The papacy, rules outdated?

[Mohawk]

i'm sorry if this sounds crude, but i think John Paul II will not pull through this latest bout of illness,

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4228059.stm

does anyone else think that it is silly that it is a lifetime position, and that he should be allowed to retire peacefully and enjoy old age.

[Haunted]

Enjoy old age???
Thats an oxymoron right?

[Tweedle-Dum]

As long as John-Paul II is alive, he has to be Pope, because if he abdicates, then there will be fierce opposition to a new Pope on the grounds that the old one is still alive. He has also said on numerous occasions that he will not abdicate. I hope he pulls through though, he's a damn cool chap, and aside from representing God on earth, speaks 27 languages. Living legend of a man.

[hr]
Live by the sword, die by the arrow.

[Prophet Tenebrae]

He's lasted a lot longer than a lot of people, a lot of people said he wouldn't last past easter 2003 but he's still going strong.

I blame the Holy Roman Emperors, Barbarossa.... and well, Charlemagne (not a Holy Roman Emperor) all his fault really.

[md25]

He's no Pius XI!

[exnihilo]

In what sense was Charlemagne not a Holy Roman Emperor?

The Pope does not speak 27 languages, he can say a few things in a great many languages - different thing.

The Pope won't abdicate, if someone more moderate were elected in his place he would never be able to stop himself from condemning them. Result? Schism.

Personally, I see no problem with schism. What does it really matter if 400 million Catholics believe something slightly different to the other 400 million? But that's never been something the Catholic Church has been comfortable with.

[penfold]

As long as we don't have five of the bastardsrunning around agian i don't see the problem with abdication

[Eliot Wilson]

I would think that the Pope's argument would be that his pontificate is a duty to God rather than a job, and you don't just tell the Almighty you've had enough.

[hr]Bill and Ted beat the Grim Reaper at Twister

Bill: "You played very well, Death, especially with your totally heavy Death robes."

Death: "Don't patronise me."

[Paul]

[s]Mohawk wrote on 02:03, 2nd Feb 2005:
'''
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4228059.stm


The report contains an error, and I have sent the following complaint to the BBC:


In your article http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4228059.stm you state that Peter was the first pope.

He was not!

The title was first given to Gregory I by Phocas. However, Gregory refused the title. His second successor Boniface III assumed the title in 607.

The title of pope does not appear in the Bible, and Peter considered himself a "fellow-elder" who was an example to the flock not "as lording it over the flock", (see I Peter 5:1-3)

Further, Peter was not the apostle to the Gentiles, but to the Jews. Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles. Neither is there any evidence that Peter was in Rome.

As an impartial(?) reporter, I expect some mention of this, instead of just repeating Roman Catholic myth.



[hr]
"Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:
But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD." - Jeremiah 9:23-24

[Leo Comerford]

In principle, the Pope is perfectly entitled to resign/abdicate whenever he wishes. IIRC, John Paul II has left instructions authorising one of his cardinals to declare him abdicated if he loses his mental faculties. But so far he hasn't suffered any senility or brain damage; he's simply been getting older and slower and sicker.

[exnihilo]

[s]Paul wrote on 11:42, 2nd Feb 2005:
As an impartial(?) reporter, I expect some mention of this, instead of just repeating Roman Catholic myth.

Curse you, BBC! You and your flagrant crypto-Catholic agenda! Grr.

Or not.

[penfold]

Actually there is evidence that peter was in rome for about three years towards the end of his life. Paul however is thought to have spent rather more time that there

[Paul]

[s]penfold wrote on 12:40, 2nd Feb 2005:
Actually there is evidence that peter was in rome for about three years towards the end of his life.

Please provide it.

[Paul]

[s]penfold wrote on 12:40, 2nd Feb 2005:
Actually there is evidence that peter was in rome for about three years towards the end of his life. Paul however is thought to have spent rather more time that there


Well, you have had a week to provide something for me to have a look at.

Here is something for you to look at.

The Vatican has a serious dilemma to resolve. It claims that St Peter's Basilica is built on Peter's tomb. Yet, since 1953, it KNOWS from its own sources (Franciscan monks in Jerusalem) that Peter was buried in JERUSALEM!!

Read about it here:

http://www.biblelight.net/peters-jerusalem-tomb.htm


[hr]
"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil." - Proverbs 3:5-7

[macgamer]

[s]Mohawk wrote on 02:03, 2nd Feb 2005:
i'm sorry if this sounds crude, but i think John Paul II will not pull through this latest bout of illness,

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4228059.stm

does anyone else think that it is silly that it is a lifetime position, and that he should be allowed to retire peacefully and enjoy old age.


The Pope is allowed to retire / abdicate however can you imagine how tarnished his image would be after the one of the best Pontificates ever. Rather than being remembered for all of the great things he's done; he will be remember as the Pope who threw in the towel. Something that hasn't happened since the 16th Century - don't ask me which Pope.

[novium]

[s]exnihilo wrote on 12:29, 2nd Feb 2005:
[s]Paul wrote on 11:42, 2nd Feb 2005:[i]
As an impartial(?) reporter, I expect some mention of this, instead of just repeating Roman Catholic myth.

Curse you, BBC! You and your flagrant crypto-Catholic agenda! Grr.

Or not.
[/i]
LOL
Those BBC reporters.... papists to the end!