Another cardinal falls; conclave to start in 2 weeks, new Pope by Easter

[Lemon Drop]

How long before the end of these headlines?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21572724

Benedict changes the rules:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21573157

[cbelt3]

The rule change seems to be benign... essentially gave 15 days room for the various masses and whatnot after the pontiff's demise. But not needed in this case.

The Scottish fellow... that's shameful. At least he was keeping it in the seminary, so to speak. Two obvious questions:

1- Did he feel even the slightest bit conflicted about preaching the evils of homosexuality ?

2- Why did it take so long for the allegations to come forth ? Or has this been 'known' all along, and the scorned lovers go to the press to get results ? The Church Bureacracy still specializes in cover-up... it's the typical self-protective imperative of any bureacracy.

[Lemon Drop]

Yes I agree the nature of these accusations and the timing of his resignation is suspect, as it happened just in time to take him (and all of the UK) out of the conclave.
Feels more like a forced outing of his sexuality than actual abuse allegations, since the accusers were adults at the time, and waited 30 years to come forward.
And yes, the hypocrisy...it just goes on and on.

[lafinfil]

Any truth to the rumor that McCain has threatened to filibuster the appointment ?

[Black Tea]

Glad to see you agree that homosexual priests are a problem.

[Lemon Drop]

Black Tea wrote:
Glad to see you agree that homosexual priests are a problem.

That's not my opinion at all, sorry I don't understand your comment.

[Black Tea]

Lemon Drop wrote:
[quote=Black Tea]
Glad to see you agree that homosexual priests are a problem.

That's not my opinion at all, sorry I don't understand your comment.
Did you even read the first story you posted?

A priest might of misbehaved with some other priests back in the 80s.

you said "how long before the end of these headlines"

[Lemon Drop]

Black Tea wrote:
[quote=Lemon Drop]
[quote=Black Tea]
Glad to see you agree that homosexual priests are a problem.

That's not my opinion at all, sorry I don't understand your comment.
Did you even read the first story you posted?

A priest might of misbehaved with some other priests back in the 80s.

you said "how long before the end of these headlines"
Yes of course I read the story. I don't think there is anything wrong with being gay. Therefore I have no problem with priests who are gay, or any clergy for that matter.
Abuse is another matter, that is obviously wrong.

It's not clear to me what the offense was here - just being gay, or was there some sort of harassment? Why is it ending this man's career? I don't know the answer to that, but if it's simply because he is gay and now he's been outed, then that's a type of hypocrisy that I hope will end some day. It has no place in the modern world.

[SteveG]

"The burning of the knight of Hohenberg with his servant before the walls of Zürich, for sodomy, 1482."


Well, Ratzinger was Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the organization which until 1965 had been called the Holy Office of the Inquisition.
Maybe he quit because he realized you can't burn gay priests at the stake like you used to.

[RgrF]

Lemon Drop wrote:
[quote=Black Tea]
[quote=Lemon Drop]
[quote=Black Tea]
Glad to see you agree that homosexual priests are a problem.

That's not my opinion at all, sorry I don't understand your comment.
Did you even read the first story you posted?

A priest might of misbehaved with some other priests back in the 80s.

you said "how long before the end of these headlines"
Yes of course I read the story. I don't think there is anything wrong with being gay. Therefore I have no problem with priests who are gay, or any clergy for that matter.
Abuse is another matter, that is obviously wrong.

It's not clear to me what the offense was here - just being gay, or was there some sort of harassment? Why is it ending this man's career? I don't know the answer to that, but if it's simply because he is gay and now he's been outed, then that's a type of hypocrisy that I hope will end some day. It has no place in the modern world.

He used his superior position to force unwanted sexual attention to those who served under him, the fact they were homosexual attentions is secondary. Now that the Cardinal has resigned his bishopric responsibilities, he can devote full time to deciding who he'll vote into the Papacy. He'll be joined by Cardinals Law, Montgomery Mahoney and a number of other RC clerics who should be looking for bail money instead.