Pope Benedict XVI 'to resign'

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Other_Eric said:
Preserving the unity of Christ’s Church is wholly different than using pretty language to, in effect, say, “I don’t feel like being pope anymore.”
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That is a rather snide uncharitable comment, more suited to other sites than a Catholic site. I know that we think we have the right to comment on any topic as Americans, regardless of our ignorance. That is **not **the way of the Catholic Church.
 
I remember reading his schedule not that long ago. Something like he gets up at 5 and goes to sleep at 11 every night? I couldn’t do that and I’m 23! God bless Benedict!
 
Other_Eric said:
Let me make this crystal clear: the issue of the pope’s resignation is not a legal question, it’s a moral question. Just because you’re legally able to do a thing doesn’t make it right.
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So you are saying that Benedict XVI is doing something immoral by stepping down?

Sorry – and this was a tough decision – but I’m going to have to trust his judgment of the matter over yours. 😛 😉 😃
 
Joe_5859 said:
I find it somewhat amusing that people still keep mentioning Cardinal Arinze as a top contender. He’s past the age to participate in a conclave. It ain’t gonna happen. That train has left the station.
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Are you saying that Arinze is ineligible to be elected or unlikely? He’s to old to participate in a conclave, but there is no age limit on being elected by a conclave.
 
pnewton said:
That is a rather snide uncharitable comment, more suited to other sites than a Catholic site. I know that we think we have the right to comment on any topic as Americans, regardless of our ignorance. That is **not **the way of the Catholic Church.
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Agreed! Good point.
 
Other_Eric said:
Let me make this crystal clear: the issue of the pope’s resignation is not a legal question, it’s a moral question. Just because you’re legally able to do a thing doesn’t make it right.
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Then it is right that I addressed it spiritually than legally. Fortunately, no one is making it a legal issue, so there is no reason to debate it.

Just because some may “hrumph” it doesn’t make it wrong. The "precedent argument holds little weight as the precedent has already existed. These are holy men of God, not children that are going to use the excuse that Joey got to resign.
 
Other_Eric said:
Because this resignation sets a dangerous precedent for all this pope’s successors and has the all-too-real potential to scandalize the faithful.
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In what way? We’ve doing this for 2000 years. The gates of hades will not prevail against it.

I have trust and so should the rest of the faithful.
 
Other_Eric said:
Because this resignation sets a dangerous precedent for all this pope’s successors and has the all-too-real potential to scandalize the faithful.
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Realistically accepting his declining strength is in no way scandalizing the faithful.

Blessed John Paul II gave us an example of how to meet death. And now his successor shows us how to accept aging gracefully and, most importantly, with humility.
 
stormcloud said:
Are you saying that Arinze is ineligible to be elected or unlikely? He’s to old to participate in a conclave, but there is no age limit on being elected by a conclave.
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He’s still eligible. Heck, I’m still eligible. 😛 But I find it very unlikely. It would be unprecedented. Of course, in light of today’s news, something being “unprecedented” doesn’t mean as much. 😉 But with Benedict deliberately stepping down due to age and health, I find it very unlikely they would go with someone who is only 5 years his junior.
 
Joe_5859 said:
So you are saying that Benedict XVI is doing something immoral by stepping down?

Sorry – and this was a tough decision – but I’m going to have to trust his judgment of the matter over yours. 😛 😉 😃
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Right. Canon Law does not permit anything immoral, and the Pope’s retirement is allowed in Canon Law. Case closed.
 
Other_Eric said:
Preserving the unity of Christ’s Church is wholly different than using pretty language to, in effect, say, “I don’t feel like being pope anymore.”
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You are completely misrepresenting what His Holiness said.
 
bpcatholic said:
He’s entitled to his opinion.
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I do not think one is entitled to an opinion that assigns the worst motives, instead of the best, at least one is not morally entitled to such an opinion according to the Catechism
 
Joe_5859 said:
He’s still eligible. Heck, I’m still eligible. 😛 But I find it very unlikely. It would be unprecedented. Of course, in light of today’s news, something being “unprecedented” doesn’t mean as much. 😉 But with Benedict deliberately stepping down due to age and health, I find it very unlikely they would go with someone who is only 5 years his junior.
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I just wanted to clarify because your post left me with the impression you thought if someone was too old to participate in a conclave, they were automatically ineligible for election.
 
I’ve always wondered why the Cardinals don’t trust the Holy Spirit to guide us the same way the apostles did when they replaced Judas and simply draw straws?

We know the Spirit leads the Church, just as they did, and instead of letting human emotion dictate selection, they trusted the spirit.
 
agnes_therese said:
Realistically accepting his declining strength is in no way scandalizing the faithful.

Blessed John Paul II gave us an example of how to meet death. And now his successor shows us how to accept aging gracefully and, most importantly, with humility.
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👍 That’s it in a nutshell. I’ve no doubt that both men made the right decision for their siituations.

The Holy Spirit is in control, people! No need to fear. I will cry when Benedict XVI passes, but I will not cry today. Well, maybe I will. The day isn’t over yet. 😛
 
God Bless Him, Pope John Paul II was extremely ill in the last months of his Papacy. Just something to remember. I do think a vibrant Pope could really help the world now and pray to God to keep him safe, Nigeria has so many problems, that area of the world could really use something to inspire it to better times.
 
pnewton said:
I trust both the charism of the office and the full-awareness of the situation of over the conjecture of anyone and everyone.

If it sets a precident, then I trust that this is a new direction the Holy Spirit leads us. Resignation has been a moot issue for centuries. The is no way to use the past as a guideline to our unique position.
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pnewton said:
That is a rather snide uncharitable comment, more suited to other sites than a Catholic site. I know that we think we have the right to comment on any topic as Americans, regardless of our ignorance. That is **not **the way of the Catholic Church.
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Ignorant I may be, nevertheless, the pope has failed to provide sufficient evidence to justify the moral character of his resignation. I am both open to and would be happy to receive any information which would cause me to change my mind in this regard. As it stands, we just don’t have it. Therefore, based on the reasons provided so far by the pope, I judge them insufficient to merit what Paul VI would have called an abdication of paternity.
 
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