The Pope Resigns!

[ColaCock]

Originally Posted by 2000grad

I'm not Catholic. The Pope is a HUGE deal in the Catholic denom.

Within the EOC, you have the Bishops, which are similar in nature to the Pope, but not exactly the same.

I think all of that is ridiculous. Bishops, Cardinals, Popes, Archbishops, Alterboys, and whatever else other "position" you can come up with in an organization that is outspoken and intended to "run" that religion and enforce that everything "happened this way and this way only."

I don't mind monks.

[USCBatgirl21]

Originally Posted by LBC

I honestly did not think this was possible/allowed. He isn't a head coach he is the Pope. This is the Catholic Church. This whole Pope thing is kind of a big deal.

It is possible/allowed. Just hasn't been done in nearly 700 years.

[FloydTheBarber]

I wonder if the Pope ceases to be 'infallible' once he has officially abdicated?

haha

[ColaCock]

Originally Posted by usc_yogi

It is religion, stuff is not supposed to make sense.

It is a pretty bid deal though. I wonder how long it will be before there is a hispanic Pope since that demographic makes up a rather large number of worldwide Catholics?

It won't change my life in the smallest way beyond the wasted time I type at this moment on the topic.

Also, with what we know from history...I doubt very seriously he is resigning because he is "getting old". The truth will eventually come out and then what do we think of the Pope lying or hiding the truth from his people?

[Acockolypse Now]

Quitter.

[usc90grad]

I thought they served until they died...like Pope John Paul. I think there's more to this and as usual, the Catholic Church is keeping it quiet.

[usc_yogi]

Originally Posted by ColaCock

It won't change my life in the smallest way beyond the wasted time I type at this moment on the topic.

Also, with what we know from history...I doubt very seriously he is resigning because he is "getting old". The truth will eventually come out and then what do we think of the Pope lying or hiding the truth from his people?

I am with you on that. To me it is about as impactful as the whole Prince William marrying Kate Middleton ordeal, but it is meaningful to a large population segement. Since I do have a degree in history, I tend to pay attention to these things.

[catdaddy66]

Originally Posted by Acockolypse Now

Quitter.

that was right on time!

He cited poor health but it would seem to be more than that. Popes, in our lifetimes, always died in office. There was an HBO program regarding the sex abuse scandals in the Catholic Church that aired recently and it pointed a finger directly at the man. Don't know if this was a reason but timing is coincidental.

[davidmc467]

Originally Posted by LBC

I honestly did not think this was possible/allowed. He isn't a head coach he is the Pope. This is the Catholic Church. This whole Pope thing is kind of a big deal.

In 1294, Pope Celestine V declared that Popes could resign. Then, he actually resigned 5 months after being Pope. I guess he had to give some substance to his declaration, hah.

It is just so rare, you wouldn't think it would be allowed. This really is very historical, it has only happened a few times over the lifetime of the Catholic Church.

[COCKDIESEL]

[2000grad]

Originally Posted by usc_yogi

It is religion, stuff is not supposed to make sense.

It is a pretty bid deal though. I wonder how long it will be before there is a hispanic Pope since that demographic makes up a rather large number of worldwide Catholics?

At least with him retiring they will have time to meet and find a suitable replacement. The whole ceremonial thing with the white smoke and stuff is pretty neat.

The hispanic pope might be difficult to come by since we don't have any records of apostles in Spain...at least not in the Bible. Paul was planning on heading to Spain, but was imprisoned and never made it.

There has to be apostolic succession for someone to be considered for the Pope

[spareparts]

Is the Pope Catholic?

[cock13]

I heard he quit because he was having disagreements with his boss.

[davidmc467]

Originally Posted by 2000grad

The hispanic pope might be difficult to come by since we don't have any records of apostles in Spain...at least not in the Bible. Paul was planning on heading to Spain, but was imprisoned and never made it.

There has to be apostolic succession for someone to be considered for the Pope

From what I'm reading, a Cardinal from Ghana could be one of the favorites to be the next Pope.

Choosing an African to be the next Pope would be a very smart move for the Catholic Church.

[LBC]

Originally Posted by FloydTheBarber

I wonder if the Pope ceases to be 'infallible' once he has officially abdicated?

haha

This is why I didn't think one could simply resign from being the Pope.

One simply can't quit being considered 'infallible' just because.

[2000grad]

Originally Posted by davidmc467

From what I'm reading, a Cardinal from Ghana could be one of the favorites to be the next Pope.

Choosing an African to be the next Pope would be a very smart move for the Catholic Church.

Well there is a lot of "old" Christian traditions in Africa, especially in Ethiopia

[USCBatgirl21]

Originally Posted by catdaddy66

that was right on time!

He cited poor health but it would seem to be more than that. Popes, in our lifetimes, always died in office. There was an HBO program regarding the sex abuse scandals in the Catholic Church that aired recently and it pointed a finger directly at the man. Don't know if this was a reason but timing is coincidental.

In a manner other than he being the one who lead the enacting of the harsher penalties against sex abusers, and enacted the changes that expanded what the Church considers abuse and added the penalties for such?

[FloydTheBarber]

Originally Posted by LBC

This is why I didn't think one could simply resign from being the Pope.

One simply can't quit being considered 'infallible' just because.

I've been corrected elsewhere, and been told that in the '60s, the Catholic Church changed the doctrine of infallibility to only pertain to the Pope's interpretation of doctrine?

I know, it's confusing to me, too.

[FloydTheBarber]

Originally Posted by USCBatgirl21

In a manner other than he being the one who lead the enacting of the harsher penalties against sex abusers, and enacted the changes that expanded what the Church considers abuse and added the penalties for such?

Did he ever excommunicate anyone for their atrocities?

Or just outright dismissing those priests altogether?

[catdaddy66]

Originally Posted by USCBatgirl21

In a manner other than he being the one who lead the enacting of the harsher penalties against sex abusers, and enacted the changes that expanded what the Church considers abuse and added the penalties for such?

From what I gathered, no. I should have been clearer on that, sorry! The film detailed his office (which was the exact same office of the Inquisition btw) handled each and every case of alleged abuse around the world. It showed specific cases where he did little or nothing to bring the accused to answer their charges. This may or may not have been his call because he was to bring these cases to Pope JP II, so he may have been overruled if he wished to take them further. I need to watch the documentary again.