"If I were Pope" (Baptized Catholic males only)

[Tomdstone]

What is the point in having laws if you don’t enforce them? You’ve seen, for example, what happens when molester-priests are “forgiven”. If we keep forgiving people just so they can sin again we might as well not have laws at all.

Sometimes you need a sacrificial lamb just to get the others’ attention.

There are different types of forgiveness. On the one hand, a sincerely repentant sinner can be forgiven by God. However, society has the right to protect itself against criminals, even those who have been forgiven by God. I don’t think that you would find too many banks accepting convicted bank robbers to work as bank tellers. And similarly, the Church has the right to protect its children and to laicise problematical priests, taking them out of active service forever.

 

[Lost_Sheep]

By hardcore do you mean the trigger happy moderator of life who will permaban people from heaven for the slightest infraction?

I don’t see abortion or child molestation as a slight infraction.

Hey, I’ve said my piece. It’s what I would do. See the line under my signature…

 

[Inego_de_Loyola]

I don’t see abortion or child molestation as a slight infraction.

Hey, I’ve said my piece. It’s what I would do. See the line under my signature…

But you don’t deny that you would have those sins be unforgivable? Do you understand that neither then shall your sins be forgiven according to the doctrine expressed in the lords prayer? Voting wrongly is a remote and mediate cooperation with evil and therefore is both a slight infraction and, by the laws your hypotheticalness has put forth, unforgivable.

 

[NovusAugustus]

Would anyone besides me think and pray very carefully about whether the celibate discipline for diocesan priests in the Western Rite should be maintained? I definitely would.

 

[Bl_Pope_Pius_IX]

Would anyone besides me think and pray very carefully about whether the celibate discipline for diocesan priests in the Western Rite should be maintained? I definitely would.

Wouldn’t even cross Our mind.

 

[Inego_de_Loyola]

Would anyone besides me think and pray very carefully about whether the celibate discipline for diocesan priests in the Western Rite should be maintained? I definitely would.

I would consider giving power of dispensation from the requirement of celibacy to the ordinary, but other than that I would say the answer is no; a family creates many problems and solves none in such cases.

 

[godsWarrior]

I would:

1. Have a huge parade just because I like them.
2. Excommunicate every American Catholic politician that has sided with Obamacare against the Catholic Church.
3. Excommunicate every American Catholic politician that supports or voted for gay marriage.
4. Excommunicate every American Catholic politician that supports abortion.
5. Build a massive Swiss Guard army, send them throughout the world to round up and imprison all the pedophile priests.
6. Put an end to frivolous annulments.
7. Make some strict rules at Mass to discipline all the loud and disobedient people who distract others who are there to pray and worship God.
8. Get rid of ‘rock bands’ in our churches and return to pipe organs.
9. Stop the abusive use of Extraordinary Ministers. In almost every case today there is nothing extraordinary about the use of these laity ministers.
10. Eliminate the Novus Ordo Mass and reestablish the Extraordinary Mass (AKA Latin or Tridentine Mass). This would in turn require the return of kneeling for communion which would show greater adoration to Our Lord Jesus Christ.
11. Eliminate female altar servers.
12. Make it very clear to all Catholics that it is not okay to pick and choose the rules they would like to follow (e.g. not obeying the Church’s position on birth control).
13. Return to the old tradition of allowing married men to become priests. This will immediately resolve the priest shortage. For those who don’t know, for the first 400 years or so, priests were allowed to marry. Many bishops and popes were married.
14. Hire Mel Gibson to make many more Catholic movies.
15. Encourage no work on Sundays (I stole this from Yehuda DIon)
16. Crack down on phony Catholic Colleges and Universities that don’t hold true to Catholic values.
17. During Easter Mass I would hang a fake baby upside down by one leg over the balcony (like Michael Jackson did) and laugh until the audience figured out the baby was not real.
18. Challenge Chris Matthews to an MMA fight in an octagon.
19. Challenge Obama to an MMA fight in an octagon.

 

[NickD]

Does anyone on this thread see how ironic that last sentance is?

-Tim-

I did!

What a sad world to live in, when someone other than our Lord Jesus Christ is the sacrificial lamb…

 

[Inego_de_Loyola]

immediately resolve the priest shortage. For those who don’t know, for the first 400 years or so, priests were allowed to marry.

A* little* longer than that I think.

 

[Bl_Pope_Pius_IX]

I think my scenario has been more in depth than these last few ones. Maybe I went overboard.

 

[NickD]

I give balance to those with orthodox views by giving views that are not my own, meaning THESE AREN’T MY REAL VIEWS:

1. Completely abrogate the 1962 Missal
2. De-establish the Anglican Ordinariates
3. encourage the use of bongos, guitars, and tambourines for sacred music
4. Completely abolish the Vatican bureaucracy. Sell all of the works of art in the Church’s possession and give the proceeds to the poor
5. Encourage the use of EMHCs to the point where every person at a Mass has is own EMHC
6. Shorten the season of Lent to 40 hours. Encourage eating meat on Fridays.
7. Abolish the Code of Canon Law, replacing it with one sentence: I’m ok, you’re ok.
8. Instead of preaching homilies and giving audiences, I will lead puppet shows and sing-alongs, using the afore-mentioned bongos and guitars.
9. Lastly, resign the papacy because Chris Matthews thought I was too conservative

 

[Immacolata]

A* little* longer than that I think.

Indeed. The First Lateran Council, in 1123, established clerical celibacy;

Canon 3: We absolutely forbid priests, deacons, and subdeacons to associate with concubines and women, or to live with women other than such as the Nicene Council (canon 3) for reasons of necessity permitted, namely, the mother, sister, or aunt, or any such person concerning whom no suspicion could arise.

Canon 21: We absolutely forbid priests, deacons, subdeacons, and monks to have concubines or to contract marriage. We decree in accordance with the definitions of the sacred canons, that marriages already contracted by such persons must be dissolved, and that the persons be condemned to do penance.

The Second Lateran Council, in 1139, ruled that those in clerical positions who were married would be deprived of their positions;

Canon 6: We also decree that those who in the subdiaconate and higher orders have contracted marriage or have concubines, be deprived of their office and ecclesiastical benefice. For since they should be and be called the temple of God, the vessel of the Lord, the abode of the Holy Spirit, it is unbecoming that they indulge in marriage and in impurities.

Canon 7: Following in the footsteps of our predecessors, the Roman pontiffs Gregory VII, Urban, and Paschal, we command that no one attend the masses of those who are known to have wives or concubines. But that the law of continence and purity, so pleasing to God, may become more general among persons constituted in sacred orders, we decree that bishops, priests, deacons, subdeacons, canons regular, monks, and professed clerics (conversi) who, transgressing the holy precept, have dared to contract marriage, shall be separated. For a union of this kind which has been contracted in violation of the ecclesiastical law, we do not regard as matrimony. Those who have been separated from each other, shall do penance commensurate with such excesses.

The Second Lateran Council regarded marriages between women and men in a clerical position as illicit and invalid in the eyes of the Church.

The first Council met some opposition, but by the time of the second Council, it was supported by both laity and ecclesiastical leaders.

 

[godsWarrior]

Indeed. The First Lateran Council, in 1123, established clerical celibacy;

The Second Lateran Council, in 1139, ruled that those in clerical positions who were married would be deprived of their positions;

The Second Lateran Council regarded marriages between women and men in a clerical position as illicit and invalid in the eyes of the Church.

The first Council met some opposition, but by the time of the second Council, it was supported by both laity and ecclesiastical leaders.

I got my history a little confused. I was thinking of The Apostolic Constitutions in 400, but also of the Spanish Council of Elvira in 302. After reading your references I am more confused.

 

[Immacolata]

I got my history a little confused. I was thinking of The Apostolic Constitutions in 400, but also of the Spanish Council of Elvira in 302. After reading your references I am more confused.

I can see your confusion — the Council of Elvira, in 306 AD, ruled that clergy had to live a life of celibacy; they could be married, but they could not procreate with their wives;

Canon 33: Bishops, presbyters, deacons, and others with a position in the ministry are to abstain completely from sexual intercourse with their wives and from the procreation of children. If anyone disobeys, he shall be removed from the clerical office.

The Apostolic Constitutions, in 400 AD, imposed, essentially, the same rules on celibacy (they could be married, but they could not have sexual relations; I don’t have any other specific references at the moment).

 

[Tomdstone]

I would:

1. Have a huge parade just because I like them.
2. Excommunicate every American Catholic politician that has sided with Obamacare against the Catholic Church.
3. Excommunicate every American Catholic politician that supports or voted for gay marriage.
4. Excommunicate every American Catholic politician that supports abortion.
5. Build a massive Swiss Guard army, send them throughout the world to round up and imprison all the pedophile priests.
6. Put an end to frivolous annulments.
7. Make some strict rules at Mass to discipline all the loud and disobedient people who distract others who are there to pray and worship God.
8. Get rid of ‘rock bands’ in our churches and return to pipe organs.
9. Stop the abusive use of Extraordinary Ministers. In almost every case today there is nothing extraordinary about the use of these laity ministers.
10. Eliminate the Novus Ordo Mass and reestablish the Extraordinary Mass (AKA Latin or Tridentine Mass). This would in turn require the return of kneeling for communion which would show greater adoration to Our Lord Jesus Christ.
11. Eliminate female altar servers.
12. Make it very clear to all Catholics that it is not okay to pick and choose the rules they would like to follow (e.g. not obeying the Church’s position on birth control).
13. Return to the old tradition of allowing married men to become priests. This will immediately resolve the priest shortage. For those who don’t know, for the first 400 years or so, priests were allowed to marry. Many bishops and popes were married.
14. Hire Mel Gibson to make many more Catholic movies.
15. Encourage no work on Sundays (I stole this from Yehuda DIon)
16. Crack down on phony Catholic Colleges and Universities that don’t hold true to Catholic values.
17. During Easter Mass I would hang a fake baby upside down by one leg over the balcony (like Michael Jackson did) and laugh until the audience figured out the baby was not real.
18. Challenge Chris Matthews to an MMA fight in an octagon.
19. Challenge Obama to an MMA fight in an octagon.

I vote for 6, 7, 8, 12, 13.

 

[Saints_Alive]

If I were pope, my first words to those in the conclave would be …

“Thanks, and btw, don’t any of you go anywhere. The Third Vatican Council starts tomorrow at 6 pm with Mass in the Extraordinary Form, and that Mass will be followed by all of us consecrating Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Don’t be late”

I would then proceed to decree and command the following during the second day of the Council:

• Verterum Sapientia of Bl John XXIII will be enforced
• Beginning immediately, all seminaries will instruct all candidates to the priesthood to pray the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass according to the 1962 missal exclusively. There will be no exceptions. All priests who have been ordained prior to the start of today’s session may pray either form of the Latin Rite until the time comes that they can not do so competently.
• The practice of administering Holy Communion into the hands of the laity will cease immediately. The laity shall be instructed to receive on the tongue while kneeling. Those physically unable to kneel may receive standing, lying, or sitting.
• The use of EMHC will cease immediately as will Communion under both species.
• The minor orders will be restored.

Then would follow an examination and review of each VII document and finally a rewrite of each one that is clear, concise, and orthodox. None will be left to interpretation.

Next up will be decisive action on the sex abuse scandal and liturgical abuses to insure any of such will remain the Church’s past.

Before the closing day of this Council, I will have had a list compiled of all clergy not in full communion with Rome. On the closing day, I will address them and make them aware of all that has been decreed and commanded by the Council. They will all (each and every member of their clergy) receive amnesty and have 30 days to come to Rome and claim it on bended knee. Those who refuse will be excommunicated and declared in formal schism.

Oh, and I’d be Alphonsus I
That’s what I’d do

 

[tiffany_lam]

I think it is a tragic testimony to the Catholic Church’s backwardness and inherent sexism that this post is only open to males. Why can’t the Catholic Church get its collective head out of its *** long enough to see that the best way to pull itself out of the looming danger of extinction is to become more progressive and less horrible towards those who aren’t white men? If the Church wants to survive, it needs less exclusive policies towards women, nonwhites, and homosexuals. Why can’t my mother, a good practicing Catholic woman who has (and this should be key) never taken advantage of a vulnerable/defenseless person (i.e. molested faithful children) be pope but a former Nazi who covered up decades of child abuse can? That is just one example of the Catholic Church’s hypocrisy, sexism, and rampant abuse of its faithful.

 

[Lost_Sheep]

To go semi off-topic for a sec, a protestant friend of mine remarked to me today, "I guess when it comes to giving something up for lent, no one can top Pope Benedict.

 

[Julianna]

Snitches, spies, and cameras? No.

But any person committing such an act would be presumed to no longer be in good graces with God and would in effect be excommunicated even if the Church was unaware that he/she had done anything. If the Church was aware if it, the excommunication would be more formal.

You might be able to fool the Church, but you can’t fool God.

Yes, I’m hard core.

Nah, you’re going to need snitches for what you want to do.

 

[Kielbasi]

Ok, men! Here is your chance! Submit a post about what you would do if you were Pope. What would your papacy be like? What would you hope to accomplish? What kind of Pope would you be?
Like a resume.
Who knows maybe some voting cardinals read this site.

The sex abuse scandal among the clergy is really discouraging among a lot of the faithful, regaining the confidence of the people in the church in this regard needs to be job one, if I were pope.

Any priests found guilty of such behavior would be tossed out of the church on their ears, no questions asked. Until a leader can get the people who are directly under his control to do his bidding, trying to impress others, like laypeople and politicians to do so, is pretty futile.

I’d probably stay in the Roman diocese during the entire term of service, and wouldn’t ride around in Popemobiles and only make a minimal number of public appearance, sending out underlings to deliver the messages. If I left town, it would be more likely for personal errands like visiting my mum in the United States.