Emperor Palpatine--er, Pope Benedict resigns

[Gravdigr]

Somebody must've caught him with his dick in his hand.

And, by his hand, I mean, a little boy's.

[ZenGum]

It could be that, at 85 years and with failing health, he recalls the long drawn-out saga of the decline of the previous pontiff, how the church was unable to do much of anything (unlike the usual situation where it was merely unwilling) and just had to wait for a geriatric pope to die. He's making way for an energetic young 65 year old whippersnapper.

Or it could be that you cynics are right.

[Griff]

Originally Posted by infinite monkey

You never fail me, foot.

Which makes me think...

[monster]

Originally Posted by footfootfoot

Wow. Can you imagine the conversation the next morning?

Dudes, ego credidi ita luxurie abdicarunt. Quod erat aliquod primum rate cacas. Quis 'pro ientaculo?

Dudes, I was so wasted I thought I resigned. That was some first rate shit. What's for breakfast?

lovl

[ZenGum]

What's for breakfast?

Eggs, Benedict. As always.

[tw]

Originally Posted by ZenGum

Or it could be that you cynics are right.

Eliminate spin from people whose job is to invent spin. What is left? Numerous accusation supported by facts that say this Pope is guilty of more than just condoning pedophilia.

First, this Pope intentionally demeaned Islam in a famous Regnesburg speech. Saying that Christianity is based in reason. Whereas in Islam, Allah need not act as required by his own word. That Allah can be self-contradicting. And that Allah can act contrary to reason. An apology does not correct what were his opinions. He did not withdrawal his reasoning.

Second, we know this Pope, both as the previous Pope's advisor on the issue and later as Pope, repeatedly protected the Church and its pedophiles at the expense of children. Did so even when American Bishops and Cardinals went, in mass, to Rome to ask for guidance and assistance. Ironically some of those Catholic leaders are later exposed for conducting or protecting pedophilia. And the Pope still did nothing.

Third, corruption is widespread throughout the church as even summarized in Pedophilia Irish Style. Even demonstrated in a survey by The Economist. The Pope's butler exposed some of it by leaking the Pope's own papers as published by Italian journalist Gianluigi Nuzzi. Letters and memos exposed an institution dominated by jealousy, intrigue and underhanded factional fighting. At minimum, the Pope did nothing to address this problem. More likely, he condoned such attitudes. Meanwhile, even American courts exposed financial and other corruption in some archdioceses. The actual corruption probably is much larger.

In short, nobody has any reason to associate words such as honesty and integrity with the Roman Catholic Church. What remains is why this Pope is resigning. Either because he is so ineffective as to be corrupt? Or have reformers politically trapped and forced the resignation of a Pope who condoned corruption for personal and political gain? Both are reasonable possibilities. Only spin from his allies contradict those possiblities.

Either way, the reason this Pope should have gone years ago is because 85% of all problems are directly traceable to the top man. And because this top man had denied or ignored all three problems that tarnish or make corrupt the entire institution.

This Pope was so misguided as to even condemn contraception and family planning. Unfortunately, too many loyal parishioners ignore corruption to faithfully contribute money. Another example of so many who act like children (believe only what they are told) rather than become informed and think logically like an adult. That only makes conditions ripe for more corruption, disparaging other religions, priest who cannot marry, and pedophilia.

[ZenGum]

Well, yeah, but none of that is new. It never bothered any previous pope.

Here is the real reason:

[Happy Monkey]

Originally Posted by ZenGum

Well, yeah, but none of that is new. It never bothered any previous pope.

Under the previous pope, he was the one who made sure the pope wasn't bothered.

[infinite monkey]

Nice Little Feat reference, Griff. Love that!

[Pete Zicato]

Ha! I just discovered that there is an actual Cardinal Sin - from Manila. It would be great if he had six ninja brothers. They'd be the seven deadly Sins.

[footfootfoot]

[tw]

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey

Under the previous pope, he was the one who made sure the pope wasn't bothered.

He was Pope John Paul II's #1 advisor on pedophilia. He told American bishops and Cardinals to ignore and avoid the pedophile problem. As pictures demonstrate, he was also a member of the KKK. (Do they burn crosses in Rome?)

[morethanpretty]

Originally Posted by footfootfoot

Wow. Can you imagine the conversation the next morning?

Dudes, ego credidi ita luxurie abdicarunt. Quod erat aliquod primum rate cacas. Quis 'pro ientaculo?

Dudes, I was so wasted I thought I resigned. That was some first rate shit. What's for breakfast?

Isn't he German?

[footfootfoot]

You're not Catholic, are you?

[ZenGum]

He announced his resignation in Latin.