The Pope recently announced his resignation. It took effect on February 28, 2013. Benedict XVI is no longer Pope. The Catholic Church will be without a Papal leader for a few weeks till the body of Cardinals elect a new Pope.
There is push within the Catholic Church hierarchy for the Cardinals to meet sooner than proscribed in Canon law to elect a new Pope.
The abruptness of the Pope's announcement of his retirement and then the rush to elect a new Pope concern me. Why three weeks notice of Benedict's retirement? Why the move to amend Canon law to permit the election of an immediate replacement? Moreover, why Benedict's resignation in the first place?
Popes do not retire. They reign till they die. They can be ill in bed and find it difficult to carry out their Papal duties. They nevertheless remain Pope.
The last time a Pope resigned was in the 1200s. However at that time, the Church had schism problems and was divided. Each group elected its own Pope. Two reigned at one time. Once the problems between the two factions were settled, one of the Popes had to resign. That is the background of the only Papal resignation prior to this time.
Something is amiss. There are things we do not know. Matters the Church is not sharing with us.
Lest anyone think I am picking on the Catholic Church, be aware of my Catholic background. I was an alter boy and choir boy. I attended Catholic grammar school, high school and college. I am a fallen away Catholic. My mental change began while I was a student in college. It does not mean I do not believe in God. It means I did not agree with certain decisions of the Church early on and have continued to disagree with others over the course of my life.
Today the Vatican is a place of intrigue, mismanagement, and scandal. Internal political wars are ongoing.
Is it one problem that has wrought the Pope's resignation? Or it is the culmination of many problems which suddenly have swirled out of control? Or is it nothing? Has the Pope determined he is old and a younger healthier mind is better to direct the Church?
I believe it is a culmination of problems with something new on the horizon which as yet is secret to those outside Church hierarchy.
The priest pedophile scandal is world wide. It has been for 30 some odd years. The Church buried the problem. Now it is seeing the light of day. Priests are being arrested, tried and sent to jail. Diocesan hierarchy are being charged and tried for participating in cover ups.
It has been claimed that the Church recently has been less than appropriate when discussing matters involving Jews and Muslims. To the point that both groups have been angered.
Last year the Pope's personal butler was arrested for stealing private Papal documents. He was tried and jailed. Thereafter the Pope visited him, forgave him, and assisted in his release. Why was the butler arrested in the first place? Why did the Papacy subject itself to scrutiny regarding the issue? Why didn't the church merely fire its employee and send him on his way? God's admonition is forgive and forget, turn the other cheek.
The Church has lost many members over the years. Fallen away Catholics. As I am. Church attendance in the United States is down by two thirds in the past 20 years. Italy is another example. Church attendance is down 90 per cent in the past 10 years. Both figures are attributed to the pedophile issue. The Church has made no effort to recapture its former members.
The Vatican bank has problems. It has been under a three year investigation for money laundering. Last year., Italian authorities confiscated a Vatican account containing $20 million.
Claims are constant that the Vatican has become a ship with out a rudder. Mismanagement prevails.
The Church historically found new members in the developing countries. It bolstered the Church to have among its flock these converts. The Church was alone is seeking to convert these persons. No more. Evangelical Pentecostal groups are competing in places where heretofore the Church was the only one.
The number of people not believing in God has increased dramatically the past 20 years. The Church has made no effort to recapture these persons to God.
There is the issue of gay priests. Homosexuality apparently is significant in priestly ranks. Last week there were news announcements to the effect that Vatican priests who were gay were being subjected to blackmail by persons outside the Vatican.
An oracle of wisdom I am not. I do not know what specifically motivated the Pope's retirement and the rush to elect a new Pope.But I do have a sense of when something is wrong. Whatever the problem(s), I hope they are revealed and corrected post haste. Get them out and deal with them. God's people of all people must be transparent.
No comments:
Post a Comment