Pope Benedict to resign (From Free Press Series)
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Pope Benedict to resign
11:07am Monday 11th February 2013 in News
STANDING DOWN: Pope Benedict XV
UPDATE: 1.15pm
Catholic MP Paul Murphy paid tribute to Pope Benedict XVI after he announced his resignation today.
The Labour MP for Torfaen, who was made a papal Knight, said the pontiff was a “formidable theologian” after he became the first pope to announce he would stand down in nearly 600 years.
Mr Murphy said: “I was surprised to hear of Pope Benedict’s resignation today.
“Pope Benedict XVI is a formidable theologian and leader and I am confident that he has come to this decision after much consideration.
Paul Murphy, the former Northern Ireland and Welsh Secretary, is a Knight of the Pontifical Order of Saint Gregory and the Great.
UPDATE: 11.00am
THE POPE, Benedict XVI, will resign it was announced today. A papal spokesman has announced he will stand down on February 28th.
A statement said the pope is "fully aware of the gravity of the gesture."
The Pope is the first pontiff to resign in nearly 600 years and the decision means there must be a conclave to elect a new pope before the end of March.
The 85-year-old pope announced his decision in Latin during a meeting of Vatican cardinals Monday morning.
He said that because of his advanced age and diminishing strength, he didn't feel he could carry on the job.
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Comments(19)
whatintheworld
says...
12:38pm Mon 11 Feb 13
Katie Re-Registered
says...
12:59pm Mon 11 Feb 13
Jedi Master Katarn
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1:02pm Mon 11 Feb 13
smokintheweed
says...
3:28pm Mon 11 Feb 13
smokintheweed
says...
3:31pm Mon 11 Feb 13
Katie Re-Registered
says...
3:53pm Mon 11 Feb 13
Cool. Is that like a Jedi...?
gatty
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5:14pm Mon 11 Feb 13
erudite
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6:47pm Mon 11 Feb 13
.well it just proves that the word respect is now only in the dictionary and, sadly, rarely practised.
Raymond Luxury-Yacht
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8:40pm Mon 11 Feb 13
There is a senior QC in this country who believes the pope is not immune to prosecution and that Benedict XVI should be put on trial for protecting paedophiles because the church swore the victims to secrecy. Respect ? Ha! How can any decent person respect someone who tried to cover up such heinous crimes?
schlep
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10:21pm Mon 11 Feb 13
The history of the papacy should be a warning to people who choose to follow a sinful man rather than the sinless Christ.
I hope that the plain mr ratzinger has a happy retirement. Good for you in recognising your frailty. may God bless you sir.
smokintheweed
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2:54am Tue 12 Feb 13
erudite wrote:'It's now very common to hear people say, "I'm rather offended by that", as if that gives them certain rights. It's no more than a whine. It has no meaning, it has no purpose, it has no reason to be respected as a phrase. "I'm offended by that." Well, so ******* what?' —Stephen Fry
Having read all the comments so far, I can respect people who are 'atheists' or even 'agnostic.' But what I don't respect, are people who make fun of the Catholic judiciary. Inane comparisons like 'Jedi' and 'Star Wars' make me very angry and very sad too. I can't honestly say that Pope Benedict XVI was a favourite of mine, not because in was in the Hitler youth, but because he saw fit to change some very ancient prayers, replacing them with words that ordinary, ground roots people would not have understood. In other words, he is not in touch with the rest of the world. As for the lady who made her childish comment about 'female boss Mary'...............
.well it just proves that the word respect is now only in the dictionary and, sadly, rarely practised.
erudite
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10:38pm Tue 12 Feb 13
.who mentioned being offended? Perhaps you need to go to Specsavers. No, you NEED to go to Specsavers.
Raymond Luxury-Yacht
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11:39pm Tue 12 Feb 13
Knowledge means progress for mankind, resist "christianity" and see the true way.
erudite
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6:27pm Wed 13 Feb 13
Yes, I am a practising Roman Catholic, and VERY proud of it. Please don't try spouting forth about your knowledge of religion, as you will look an even bigger idiot than you do already!
Raymond Luxury-Yacht
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9:26pm Wed 13 Feb 13
P C Neilson
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2:11pm Sat 16 Feb 13
erudite wrote:Well now you're going to be really offended, because although you might call me an "atheist" I consider myself a full blown "anti-theist" because I'm "gnostic" about how "vile" your religion is. Brace yourself, because the truth is known to hurt your type.
Well Raymond, what can I say? You said it all. Hopefully, the Satanic bit was tongue in cheek?! But, as we all know, Christianity is the most practised faith in the whole world. Didn't know that Raymond? Well, you do now!
Yes, I am a practising Roman Catholic, and VERY proud of it. Please don't try spouting forth about your knowledge of religion, as you will look an even bigger idiot than you do already!
When Michael Jackson was accused of sexually abusing children, it damaged your love for M.J. didn't it? You wouldn't have a Garry Glitter album if it was free, and you aren't sad that he isn't on the radio anymore.
When Jimmy Saville was found to be fixing kids (sic), the catholic church wanted to cut their much treasured affiliation with him, disown him. (something that is near impossible to get done yourself once baptised).
The irony of this could only be lost on someone so lacking in empathy and morals, that they would stick proudly with a club that promotes, starvation, racism, teen pregnancy, HIV, mental illness, mass murder and child rape. Offended by the words 'child rape'? I know, catholics prefer the term 'child abuse' it's so much more palatable eh. "Normal" people are offended that they get away with it, and still have a loyal following.
Pick any of the above and I will be happy to eviscerate you with your own immoral stance on said topic.
Not only does your faith deserve its labels, it also deserves a great deal more than merely being mocked. If there is a god, no "good" catholic is going to heaven.
I do hope you are offended, because the rest of the world is offended too.
P C Neilson
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2:18pm Sat 16 Feb 13
P C Neilson
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4:10pm Sat 16 Feb 13
erudite wrote:"But, as we all know, Christianity is the most practised faith in the whole world. Didn't know that Raymond?"
Well Raymond, what can I say? You said it all. Hopefully, the Satanic bit was tongue in cheek?! But, as we all know, Christianity is the most practised faith in the whole world. Didn't know that Raymond? Well, you do now!
Yes, I am a practising Roman Catholic, and VERY proud of it. Please don't try spouting forth about your knowledge of religion, as you will look an even bigger idiot than you do already!
Atheists make up a large population of the world too. Out of the entire population that believe in sky gods, only one third of that deluded bunch are Christian. Not so big huh?
But even smaller when you consider that your cult (sorry faith) is only ONE of FORTY THOUSAND factions of christianity. So a itty bitty group in the grander scale of things then.
Now consider that the few people in 'your' cult was lucky to be born into a tradition that loves Yahweh the right way. The other christians and two thirds of the world are screwed eh? Not to mention all the atheist babies that are going to be tortured and burned 'forever!' 11,343,239,923 just in chinese people alone. Tough luck for them too.
Yahweh is a jerk and anyone who would want to spend an eternity of surfdom at his side is not only an idiot, but quite disgusting moraly too.
Raymond Luxury-Yacht says...
12:20pm Mon 11 Feb 13