The Italians want another Italian Pope. The Church needs a Pope from some part of the world where it is growing, such as Asia or Africa.

The Catholic Church needs a lot of changes, Hand.

They're not interested in change.

Guessing they'll pick Peter, hence the papal prophecies

Turkson of Ghana: "Asked about the spread of AIDS in Africa, he said abstinence was a better solution than condoms." Alrighty, then. Next!

Well Common Sense abistinence is a better solution just a REALLY impractical one.

Until the Catholic church and the Pope enters the 21st century, nothing will change. Proportionately, there are probably more gay priests than in any other business. YES, business. The Catholics are always bumming money for the "poor" and uneducated of the world while sitting on billions of dollars worth of ill-gotten treasures that date back to the beginning of the church. They could feed the third-world countries for years with their bounty. Historically, the catholic church have killed more innocent people than anyone else, sans Hitler and Stalin. Don't condemn me until you read their history

Well the public would probably vote for the lesser of these 8 evils, but the Vatican will probably elect the greater of these 8 evils.

There's an old saying that the one most suited to power is the person who least wants it.

George Washington didn't want the Presidency of the US. It was practically shoved down his throat by the First Continental Congress. Washington's hero was the Roman Emperor Cincinnatus, who abdicated emperorship of Rome to go back to a peaceful life as a farmer on his Roman estate.

Now, that being said, when Benedict/Ratzinger was elected by the Vatican council in '05 they touted his selection as a return to traditional christian values and a return to conservatism. Now, six years on, not only do we have a 'The Butler Did It' scandal, we also have a very public schism between the church and the nuns,and the majority of public opinion seems decidedly squarely behind the nuns. My thought now is to wonder if maybe Benedict/Ratzinger wasn't too conservative and traditional and chose to step down because his traditional values were fracturing the Church. Or did the Vatican council see the fracturing and decide that an abdication would be better?

There were rumors about the Pope's failing health as far back as January of last year, but the Vatican squashed the rumor of an abdication. Now this pronouncement has taken them completely by surprise.

Can anyone recall "Father Guido Sarducci"?

As far as the Church goes, this Pope has stated on several occasions he might step down due to health concerns as according to rumors, he did not want certain cardinals running things in his name. But his health was his main concern and how it would effect the overall church.

St. Malachy purportedly had a vision with 112 phrases describing 112 popes, with the last being "Peter the Roman" who leads the Church during the end times. Benedict XVI is #111. So, if one is to believe the prophecies of St. Malachy, Cardinal Peter Turkson might suit the "Peter the Roman" title (though he certainly is not Roman). Perhaps he would pick a Roman name.

There is some debate whether #111 and #112 are consecutive because he never said they were, but all of the others were consecutive. We'll see...lol

Common Sense said:

Turkson of Ghana: "Asked about the spread of AIDS in Africa, he said abstinence was a better solution than condoms." Alrighty, then. Next

cgtrav said;

Well Common Sense abstinence is a better solution just a REALLY impractical one.

When you remember that Turkson is from a continent still trying to recover from the African World War, and remnants of rogue militia leftover from that war are running rampant over the countryside, raping men women and children, spreading diseases like syphilis and AIDS, then yes, in the context that he's from, abstinence does make sense. Abstain from violence; from rape and murder and all such negative actions.

John Bayner

I guess they included the black dude for @!$%#s and giggles.

There has been 3 African popes so far. St. Miltiades, St. Gelasius I, and St. Victor I.

And while you giggle about the potential black pope, remember that women cannot be popes ... yet. Now that would be surprising.

"Turkson of Ghana: "Asked about the spread of AIDS in Africa, he said abstinence was a better solution than condoms." Alrighty, then. Next!"

Abstinence IS a better solution b/c it has a 100% effective rate against all the nasties out there....course that's if you possess even the slightest amount of self-control.

Turkson of Ghana: "Asked about the spread of AIDS in Africa, he said abstinence was a better solution than condoms."

Yep what Amanda said. In South Africa there are a reported 60,000 rapes a year with a 12% conviction rate. Anywhere else in North Africa raping is like getting your morning coffee for some groups of people, I'm sure women would love the choice to abstain. This is what happens when religions get involved; solutions from an organization based on fantasy rarely provide applicable solutions to the real world but are still followed by large masses of people.

Explain to me how this is a Catholic problem when it is Muslim extremists reportedly doing the raping? Hmmmmmm?

notice that in the descriptions they say: conservative voice, conservative this, conservative that. Abortion, abstinence, homophobia. Is this a church or a gynecology clinic?

Nvm, I just saw that that was directed to Amanda. Still, the use of "religions" in your post I find offensive.

Phlatline, if all it took is self control for a woman to obstain from being raped, your point would be valid.

The church needs to do a total makeover all over the world. Big job, but God knows, they have the money to do it! The new pope will need to have sexual abuse in the church and the aftermath of this as top priority if they want to have any chance at all of a comeback. Too many churches and schools have had to close to pay all of the lawsuits in the aftermath of pedophile priests and there are still many, many years of this yet to come as more people come forward with abuse claims all over the world!!!!

"Does anyone believe men - esp African - will be abstinent??? That's a big NOT"

LOL when then that makes it okay. Btw, that signalling out Africa totally didn't sound racist.

riverboy21

Phlatline, if all it took is self control for a woman to obstain from being raped, your point would be valid.

Um, I would think self control would be implied for the guy wanting to rape, not the girl getting raped. Sorry, didn't realize that needed spelling out.

i think the fact that so many of the "contenders" have expressed in the past that they do not wish to take on the role of pope because it would be a "nightmare" and a "rough time" says alot about the fortitude of the religion...if you are not able to boldy stand at the firing lines of your beliefs then deep down you must not believe it.

I just wanted you to spell out how unviable your statement is. Hence why your and the Catholic churches fantasy doesn't work in the real world. How to solve Africa's AIDS problem? With a solution that has absolutely no chance of working. Unless of course you are going to use God's endless powers to beam self control into the heads of the rapists who have no problem with what they are doing, then again that's not how the real world works. You can't solve a real problem with a fantasy solution.

Father Guido Sarducci, wants the Amazing Kreskin to be the next Pope.

Pope John Paul II was considered too much of a liberal ....the church will have nun of that

In 2000, Pope John Paul II issued a formal apology for all the mistakes committed by some Catholics in the last 2,000 years of the Catholic Church's history, including the trial of Galileo among others

Pope says sorry for sins of church

Sweeping apology for attacks on Jews, women and minorities defies theologians' warnings

Rory Carroll in Rome
The Guardian,

Monday 13 March 2000

2,000 years of violence and persecution

Saving one of his most audacious initiatives for the twilight of his papacy, John Paul II yesterday attempted to purify the soul of the Roman Catholic church by making a sweeping apology for 2,000 years of violence, persecution and blunders.

From the altar of St Peter's Basilica in Rome he led Catholicism into unchartered territory by seeking forgiveness for sins committed against Jews, heretics, women, Gypsies and native peoples.

Seeking forgiveness has been a leitmotif of his papacy since his election in 1978. He has apologised for the crusades, the massacre of French Protestants, the trial of Galileo and anti-semitism.

Wearing the purple vestments of lenten mourning, the Pope sought pardon for seven categories of sin: general sins; sins in the service of truth; sins against Christian unity; against the Jews; against respect for love, peace and cultures; against the dignity of women and minorities; and against human rights.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2000/mar/13/catholicism.religion

Uhm, condoms don't really come into play with rape either. Either choice is a fantasy solution as far as AIDS spread by rape is concerned, so one would assume that the Cardinal wasn't really speaking to rapists with his comment.

All these men look like they're about to die any minute.

"I just wanted you to spell out how unviable your statement is. Hence why your and the Catholic churches fantasy doesn't work in the real world. How to solve Africa's AIDS problem? With a solution that has absolutely no chance of working. Unless of course you are going to use God's endless powers to beam self control into the heads of the rapists who have no problem with what they are doing, then again that's not how the real world works. You can't solve a real problem with a fantasy solution."

What is unviable? Anyway, yes, by all means lets go after those evil church goers and not do anything against the rapist. Am I reading you right? Because your mocking attidute towards, how did you put it? Oh, yes: "Unless of course you are going to use God's endless powers to beam self control into the heads of the rapists who have no problem with what they are doing, then again that's not how the real world works." So, how bout instead of wasting your time making phun of me, you put your energy in trying to rid the world of this crime. After all, it is not the churches fault this is happening. That would fall on the people who are committing the crime. If you would use your handy-dandy Google you would know that the churches are trying to stop this, not promote this.

HopeisGone

Will this pope have to confront the 3rd anti-christ, Barack Hussein Obama?

No. He'll be far too busy trying to raise the intelligence level of the flock to the equivalence of 19th century America. It's a near impossible task to be sure, but with the help of Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny, all things are possible.

Now if you really wanna do this, Riverboy 21, we can go, but you do need to be quick, because I have the life and won't be on here forever.

Less abstaining from sex; more abstaining from Catholicism.

Interesting that nearly all of these choices are "conservative', meaning in Catholic speak, anything to do with sex and reproduction must be adhered to by their word. They just keep the really perverse stuff in house and stuff under wraps for those pedophile priests.

@Amanda-2017567

Cincinnatus was not a Roman Emperor, though was a consul and dictator for a time. The first Roman emperor didn't happen until over 400 years after he died.

I'm saying go after the rapists, not sure how you misunderstood that or maybe you just couldn't come up with an argument so you decided to focus on something I never said. The Catholic church's official stance on a woman contracting AIDS from rape is "The rapist should have shown some self control." What kind of solution is that? There are organizations trying to really help, providing protection(mace, megaphones, loud keychain size alarms) and even devices that injure the penis if a man attempts forced entry which prevented hundreds of rapes when they were being given away at the World Cup. The Catholic church sits there judging people telling them they need more self control, which their leaders have displayed very little of themselves.

Rick, if you think that, why the hell are you even here? Wasn't reading the article/comments a phenomenal waste of time for you?

Riverboy21, I did misunderstand you in that regard. However the church is trying to help, but it is hard considering the climate of that region and the extremists involve. We are making headway, but we still have quite a ways to go. Again, much tribal belief and the influx of extremists makes it the hard. Not all religions are to blame here.

phlatline

Explain to me how this is a Catholic problem when it is Muslim extremists reportedly doing the raping? Hmmmmmm?

I've not heard story after story after story of Muslim extremists raping little boys, then being hidden and protected by the Taliban. Hmmmmmm yourself. Maybe it has more to do with their inability to find small enough condoms.

"I've not heard story after story after story of Muslim extremists raping little boys, then being hidden and protected by the Taliban. Hmmmmmm yourself. Maybe it has more to do with their inability to find small enough condoms."

LOL my little troll, go away. You still haven't answered my question.

Reading all the posts from the liberals on here sure do make me happy to be conservative. I am now fully convinced that liberals hate God. Hate anything to do with Him. Have fun at judgement day

And it is here that I have to call time. 3:40 and I got places to be. Later. Try not to kill each other

Cardinal Ravasi would seem to be the best choice for "going forward". Definitely not the Quebecer who is against abortion even in the case of rape. That's "old school" and what has led to the crisis in the faith. New blood and thought is needed.

Abstinence never really worked. Not for the clergy, certainly not for the laity. It was an ideal, and not very well followed by anybody.

Phlatine said:

Explain to me how this is a Catholic problem when it is Muslim extremists reportedly doing the raping? Hmmmmmm?

It is not only Muslims raping people, it is Christians also. Perhaps you haven't heard of an African guy named Joseph Kony, who says he has visions from God telling him he has to found an independent African nation whose laws are based on the Ten Commandments? and in order to do this he has to raze villages, steal the children, brainwash the boys into becoming his child soldiers and take the little girls as child brides per the Bible?

And there's this:

The Universal Church of Kingdom of God (UCKG) has denied reports that the man arrested on Tuesday last week for allegedly raped his 11-year-old daughter is a pastor at the church.

However, Khayelitsha residents said the man was often invited to speak at funeral services for deceased members of the Khayelitsha community and always introduced himself as a UCKG pastor at a church in Nyanga

http://answeringchristians.blogspot.com/2012/02/christian-leader-in-south-africa-raped.html

No matter what name you give your Supreme Deity, or even if you believe in one at all, rape is a reprehensible, despicable deplorable crime, and it needs to be stopped wherever it is found, no matter who is doing it.

It's what you do that matters, not what you call your God.

Anyone here ever read the bible? Who thinks this next Pope might be the false prophet or the anti christ?

Enough said;

Uhm, condoms don't really come into play with rape either. Either choice is a fantasy solution as far as AIDS spread by rape is concerned,

There is a belief held in Africa that having sex with a virgin can 'cure' you of your AIDS (look up 'virgin cleansing) and so men become serial rapists looking for a virgin who can 'cure' them.

As with any change you seek, that change has to start from the inside out. You have to change the hearts,minds, beliefs, of those who hold the erroneous impressions before you can effectively eek to change the behavior.

Hello folks, the Vatican is going the way of the Dodo bird. People are understanding that they don't benefit by giving their power to an ordinary man that dresses like Liberace. A new age is dawning and there is no need for corrupt control systems.

phlatline

And it is here that I have to call time. 3:40 and I got places to be. Later. Try not to kill each other

Deny the RAPE of small children by the Catholic church over the past centuries at your peril, I dare you.

Jonathan said:

Anyone here ever read the bible? Who thinks this next Pope might be the false prophet or the anti christ?

Who's to say Benedict/Ratzinger wasn't? Or John Paul? Or any of the others?

In 329 CE a group of Christian elders (collectively called the Nicene Council) got together all the scrolls of Christian teachings that existed at the time, took out what they liked and put it all together in a book, and called it The Bible.

The stuff they didn't like was excluded, labeled The Forbidden Books, and eventually got squirreled away in the Vatican archives, never to be seen again.

So the Bible is not a predictable, reliable source of information about the end times. It has been changed, retranslated so many times that i doubt anyone living today could say with absolute certainty that this is exactly what was in the Bible when it was first put together. In fact, some Bibles today have 66 books, some have more, some have less. I went to Catholic school my entire childhood and never read the Books of Ruth and Esther until I picked up a Bible in a bookstore years later.

Think about this: The Gutenberg Bible was the first book ever printed by man. I would lay odds that the Bible we have today, if translated back to the original Latin of the Gutenberg Bible would not say the same things.

It'll probably be an old white man, with only the white part in any doubt at all.

The cardinals should probably go with a Latin American pope since that's the part of the world where the church has the most influence.

@Rick's Real

I will happily deny your ignorant comment that you made that "Deny the RAPE of small children by the Catholic church over the past centuries at your peril, I dare you." You, child, are blaming the whole congregation for the sins of individuals. Please explain to all the good men and women of the vine how a "church" can rape anyone. Would you care to make any more sweeping ignorant comments? Your history of comments is one of hating those who have belief so your vitriol is nothing more than a savage little attack at those who actually have a belief. Unfortunately for you the majority in the US is still very much convinced that their is a higher being and none of your hatred will change that.

Organized Religions, Catholic and Jewish at the top of the list, have screwed up more people in the last 50 years. What is done or not done in the name of their God is horrendous. How can a God be loving in one breath and going to fry your ass in the next. They scare the hell out of you to keep you coming back and tell you cute little stories while they got their hands in your pockets. Why should I need a little man telling me inside a little box how many Hail Mary's to say to be absolved. He can diddle with a little boy in the morning and intercede for me with God that afternoon? Pleeeeeeeease! This position should be dissolved along with Speaker of the House...they are both useless.

The Church see their popularity in secular Europe dying off. Converts are growing in Asia and Africa. Their social rules, cultures, customs and expectations are very different from Europe, obviously, as is what they are taught from generation-to-generation for their own cultural and national continuity in the light of incoming technological progress that offers them an ever-higher standard of living.

The Church will have to be willing to ADAPT and respect Latin America, Asia and Africa's beliefs, practices, social expectations, as well as their rhetoric in these regions very unlike Rome ...or else their growing membership in Asia and Africa will inevitably and must DIVERGE from the Papacy's current politically conservative focus to maintain a narrow set of values, beliefs, national laws and social customs that are only comfortable and familiar to them, when in Rome. Secular and technological progress inevitably comes up against Europe's old ways and whether you like it or not, the old has to give way to the new. This is why they're not expanding their power base for Europeans that are much more educated and enjoying the fruits of secular progress, and with a higher standard of living than compared to the rest of the world.

I have the impression that many Europeans -- aware of their centuries-long history with dealing with the authority of the Church and its history of abuses and excesses in the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Reformation and in the Colonial Era, are no longer willing to let the Church, "run the show" again, just as they are LONG PAST that stage in their national and democratic development to allow their Royal families' lineage of kings and queens dominate the governance of their own people -- except as symbols of monarchy or national celebrities held in the highest regard.

Same goes with whomever is serving as the Pope in the 21st century, old or new. They don't run the real world any more with its 196 different nations in this age of the Internet, and they know it. Try as they might to conservatively preserve their old beliefs systems that are comfortable for a handful of old, mostly Caucasian men -- if they don't respect other cultures and adapt, their religion will slowly die off in popularity again, especially in other places of the world, where the rise of Catholicism is new to them and as their nations' standard of living and secular, educational and industrial opportunities, grows for their people. Becoming a member of the Church no longer becomes a necessity in these places, but just an option for the time and effort individuals are willing to put into practicing the old ways and old beliefs, that many living, educated and employed in overpopulated industrialized democracies have decided they can no longer afford that traditional investment into having large families, with no contraception, and no medical access to such things as abortion.

So if the heads of the Church still wants to press these conservative political issues that are NOT the priority of their membership looking for jobs and a better economy, the Church will soon find themselves and their religion relegated to only being a tradition practiced by a few, but not for all that have, "Been there, done that." ...and as a result, they know better.

"It is not only Muslims raping people, it is Christians also. Perhaps you haven't heard of an African guy named Joseph Kony, who says he has visions from God telling him he has to found an independent African nation whose laws are based on the Ten Commandments?"

Oh, Amanda, yes I have heard of him....Crazy, dude who rapes children & then later claimed to be a Christian to get out of it? Yep. "You shall know them by their fruits." Sound familiar, Amanda? Does he sound like a good Christian to you or someone looking for an easy out? What say you, hmmmm?

PS, thanks for coming after me an HOUR after I said I was leaving. Classy ;)

Rick's Real, seriously, if you can't say something meaningful like, say, answering my question, instead of trolling I will have you the blocked, my phriend. Sheesh, if I wanted this kinda comment I would have never left Facebook

phlatline said:

Oh, Amanda, yes I have heard of him....Crazy, dude who rapes children & then later claimed to be a Christian to get out of it? Yep. "You shall know them by their fruits." Sound familiar, Amanda? Does he sound like a good Christian to you or someone looking for an easy out? What say you, hmmmm?

Joseph Kony's been claiming to be Christian. There wasn't a time when he didn't.

And I figured you'd stop by here and take a look at any responses to your comments later. Just like I do. It took me an hour because 1) I had work and 2) I went to research if it was ONLY Muslims raping people. It wasn't. Did you read the second one? Church in Africa got the same problem with priests raping children. To me, it doesn't matter what you call your God; if little kids look good to you,you're a bad person.

I said it before and I will say it again: It's what you do that matters, not whose Name you do it in.

It's one of the guiding tenets of my belief system, which makes one responsible for one's own actions. There's no 1-2-3 step to get to heaven, there's no 'if you accept Christ as your savior, your sins will be automatically forgiven'. I've always wondered if God segregates Heaven so that the victim of a serial killer never has to face their killer who got to heaven because he was 'saved' in prison on death row.

I'd also like to point out that in your original comment where you pointed out that Muslim extremists were going around raping people, you showed some very unChristian attitudes, painting all with the same brush. I'll ask you here to take a good long look at the one holding that brush.

Yes, he wasn't always a Christian. A phriend of mine, who is an Atheist, brought him to my attention about four months ago, and even he said that he was using Christianity as a coup out for his crimes. Still, I find it interesting that out of ALL the extremists that commit rape you find this one supposively Christian and pounce. Can say I have heard any Christian/Catholics support him, but to hear you tell it we sure do. Perhaps you should take a long look at who be holding the bush, as you said. Mhmmmmm?

I feel you might have some point you are trying to make here, but it seems lost in your own rhetoric, don't you think?

Btw, I said "extremists", I never denoted a religion. All beliefs have exteremtists and you be high to think other wise. By assuming I was meaning only Muslims shows you are the judgmental. I have known many of many beliefs that are extremists.

Hope you be the refreshing, b/c I can't wait to hear your reply, Amanda.

When are people going to wake up from their 2+ millenia STUPOR and put this asinine fairytale to rest ?

"if all it took is self control for a woman to obstain from being raped, your point would be valid."

If people are raping you, they probably aren't wearing a condom anyways.

@Sirlafalot...the problem with Father Guido Sarducci (outside being fictional) is that his greatest contribution to the world thus far- Mrs. Tea, a play on Mr. Coffee- would never fly over here in Italia...theyre not tea drinkers and her (presumed) husband is way too watery compared to good Italian caffe (espresso)...I'd vote for a "Father whatawaste" which is what my grandmother always called a ridiculously good looking priest (a little papal eye candy)...

On a serious note- I like Dolan for the job but itll never happen...Scola would also be good- he's well liked here and the relocation package wouldn't be a huge burden cause with the Frecciarosa he can get to Rome in like 3 hours....:P

Can anyone recall "Father Guido Sarducci"?

Wasn't he arrested for running some kind of "Find the Pope in the Pizza Contest" that turned out to be a scam? Or was it a front for drug trafficking, I can't remember.

Calyps

Unfortunately for you the majority in the US is still very much convinced that their is a higher being and none of your hatred will change that.

The problem I have with Christians is the simple believe that you are delusional in thinking that you have the corner on God, and that anyone who doesn't believe in your book is without God - which is impossible! Not a single living thing on this planet is disconnected from whatever consciousness lives and flows in us; and that your arrogance makes you believe that everyone needs to follow your book and believe just what you believe, otherwise God will cast you into Hell? Comical.

The problem with the higher power will not be mine to bear; rather it will be a consequence for the so-called Christians who, when it comes right down to it, exemplify NONE of the values of Jesus Christ. Or maybe it's just the politicians you've allowed to represent you. But the poor? @!$%# 'em. Gays? Kill them all. Women? Simply something for men to @!$%#, but only in the kitchen or the bedroom. The environment? God made that for me to destroy. Animals? We have domain over them. We can kill them, eat them, abuse them. God made them for us, right?

You even put bumper stickers on your cars that say "Not Of This World". Incredible. But I wish to continue to live in, be of, and walk upon this Earth, and will take care of her. But Christians? You deny science; you deny evolution; you deny global climate change; you deny women equal status; you deny non-whites equal status. Don't you ever stop to think that by denying all those things, and most specifically evolution, in favor of a man-made book, you are actually denying God's very will? And if evolution is truly the means by which God designed us to live eternally, then by denying it, you manifest your future through your very prayers; for prayer against evolution is the same as prayer for extinction. It's all in His plan; and I for one will not try and talk a single one of you out of your prayers for your future.

See Calyps, it won't be my hate that will manifest the future; it will be yours.

The LDS Church is worse.

RKapoor: We should all care. The leadership of the Catholic church greatly affects us all, believers and non.

Worse? The LDS church donates millions of dollars and service hours every year in humanitarian aid locally and throughout the world. And, at least the calling of the next LDS president of the church isn't a competition like it is for the next Pope. The LDS church relies on fasting, prayer, revelation from God, and common consent.

Hey, Hilldog is doing nothing or the chosen one, he can't run for president anymore !

The Church see their popularity in secular Europe dying off for numerous good, historical, industrial and secular/educational reasons. They have to adapt in the not-so-New World, or else their popularity in places where the rise of Catholicism is new, will die off after the flavor gets old, and something new arrives to entertain the hopes of the masses in these other regions still trying to industrialize their economies for hopes of a higher standard of living.

@socorny1

And the Catholic Church contributes hundreds of millions, perhaps even billions of dollars, directly to humanitarian causes. Not only that, but with 1.1 billion members, the Catholic Church is able to directly implement charity and aid programs on a global scale that the LDS could only dream of.

@ socorny1

The Catholic Church contributes millions, if not billions, of dollars in humanitarian aid and charity work annually. With a membership of over 1.1 billion and a solid presence on every continent, the Catholic Church is also able to deliver this charity and aid directly on an international scale that the LDS could only dream of.

@socorny1

The Catholic Church far surpasses the LDS is both resources and infrastructure. Whereas the LDS contributes "millions," the Catholic Church is able to field hundreds of millions, even billions, of dollars annually to direct humanitarian relief, charity, and aid. Not to mention the 1.1 billion Catholics distributed around the world, on every continent, and the LDS hardly compares.

Or supports the use of condoms for unwanted pregnancies.

Maybe one who supports equal rights for all, nah what the hell it will be another white dude trading in his creepy outfit for an even creepier one.

ragequitter - The problem is that in Africa sex itself is not really the problem, the problem is the way women are reduced to lower class humans. Rape is commonplace, far more so than anywhere else in the world. Condoms do nothing to really deal with the problem. Abstinence by contrast requires a person to actually consider what they are doing. Condoms lower STD's, abstinence changes society and this is what Africa needs more than anything. Do you honestly believe that a man raping a young girl will put on a condom?

Hey moron, that's half the worlds M.O. try to come up with a better statement, or at least something original.

the vatican condom issue is to resist, the church wants as many children as possible, they are future donor's and if you have responsible birth control that's less money in the church coffers !

...but the economic cost becomes too great for a society and for individual families to feed, clothe and support more mouths to feed. Having more children, less birth control, and no access to medical abortion to save the woman's life -- just because the Church said so -- is backwards, naive, unaffordable, impractical and unethical.

Being that half of most of the world's populations are women, empowering them in paternal societies is required if their nation wants to raise up standard of living and quality of life. Take away women's choices for religion's sake and your economy does so at its own peril.

Then why do you bother to read or comment on the article?

Unfortunately, this is news because the Vatican is extremely powerful in politics. They are advocates of the Sunday Law and passage of this law will give them power not seen since Constantine's rule of the Catholic Church. If the Sunday Law is passed, history will repeat itself in the form of the modern-day Crusades. The Catholic Church has established its own government, its own laws and doctrines, and has overridden the Bible. (Check out the differences between the Catholic Catechism version of the Ten Commandments and the Bible version.) It is news because the Catholic Church is positioning itself as a world power.

The Pope is a powerful figure who controls both the vast wealth of the Catholic Church and the lives of millions of followers.

He could help end over-population and poverty by allowing contraceptive use.

He could end support for pedophile priests.

There is so much good he could do, if only he would.

No, only you don't give a @!$%# Michael- and now this makes you a troll

I don't give a @!$%# because it will be the same.

The Catholic church should just dry up and blow away.

The Vatican, home of the pedophile hideaway.

Some people and places want the guidance of religious leadership/authority due to lack of much else going on in their neck of the woods save for widespread poverty. They need and want hope that things will get better for them.

Other people and places that have thriving industrialized democracies no longer need religion as much, as they've had a secular education, more opportunities and vocational careers that earns them some semblance of financial security, but only to practice their religious beliefs as a lifestyle option.

I like your (mis)spelling of "none." Perhaps allowing women into the priesthood will facilitate needed reform.

If you want women cleric join the Episcopal church.

Hand: First the Catholic Church has to recognize that women aren't second-class citizens. I always figured that admitting women into the hierarchy of a church is a progression: The Catholic Church has about a century of catching up to do first. Publicly recognizing the good that nuns do instead of frantically railing against contraception and homosexuality do would be a good first step.

Does anyone remember that they once had a woman Pope (disputed by many,but still many in history accept it as fact.Records from the early centuries are thin).They didn't know it until she became pregnant and delivered the baby. A baby who is reported to have become the Bishop of Ostia later in life,lol. Also,it was many centuries after the establishment of the Papacy(close to a thousand years)that a Pope started the rule that Priests could not marry and have families. So in reality,these strictures against female Priests and married Priests in the Church,are far less about "God's will" and far more about men's will.That over the centuries has become tradition.

A female Pope that nobody knew was female when she was elected doesn't count.

the vatican views women as a vessel for life and nothing more !

Who gets the ruby slippers ?

Install an Altar Boy who is clairvoyant, and watch them all run for the hills.

Or Realityland.

Most Outdated Institution in the World.

No, I don't think the Catholic Church is the most outdated institution in the world. I'm no fan of the Catholic Church, but I would say Islam is far more outdated than the Catholic Church.

And Republican Catholics favor retroactive abortion (i.e., guns for all, capital punishment, etc.)

No Buffalo, it's about who can best cover up er make decisions that are best for the Church.

they only need to find someone who thinks it is o.k. to help hide child molesters, hate gays and tell woman how to live

Amazing how people can inject politics into just about anything.

It'll be an Italian. He'll love the red shoes.

Amazing how people can inject politics into just about anything.

Organized religion IS politics. Only one dude gets to live in the mansion and control the lives of a billion followers.

Agreed. Putting guys who are pushing 80 is not a great idea for a long term solution

But but, it might be their turn, you know like the Romney's.

Actually after Pope John Paul they intentionally chose an older Pope with Benedict. The younger the pope the longer the reign and the greater the influence. John Paul's changes upset so many in the heirarchy they don't want any one Pope to have that much influence again.

But a good conclave is like the olympics for the church.

It gets them on TV, in the news, gets people talkin...

Thats why they need to choose the oldest guy in the room. That way they can ensure the next conclave will only be a few years away.

Dolan is out. He's only been a cardinal for a year. We all know they are gonna stick with tradition and the more senior of the choices.

I vote the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

My money's on Cthulu.

Actually, I was just thinking how funny it is that he gave two-weeks notice. Now, that's a modern-day pope.

Amen, a 2 weeks notice like he is a CEO. I would have to give a 4 weeks notice & I'm a nobody. The Pope should be ashamed of how little he did to save the young innocent catholics children & that priests, bishops & cardinals are held above the law. Now, that that has been revealed thru the press. SHAME, SHAME! BUT catholics have no shame because they are forgiven according to Catholic law. How very sad!

Good choice, imagine that, contraception without being shunned, being Gay without being ridiculed as a mistake. equal rights for Women, and consequences for people who coverup for their peers who like little Boys.

By the way RWNJ if Obama were the messiah, wouldn't being pope be like the biggest demotion in history.

Nice try, Hawkeye. Obama isn't a priest, let alone a cardinal. He's not even Catholic.
Besides, he's not a weird old man. That's one of the main requirements for the Papacy.

It amazes me that people are not the least bit reluctant to post here and show how truly stupid they are!

So true Doc.

Doc, are you high or do you just not know history? Salvation Army, Red Cross, YMCA, Boy Scouts and so on, and you claim that this all creates poverty? Wow, just wow.

I know a lot of non-catholics who push out babies that are on welfare, hell it has become a way of living.

How would you know, unless you are the welfare King.

Benji I am there with you on that one, we need a moderate in.

Yeah but the Pope has more followers on Twitter than you do.

Nothing you said in any way negates the truth of my statement. I'm not on twitter nor do I care to be.

We haven't evolved at all if you haven't noticed, nothing has.

Because it's a church, not a baseball team.