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Subscribe to RSSAs Pope Benedict XVI prepares to step down from his position in a matter of days, Italian newspapers are reporting rumors of blackmail and conspiracy. NBC's Anne Thompson reports.
Pope Benedict has changed Catholic Church rules to allow the conclave that will choose his successor to be held earlier if cardinals are ready, the Vatican said Monday.
In a motu proprio – in effect, a personal decree – he introduced modifications to the laws governing the timing of the secret election, which had been due to begin on March 15 or later.
Pope Benedict XVI officially stands down from his role on Feb 28, having resigned earlier this month citing his own failing health.
A conclave – the behind-closed-doors ballot of cardinals – cannot begin within 15 days of the papacy becoming vacant; in this case, March 15.
But the amendment to that rule, announced on Monday and reported by Vatican Radio, means the process could begin earlier if all the eligible cardinals arrive in Rome sooner.
Javier Barbancho / AFP - Getty Images
Joseph Ratzinger became Pope Benedict XVI in 2005. Look back at his life from childhood through his papacy.
The date of the conclave's start is important, The Associated Press reported, because Holy Week begins March 24, with Easter Sunday March 31. In order to have a new pope in place for the church's most solemn liturgical period, he would need to be installed by Sunday, March 17 — a tight timeframe if a conclave were to start March 15.
The number of cardinals eligible to take part reduced by one, from 117 to 116, on Monday after the sudden departure of Britain’s most senior Roman Catholic, Cardinal Keith O’Brien, who is facing allegations from priests of “inappropriate behavior.”
The Observer newspaper reported Sunday that the Vatican had been notified of the allegations, which stretch back 30 years.
Related:
LA's Cardinal Mahony says he is a 'scapegoat'
Inside the Vatican: The $8 billion global institution where nuns answer the phones
Vatican history of 'cover-ups and disarray' will challenge new pope
Leave a Comment:
Snoop, YOU NEED TO READ YOUR BIBLE... Not the Catholic Document. You need to stand for CHRIST not the catholic church... that's as heretical as can be. People need to receive JESUS CHRIST As LORD and not the catholic church. It's only the BLOOD that covers SIN and only JESUS that SAVES. You seem to know all about catholisism but maybe... not know Christ Personally. Not judging you...But JESUS is the only way to Salvation.
Dave Jones, I have read the bible and I am a scripture scholar. Jesus is dead. It is only Christ who rose. I can stand for more than one thing.
How can I know Christ personally? Christ is not a person. Christ is the 2nd person(ality) of the Trinity.
It's off putting to talk about gods (or Yahweh) who still need a blood sacrifice to be happy. I mean that's the crux of it.
Anyway, enough of the blood lust. Children may be reading.
Since the pope can change the rules in the middle of the game, why couldn't he change the way the pedophile priests were treated? He could have had them arrested, rather than sending them to 'fresh fields' in different cities or countries.
They have been. Next.....
Hillary for Pope!
The Pope has to be a single, adult, Catholic male.
With God, anything is possible.
Oh all you bible thumpers are in such a foul mood.... cheer up this is like your super bowl isn't it? I'm so thrilled to be an Atheist.
Thumpity thump thump thump thump thump The pope is on his way Thumpity thump thump thump thump thump He can't admit he's gay
He is gay? Proof?
That's a good point.
So the immutable laws of the church when it becomes expedient to do so. Did Benedict XVI not look at a calendar when he chose his final day? Or did he have it chosen for him for, as yet, undisclosed reasons? SO much of this resignation has a too-old fishy smell.
Don't bother voting or replying, this is a drive bye comment.
DieHardCentrist
Neal,
No one has ever said all of the laws of the Church are immutable. Why must you lie to try to prove your point?
Any proof to your "innocent" speculation? Or are you just being nasty?
He can't wait to get to the next gay orgy.
The Pope is gay? Who says?
A disgusting pig in robes whose sole purpose is to control people through religious influence, and he knows it.
Over 60 yrs in the RCC and we've been out for over 12. It's so nice not to have the Catholic GUILT. Non denominational churches don't intend, nor want to make you feel that way.. They speak God's Holy Word and we are extrememly happy with all that they do & say.We take communion every week... No" hokus pokus" The HOLY WORD OF GOD IS TAUGHT AND WE SPEAK OF WHAT WE READ THE PREVIOUS WEEK .WE ARE BEING TAUGHT TO THINK AND PRAY WITH THE GOOD BRAINS GOD HAS GIVEN US.....ALLELULIA! May it all be the same for all of you!
If you have found God in your non-denominational Church, good for you. But Hundred of millions find God in the Catholic Church.
What I have found is that most people don't find God, but find a way to worship themselves. They tell themselves that God loves them no matter what they do.
There is a saying in the Orient. "To worship a god you must be a god." And the god you end of worshiping is nothing other than yourself.
So when people tell you what a wonderful god they have, what they are really telling your is how wonderful they are.
If your values are identical to your god's values, your probably are just worshipping yourself.
If not, great and good life to you.
glorybe,
Yes a conscience can be tough to live with. It is so much easier now that you don't have to worry about doing the right thing and when you can just ignore the parts you don't like.
Good luck to you.
Obama likes winnie washers
Obama for pope
Having been raised a Roman Catholic, and attending Catholic schools, and joining a seminary for a time I feel that I have the right to say "who cares"?
One does not need to belong to an organized religion or be present in a religious structure to have faith and to believe. This world would be a much better place in which to live if organized religions were banned. You can have your own personal communication with God or you can choose to be led around by the nose. The choice is yours.
If organized religions were banned, the human race would be extinct.
You are filled with a lot of hate for God.
Pity.
I have no hate for God. Try enrolling in a reading comprehension class and then reread my comment, Snoop.
The human race can get along just fine without organized religions. What I find odd is that you seem to not realize that organized religions hijacked morality. It existed long before religions were established. Why do you feel a need to have to be told how to live? Do you like being someone's sheep?
Pity? I pity you. Your hatred for anyone who disagrees with your opinion is quite apparent.
Sichuan,
Well, Jesus disagrees with you. He started Christianity. Good enough for Jesus, good enough for me.
Good luck.
If he can change the laws...then why can't he make Priest eligible for marriage and gays to marry....He must not be too powerful
He can make Priest eligible to marry and some Catholic priests do marry.
Homosexuality is a mortal sin and a malfunction of the theory of evolution. Moral values don't change, they are the way of God.
Religious law can change.
You're a real piece of work, Snoop. God made homosexuals. If a homosexual is a "malfunction" then his maker is a "malfunction". You've suffered a lot of indoctrination, haven't you? Learn to think for yourself.
Yes, I am a real piece of perfection. Your reasoning makes no sense.
Evolution makes mistakes all the time. They are called harmful adaptations. Learn the Theory of Evolution.
That's why species go extinct.
I know how to think for myself, you puppet. I know the Theory of Evolution.
You're full of hatred and intolerance, Snoop.
Snoop, Hang on a minute! Learn the theory of Evolution??? If you know the theory of evolution then it goes back Billions of years or are you rewriting that too?
I guess Snoop doesn't want to answer. Maybe because he's an evolutionist who doesn't believe in evolution, or he's a creationist who doesn't believe in creation. It's kind of hard to have it both ways. You either believe the bible or you don't. You either believe in evolution or you don't. I never met anyone who said the earth was created in 7 days but that was billions of years ago and we've evolved ever since.
Sichuan, yes I am full of hatred and intolerance for evil. Just as Jesus Christ is.
JH,
The Pope could do both. He chooses not to.
Married priests would be more likely to be allowed first. This is an old tradition that the Popes seem to agree with as being better for the parish. The priest does not have to worry about his own family that way.
The woman priest issue is a bit stickier. Jesus had female disciples, lots of them. But He only had male Apostles to whom he gave the mission of going out to teach the world. The Popes so far, believe that this needs to stay the way it is as a reflection of the example Jesus gave us.
Both are up to the Pope to decide.
As Ive read thru these post, I swear that Snoop gets dumber and dumber. How can you speak of Evolution when your belief is in the Catholic Church O.o Lmao... Too Funny... So you blame evolution for homosexuals but praise your God for making Heterosexuals. This guy is all over the place. i think he doesn't know anything about life and is a sad, pathetic person hiding behind a keyboard spewing hate.
the piece if garbage should have been in prison for his covering up for pedophiles ( since the 70's ), he's a worthless human being of low morals and character , just a common criminal trying to outrun the law.
You are a piece of garbage for your comment.
He is not outrunning any law and no police are after him.
That is why God hates you.
Snoop, you're a selective hater, intolerant of anything that disagrees with your ideology. You won't be welcome in your desired paradise.
Close, but no cigar. I hate evil. See Romans 12:9. Yes, I am a selective hater. Just like Jesus Christ. I can live with that.
Also, you just judged me. I have never judged anyone. FYI, if both you and I were in paradise (as you call it) together, that would be fine with me.
I didn't judge you, Snoop. You voluntarily exposed yourself for what you are, which is a religious extremist.
Yes, you did, I quote:
Thant's a judgement see Mathew 7:1-5. That's exactly what a judgement is. I voluntarily expose myself as a supporter of Jesus Christ who hates evil and loves God.
You exposed yourself as someone who hates God and loves evil. Your original post aginst organized religions shows that.
Michael,
Pfffftt!
Proof please.
Agreed Michael. Thank you for having the courage to say it.
I can remember when the Pope (not this one) changed the law about eating meat on Friday. Problem was that if a guy ate meat on the Friday BEFORE the change took effect and died, the poor bastard is squatting on hot coals in Hell. There was no mention of letting anyone off the hook. They are almost as bad as the IRS!
Wrong! Eating meat on Friday is not a mortal sin and never was. Nice joke, though. I've heard it before.
Snoop, you belong on an ignore list. You're a troll. Please feel free to reciprocate.
My name isn't Snoop, and your are a name caller who has admitted he hates God. You showed your colors when you wrote that all organized religions should be eliminated. You hatred for what is good and all of humanity is plain.
FYI, Sichuan, the hell-for-eating-meat-on-Firday is a standard joke told back as far as 1967 which is when I first heard it.
This guy is smart to get out of the top job NOW. He wants to distance himself from the world wide sex freak circus.
Chris,
Just how world wide is it?
The Catholic Circus, pardon me, "church" is a money grubbing, scandal covering, worldwide BUSINESS...bottom line. There are of course, many MANY priests, bishops, cardinals etc... who do good things for many ppl but the church itself is just pathetic. How many millions of ppl have died at the hands of "Gods" work because the men in charge just knew they were right. They make up the rules as they go and tweek them however they want. Do you really think that God would create men and women but say...no, the women can't run things. Historically, which half of our species has been in charge of virtually everything....men. What genius half of our species was in charge of every mass murder of innocent ppl throughout history...again virtuallyevery time...MEN. Money, power and greed will ALWAYS rule the human race and the catholic church is no different. The church can elect Pope Mickey Mouse the First for all I care and if you don't like Catholicism anymore...go pick another religion and all of your pedophile, scandal covering problems go away. I subscribe to the Golden Rule towards my fellow humans...i open doors for ppl, i push my wife's chair in, i respect everyone because that's how I was raised. I don't need a Father, Son or Holy ghost to tell me how to run my life. I do believe in a God, just not the way any of the man-made religions teach it. I'm sure "God" would want the smartest beings he/she/it created to slaughter themselves, to oppress half of it's species in any number of ways....women couldn't vote, women have virtually no rights in the middle east, women can only play a supporting role of the "boys club" in their own church to name just a few. Be good to each other ppl.
Wells spoken Jeffro, I am an Atheist, but I respect believers who follow God in their heart, not because a church, priest or bible tells them to. I live my life like you, by the Golden rule, except the God part. But i praise you, and your comment, it shows that you have alot of wit and heart.
The pope is exiting because he has had enough, and wants to depart to a life of prayer to escape the pressure, knowing full well more "stuff" is rushing headlong downhill. While still in Germany, as he was shuffling the pedophile's paperwork around on his desktop, and shuffling the affected pedophile priests throughout Germany as he discharged his duties, he had to know going to Rome would only be a bigger pressure cooker. In a perfect world the appointment would be utopia on earth. As he enters retirement and a prayerful life, he never again will have contact with the general population.
It truly saddens me to read these posts...can no one see that this is the work of satan. Good men are being accused without knowing facts. How many of these accusers saw the possibility of getting big money. (ah..greed) The lawyers are the evil ones as well as the accusers. Yes, some are rightfully guilty but not all. satan is working hard at the destruction of the church Christ created for us.No one seems to remember the power of evil. Now we are seeing good as being overwhelmed with evil.Just what satan is working for and now accomplishing. Good men know what is right and what is wrong. How many of you are questioning these false accusations yet are so easily sued to believe these falsehoods. Yes, bad things happen...ask yourself "how many good men are imprisoned when they are innocent"? The atheists are just thrilled to see this happening. They have no faith but christians have good in their hearts and want to believe that good will prevail. with prayer good will prevail and"the truth will set us free". Please Christian (Catholics) keep your faith and show evil that good is stronger than evil. God bless........
lets hope the Pope finds peace.
It's pretty cool that a world power, a UN Security Council Member, England, will not be a part of the the Magical Mussolini Tour that is the Vatican.
The Brits are usually a few steps ahead of Americans in these things. This gives me hope. Perhaps in my lifetime there will be no US involvement with the Magical Mussolini Tour either.
You do know that Mussolini died almost 70 years ago?
Mussolini set up the fiefdom that is the Vatican. One Fascist dictator helping out the last absolute monarch of Europe.
We should withdraw our ambassador like we did before Reagan.
Mussolini did not setup the Vatican. The Vatican, which comes from the Latin Vaticanus, which means "hill" on which a graveyard was, was Church property back in the 3rd century with Constantine.
I really love your guilt-by-association reasoning. Very Nazi. One of the many great things about Reagan is his reestablishing diplomatic contact with the Vatican.
Are you saying that the pope is an absolute monarch of Europe? Because that's wrong. The pope is the chief administrator of the Church, he is not the head of it. He is the president of the College of Bishops and the successor to Peter.
You've got a lot of things wrong, including the ability to reason.
A genuine freak show.
I fear that this Cardinal firing is just a side-show to divert attention from the rapist-protector (one who let priests find cover for penetrating infants and teenagers) Cardinal Mahony.
Mahony is the one that should be banned from having a chance at promotion.
Cardinal Mahoney of Los Angeles should also resign IMMEDIATELY and not participate in the conclave.
http:// fatima.ageofmary.com/hell/letter-from-beyond/