Philly Archbishop Speaks on Pope's Retirement
Chaput: '[Benedict's] stepping down ... is another sign of his placing the needs of the Church above his own.'
Calling him a servant with “intelligence, eloquence and … self-sacrifice,” Archbishop of Philadelphia Charles Chaput honored Pope Benedict XVI in a statement on Monday.
Benedict announced his plans to resign his station Monday morning, citing fading strength and demands of the job for his decision to step down.
"From his work as a young theologian at Vatican II to his ministry as universal pastor of the Church, Joseph Ratzinger has served God and the global Christian community with intelligence, eloquence and extraordinary self-sacrifice,” Chaput said in a statement.
“As Pope Benedict XVI, he has led God's people through complicated times with uncommon grace, and his stepping down now, at 85, from the burdens of his office is another sign of his placing the needs of the Church above his own,” he said. “Catholics worldwide owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude. He will remain in our hearts and always be in our prayers."
Benedict’s decision to step down marks the first time a Roman Catholic pope has resigned in nearly 600 years.
jk
2:12 pm on Monday, February 11, 2013
Between his experience in the Hitler Youth and covering up child rape, he'd be a perfect candidate to be the president at Penn State.
Randeroid
2:50 pm on Monday, February 11, 2013
I am sorry to hear that the top politician for the katholic global business racket is stepping down. He is a hero in the sense that he has made a major contribution to human progress by helping the church become even more irrelevant and toxic. His stances on gay bashing; violating women's bodies; and protecting pedophiles alone make him an appropriate figure head for a parasitic organization that feeds on people's retirement funds and uses the money to legislate how katholics and non-katholics are to live--theocracy. Pope Benedict XVI = our kinder softer version of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. I dread their replacing him with a rational less-insulated younger man, who could slow human progress by slowing the decay of the katholic empire. Let us reason.
andrew k
4:18 pm on Monday, February 11, 2013
WHO CARES
Regina DiLabbio Klugh King
7:47 am on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
I guess the "Til death do us part" doesn't apply to Popes, but at least Benny 16 has the sense to get out ahead of senility or infirmity. Perhaps we shall see another John the 23rd or John Paul 2, or one from another country entirely. But I guess there's no more a chance of a female pope than of our electing a female president!
Richard Weisgrau
1:08 pm on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Actually, there is a much greater chance that we will elect a female president than there is of a female pope being elected since you have to be a priest to be a pope and the church denies women access to the priesthood. At least it is possible under our laws for a woman to be president while under the church's law it is impossible for woman to be pope.
Rick Kephart
8:09 am on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
It's embarrassing how much anti-Catholic hatred and bigotry is still around as can be seen in comments here.
Oh well, at least they're not going around burning churches like they did in Philadelphia in the 1840's.
FrankieG
8:25 am on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
What makes you think they won't start?
jk
9:26 am on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
would be a good idea if we could start getting taxes on some of those properties.
Randeroid
10:32 pm on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
The katholic church should pay taxes, stop supporting crimes, and quit interfering with our government and our freedoms.
JamesIgnatius
9:05 am on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Thank you, Archbishop Chaput, for your eloquent recognition of this humble Servant. The hatred and vitriol present in some of these comments is nothing new - The Bride of Christ has had Her enemies since the time of Peter, ...just as The Carpenter's Son had His. And just like all of the others, their hatred shall die with them - but the Catholic Church shall continue to serve all of humanity, and be protected even against the gates of hell, as promised, to the end of time.
jk
9:26 am on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Yes, must be our fault for hating a guy that covered up child rape while he was the Archbishop of Munich. Would be nice if the world's third largest landover paid taxes on any of those holdings.
Richard Weisgrau
1:13 pm on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
@jk, it was much greater than Munich, Before becoming pope, Benedict ran the office to which all abuse cases were reported for a long time. That office received reports from all over the world. While he might have done something to stop it, the evidence of that is scarce to non-existent. Perhaps the church felt if it announced its worldwide efforts to stop abuse the world would know it happened. Perhaps, it did a great deal and chose not to tell the world for other reasons. If so, it was a foolish decision that has cost the church greatly.
Randeroid
10:37 pm on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
He should go before The Hague. The katholic church is a 50-billion dollar corporation that does not care about you--as evidenced by how much they cared about child rape. They only care about getting your retirement money.
ES
6:32 pm on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
As demonstrated above, bigotry is alive and well on the main line. Cherry picking unsubstantiated accusations off the internet to bash the Pope must make you feel really wise. Since you seem to hate the Catholic Church so much, why do you bother to waste your time, and ours, pursuing and commenting on articles that shouldn't even concern you. if you want to get abortions, have a gay marriage or have female priests, there are plenty of denominations to suit your fancy.
Randeroid
10:45 pm on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
We care because we want justice for raped children. We want the katholic church to stop interfering with our lives and our laws. We want them to pay their taxes. Make that happen and while you are wasting your time on that, think about those children being fondled by priests. Makes proud doesn't it.
Richard Weisgrau
10:54 pm on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
You are against pro choice advocates, gays and lesbians, female religious equality, and people who have an opinion different from yours, whom you call bigots. Based upon the things you oppose I'd say we know who the real bigot is.