Pope Benedict XVI 'to resign'

[BroomWagon]

Bookmakers set odds to produce the maximum action that is balanced on both sides. They do not know or care who will win–they just want to balance their book of bets and capture the percentage they keep, know as vigorish, or simply, the vig.

By the way, I am not a gambler, but I was always good at math. When online gambling was legal before October 2006, I won more than $100,000 at it because I only played with promotions where the odds were in my favor. Legal gambling is a tax on people who do not understand arithmetic. Illegal gambling is even worse, because you also risk not being paid or paying fines for getting caught.

Let’s not forget, the Bookmakers missed on the Baltimore Ravens, Superbowl team of last week throughout the whole of the playoffs, even the spreads I’m rather certain, so odds are just that…

 

[Other_Eric]

As has been stated before, canon law clearly allows for the resignation of a pope. Canon law does not allow immoral actions, therefore, regardless of the evidence you feel you have received it is moral for him to resign.

Do you think, just by chance, there might be a whole lot more to this than the obvious?

Perhaps there is. Of course, what lies behind that type of statement is that the pope is being less than wholly honest with his flock.

 

[scipio337]

The two leading candidates are very, very strong might I add. I think the response in the West to an African pope would be quite interesting. On the one hand, he’s very much opposed to greed and is a voice for the poor. On the other hand, he’s definitely socially conservative when it comes to sexuality and other issues. The heads that would explode!

I think an African Pope would be fantastic. The Church has been growing by leaps and bounds there, despite persecution.

Some LDS heads would definately explode if that happens!

 

[ab75]

Let’s not forget, the Bookmakers missed on the Baltimore Ravens, Superbowl team of last week throughout the whole of the playoffs, even the spreads I’m rather certain, so odds are just that…

I think his point is they really don’t care who wins or that the “odds” are correct. They care that they set a line that an equal number of people will bet on each side (or in this case, cardinal, adjusted for payouts). In the simply football example, a loser pays a 10 percent penalty for the lose (vig), so they want $100 bet for and $100 bet against so they can be guaranteed to win $10.

In this case, the odds are moving as people wager, so that they can encourage people to bet on other candidates and no matter who wins, the sum paid out will be less than the total they brought in.

 

[The_Bucket]

I don’t particularly care for Cardinal Peter Turkson’s suggestion of some kind of world central bank and his criticism of capitalism… but then again he has an experience in Africa where there is NO protection for the poor whatsoever. And again, that’s an economic matter, not one of faith and morals. We can agree to disagree on finer points there. He certainly knows what it’s like to deal with persecution and persecution where Catholicism or any Christian belief can cost you your life. We could use that courage.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

Perhaps there is. Of course, what lies behind that type of statement is that the pope is being less than wholly honest with his flock.

You’re a fool and I am sure I’m not the only one putting you on permanent ignore.

May God bless Pope Benedict to the end of his days.

 

[Tantum_ergo]

Perhaps there is. Of course, what lies behind that type of statement is that the pope is being less than wholly honest with his flock.

Less than honest? Kind of an Olympic ‘leaping to conclusions’ there, I believe.

 

[PazzoGrande]

Sorry if this has already been asked. I’m still working my way through the thread trying to catch up. Why is Arinze no longer papabile?

Arinze is 80 and can’t even vote. The Cardinals won’t vote for someone that age.

Having done academic work about Conclaves, I can tell you that it’s more likely to be someone in his 60s.

 

[Other_Eric]

Just a little more info for you: His Drs. have all been telling him he can’t travel anymore. With the papacy beeing on the go and traveling to the extent both John Paul and Benedict have both done, I am sure he felt that in order to lead the Church in the way it has been required, he was not able to do that. The way I understand it, his Drs finally put their foot down and said “No More!”

I don’t think that any medical rationale, on its own, is sufficient for resignation from the papacy. What lies behind that is the dismal assumption that God does not necessarily provide the Roman Pontiff with the tools necessary to do his job. You have a problem with my doubts over this one exercise of temporal authority? What about the doubts over every subsequent exercise of this power that the pope’s resignation now makes possible?

 

[bpcatholic]

What will the priests say during Eucharistic Prayer? For X, our Pope, and Benedict, our Pope Emeritus?

 

[scipio337]

Hmm, I was just thinking about this event in light of yesterday’s Gospel (Lk 5:1-11).

During our homily, our priest highlighted the humily the Pope always has had. He talked about getting an audience with JP II around 2003. He talked about how tired and frail JP II looked, but that God still had plans for JP II, even then.

 

[PazzoGrande]

What will the priests say during Eucharistic Prayer? For X, our Pope, and Benedict, our Pope Emeritus?

We never pray for even former diocesan bishops; I’d imagine we wouldn’t specially pray for a former Pope.

 

[Other_Eric]

Less than honest? Kind of an Olympic ‘leaping to conclusions’ there, I believe.

On the contrary, I was not the one who speculated on hidden reasons for the pope’s resignation. I grounded my comments firmly in the reasons provided by the pope. I judge those reasons insufficient. Speculating that there are deeper, more potent reasons behind the pope’s action is deeply uncharitable and also betrays a taste for magisterial intrigue worthy of Dan Brown, not a responsible Catholic.

 

[bpcatholic]

We never pray for even former diocesan bishops; I’d imagine we wouldn’t specially pray for a former Pope.

I’ve heard it done in certain dioceses.

 

[The_Bucket]

I don’t think that any medical rationale, on its own, is sufficient for resignation from the papacy. What lies behind that is the dismal assumption that God does not necessarily provide the Roman Pontiff with the tools necessary to do his job. You have a problem with my doubts over this one exercise of temporal authority? What about the doubts over every subsequent exercise of this power that the pope’s resignation now makes possible?

I’m glad that you think that. But you’re not the pope. And your questioning of authority makes no sense. When archbishops hit 75, they are forced to submit their resignations. Is the successor then undermined? I think not.

And why do you make assumptions about what God wants or does not want? B16 clearly prayed much on this subject and believed it to be God’s will. I very much doubt he would have resigned had he felt that God wanted something else from him.

Like it or not folks, B16 is quite right that the papacy is indeed an active ministry that requires both spiritual and physical strength. The latter is failing him and he believes he can no longer be the strong leader that we need. Why is this a bad thing? Modern medicine allows us to live longer but it doesn’t keep us vigorous at the age of 85. And there’s no doubt that we need energy in the papacy.

 

[ringil]

By all means, let us pray for Benedict, but let’s not allow those prayers to obscure the grave nature of what the pope is doing: his resignation is a mistake.

What??

He is the Pope you know. . . .

That takes some nerve, sorry.

God Bless Benedict.

 

[tafan]

I don’t think that any medical rationale, on its own, is sufficient for resignation from the papacy. What lies behind that is the dismal assumption that God does not necessarily provide the Roman Pontiff with the tools necessary to do his job. You have a problem with my doubts over this one exercise of temporal authority? What about the doubts over every subsequent exercise of this power that the pope’s resignation now makes possible?

The pope’s resignation is not merely a exercise of his temporal authority (properly defined as his being the head of state of the Holy See).
I agree that a medical rational, on its own, would seem insufficient reason to resign, but the pope made it clear that it was due to the state of the world, along with his health:

“However, in today’s world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to govern the bark of Saint Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me”

What I have a problem with, is your apparent lack of trust in the Holy Father, who has given a life time of selfless service to the Church. Who, based on his entire life’s history, it is clear would never decide to do this out of his own well being, but only out of his desire to do what is best for the Church. The Holy Father has more than earned our trust in his wisdom and holiness that we should not be critical at this time. We should pray for him, we should pray in thanksgiving for his service to the Church, and we should pray for the upcoming conclave.

 

[Elizabeth502]

I haven’t found a link online, but I just heard on the radio that in the Vatican statement, it was noted that he is “losing strength” and his advanced age.

He foreshadowed this publicly some time ago, hinting that it might/could happen.

 

[The_Bucket]

To be frank, I think having an elderly, weak and/or sick person at the helm of the Church is dangerous. We are all sinners, even our leaders. And physical frailty at the head of the Church opens the door for manipulation. JP2 provided us with a strong example of the dignity of suffering and I thank him for that. B16 is showing us what is necessary in this age of a new evangelization. He’s saying that the Church needs a relatively youthful, healthy and vigorous person to actively lead the flock.

His prayers when he moves to seclusion will make him a critical resource for the Church Militant. But the Church Militant needs a strong general and he knows he can’t do that anymore.

There is nothing wrong with acknowledging human frailty. It is a natural process that God created.

 

[stormcloud]

Arinze is 80 and can’t even vote. The Cardinals won’t vote for someone that age.

Having done academic work about Conclaves, I can tell you that it’s more likely to be someone in his 60s.

I agree with it being unlikely, but technically he is eligible.