Vatican attacks Pope resignation 'gossip'

[dipsydoodle]

Source: BBC News

The Vatican's chief spokesperson has criticised the media for reporting "misinformation" about the Church.

Father Federico Lombardi said some were trying to profit from a time of disorientation in the Catholic Church to spread "gossip" and "slander".

Father Lombardi made the comments in an editorial on the Vatican radio website.

Pope Benedict XVI's resignation, the first by a pope in nearly 600 years, takes effect on Thursday. His decision surprised many within the Church.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21557311

[NYC Liberal]

1. Welcome to the real world, guys.

When you do something that hasn't been done in 700 years, it tends to generate a bit of discussion.

[gordianot]

2. These kinds of statements are just bound to stop all gossip and slander.

First Ex-Nazi Pope is the first Pope in 600 years to resign. Pope served during the greatest moral crisis in Church history directly before and after he became Pope.

[Gore1FL]

3. If they were open and honest as an institution

Then this sort of speculation wouldn't be happening. You'd think self-proclaimed experts in morality would understand that.

[Angry Dragon]

4. +11,393

[AngryOldDem]

10. Exactly.

Why this is such a difficult concept to understand I'll never know. The Church was told back in the '80s that the sex scandal was going to explode, and that the only way to handle it was to come clean about it all. Did it? No.

Covderup upon coverup just breeds more lies...and when those lies are compounded over decades, if not longer, then after awhile the whole house of cards collapses. We may be seeing that here.

But I think there's a lot more at work here than just the sex scandal.

[Gore1FL]

14. I agree

There are centuries of corruption inside those walls. I doubt it is significantly different now than it was in the past--it's just more easily discovered and reported on.

Couple that with an organization already in decline, and things don't bode well for their future.

[another_liberal]

5. At the time of his resignation . . .

At the time of his resignation I said that on one gives up that much power, wealth and unquestioned adoration just because he feels "tired." It was perfectly clear something was rotten in the Vatican. Here are some more details on this story from another source:

The Panorama weekly and The Repubblica daily newspapers reported that Benedict's decision to resign was triggered by the secret report compiled by three retired cardinals. The report allegedly contained details of corruption and of blackmail attempts against gay Vatican clergymen, as well as favouritism based on gay relationships. Both publications quoted a source with knowledge of the investigation as saying that the cardinals' conclusions "revolve around the sixth and seventh commandments," namely "Thou shall not commit adultery" and "Thou shall not steal." Referring to the upcoming papal election, Lombardi said there was "unacceptable pressure to condition the vote of one or other member of the college of cardinals, who might be disliked for one reason or another".

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2013/02/201322310254699673.html

[DavidWD72]

6. Transparency is lacking

If the Vatican would come forward with the information it has and surrender the rapists in it's organization, maybe there would be some consideration for their point of view. This institution has spent it's existence obscuring truth and persecuting anyone that would try to expose that truth to the light. This is a criminal organization that has committed crimes against the American people. As a nation, we deserve to make these men accountable for their actions and deceptions. Arrest the Pope!

[knitter4democracy]

7. They just proved it all true.

The Vatican protests too much, methinks.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

8. The Church has lost it's place....

It used to have the power to appoint Kings.

To tell the people some rich family had been blessed by God to rule over them and pass that power down forever through their "royal bloodline".

In return, the Church received tribute from those rich families which it flaunted by coating the walls in gold.

The People revolted against the notion of being ruled over and demanded the right to select their own leaders but the structure of government still has traces of the old way which is why the highest elected office is Prime Minister. Think about that term.

No longer receiving a skim off the top of every country in Europe and with attendance in decline to where some churches are seen as nothing but architectural oddities, the Church found "true believers" to be fewer and fewer as people adopted reason and science over faith and mythology. This opened the door for people to enter the clergy who were in it for easy money or,...other motives.

[AngryOldDem]

9. That's because it's probably all true.

And damn, if I ain't tired of the Church constantly playing "victim."

[Sunlei]

11. All their leadership resign. Worship the empty pope and bishop chairs, it's safer for children.

The Religion will be better off without Satan holding the reins

[lovuian]

12. it doesn't help the credibility of the conclave

to allow Mahoney a vote for Pope and not allow women a voice in the Vatican

[muriel_volestrangler]

13. UK's top cardinal accused of 'inappropriate acts' by priests

Three priests and a former priest in Scotland have reported the most senior Catholic clergyman in Britain, Cardinal Keith O'Brien, to the Vatican over allegations of inappropriate behaviour stretching back 30 years.

The four, from the diocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh, have complained to nuncio Antonio Mennini, the Vatican's ambassador to Britain, and demanded O'Brien's immediate resignation. A spokesman for the cardinal said that the claims were contested.

O'Brien, who is due to retire next month, has been an outspoken opponent of gay rights, condemning homosexuality as immoral, opposing gay adoption, and most recently arguing that same-sex marriages would be "harmful to the physical, mental and spiritual well-being of those involved". Last year he was named "bigot of the year" by the gay rights charity Stonewall.

One of the complainants, it is understood, alleges that the cardinal developed an inappropriate relationship with him, resulting in a need for long-term psychological counselling.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/23/cardinal-keith-o-brien-accused-inappropriate