2013 #171

I love it. Giving 2 weeks' notice like some part-timer down at Burger Sling. kestrel91316 Feb 2013 #176