The day the Pope resigned I wrote:
The worst pontiff of my lifetime announced today that he will step down citing health concerns. But one wonders if he is really abdicating, or simply absconding in an effort to escape potential ramifications over the awful child rape scandal that has plagued his papacy?
It just seems inconceivable, that absent scandal, a lifetime social climber would so easily give up power and the trappings of the Vatican, including his fancy Prada shoes and luxury Pope mobile. And, after all, the last time a Pope abdicated was 1415. Somehow, I don’t think Ratzinger wanted to break tradition so he had more time for golf.
It turns out that I was onto something — but it might have been the wrong scandal. Italy’s largest newspaper, La Republica today broke a major story:
A potentially explosive report has linked the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI to the discovery of a network of gay prelates in the Vatican, some of whom – the report said – were being blackmailed by outsiders.
The pope’s spokesman declined to confirm or deny the report, which was carried by the Italian daily newspaper La Repubblica.
The paper said the pope had taken the decision on 17 December that he was going to resign – the day he received a dossier compiled by three cardinals delegated to look into the so-called “Vatileaks” affair.
According to La Repubblica, the dossier comprising “two volumes of almost 300 pages – bound in red” had been consigned to a safe in the papal apartments and would be delivered to the pope’s successor upon his election.
The newspaper said the cardinals described a number of factions, including one whose members were “united by sexual orientation”.
It appears that the Pope thinks shuffling predatory, pedophile priests and spending more than $2.5 billion in child molestation settlements isn’t a reason to resign, but a few gay priests caught with their pants down is? What an odd moral culture they have developed in Rome, of late.
The Guardian has more background:
Since announcing his departure he has twice apparently referred to machinations inside the Vatican, saying that divisions “mar the face of the church”, and warned against “the temptations of power”.
La Repubblica’s report was the latest in a string of claims that a gay network exists in the Vatican. In 2007 a senior official was suspended from the congregation, or department, for the priesthood, after he was filmed in a “sting” organised by an Italian television
programme while apparently making sexual overtures to a younger man.
In 2010 a chorister was dismissed for allegedly procuring male prostitutes for a papal gentleman-in-waiting. A few months later a weekly news magazine used hidden cameras to record priests visiting gay clubs and bars and having sex.
This is a fascinating story and I believe every word of it. After all, when you have an institution that cares more about its reputation than protecting innocent, vulnerable kids from child raping priests, anything, no matter how low, is possible.
My only concern with this article is, you know, its going to be turned into “Pope quits because of the gays”… After all the vatican using a scape goat to further its agenda in times like this is, after all, completely unheard of.
I too have reservations, for reasons similar to Lynus’- this could easily be twisted into “religiously orthodox pope forced to resign over gay priests.” People like NOM’s token Millenial Thomas Peters could claim that gays have such a stranglehold on “religious freedom” that trying to discapline them for acts that violate their vows to the church as clergymen forces resignation.
The two previous posts make a good point. But if the original story is broadcast and enough people see it before the truth twisters (NOM, etc.) get to it, then the Truth Wins Out!
The Vatican under this awful Pope has repeatedly singled out gay people and vilified them. However, their lies aren’t sticking — and even Obama won the Catholic vote, despite an Election Year blitz by the Bishops against equality.
Rome has a credibility problem that makes it more difficult than usual to get away with lies. I don’t think their efforts at shifting blame will work this time.
When I first read of this story, I wondered if someone had concrete info on the homosexuality of Benedict himself. Anyone who has been so rabidly antigay for so many years may well have skeletons hanging in his closet along with his white robes and ruby slippers.
Now we have the ultimate in the blame-the-gays-for-everything Sweepstakes, wherein gay people– demonized, minimized, pathologized, criminalized,and marginalized for 2000 years –are attributed with vast amounts of SECRET (of course!!!!) power and influence that we couldn’t possibly have, in organizations that we’re not allowed to be members of, which organizations INSIST that we’re threats to humanity, for reasons that will forever remain obscure (because they’re imaginary), by means that have no more reality than a wisp of smoke representing the will of god.
Exactly how did we achieve this monstrous success, when we are such pariahs among the self-appointed Holy Ones?
As a Jew, I have to say that this reminds me of something. What could it be? Something in German, perhaps? Can’t remember the word, but I think it rhymes with “piddler”. or perhaps “line cramp”.
something like that,
What does one expect when he makes a “deal with the devil………….” HAHAHAHA!!!!!! The catholic church has always make me sick!!! Always going around pointing there fingers when THEY ARE THE ONES WITH s**t & MENDACITY REEKING ALL OVER THEM.
I assume the scandal here is the blackmail based on the physical (filmed) evidence. The ‘revelation’ that the vatican has gay clerics is like revealing that Alaska has snow. “Two volumes of almost 300 pages…”!!. Jeez, the gay sex clubs of the 70s in Manhattan couldn’t fill up that many pages. Instead of worrying whether the next pope is from Latin America, Africa or America, maybe they should just try to find one who can keep his dick to himself.
This self-serving institution is rotten from the inside and spiritually dead, infested with a culture of lies and cover-ups. What a perfect exit strategy for that creep Ratzinger. Not only will little Miss Ruby Slippers not be held accountable for protecting rapists, but can ultimately will “blame the Gays” for bringing down the pope – setting the stage for an even more vicious anti-gay pope to follow in turn “to clean house” and giving them excuses for continuing preaching their vile lies from catholic pulpits against marriage equality. Meanwhile Ratzinger retires in pampered luxury surrounded by 24 hour staff and will pretend to be too senile and weak to deal with any responsibility whenever the Media calls. Makes me sick.
oh look. http://www.nomblog.com/33425/#comment-153722
The danger is always the worse excesses of fundamentalism. The RCC was always a bit of a problem, but compared to a fundamentalist denomination of a tenth of its size, I doubt its virulence would compare. Not since the Inquisition has Rome been as determined and as evil as, let’s say the Orthodox Presbyterians (you know them best for Coral Ridge I imagine, but someone who cares besides Mel White should read “Principles of Divine Law” by RJ Rushdoony (I have the title very closely, but it is probably not exactly right) – it will turn your hair white )– and the simple fact is that there are 1.2 billion (give or take) members of the RCC — the vast majority WILL find another religion. Where do you want them to go? Fundamentalism? (That’s where historically most have settled who leave Rome– I must tell you that the AoG would not exist without a continuous stream of Catholic converts) Islam? Yes a handful or a double handful will find inclusive Christian communions and a triple handful will become atheists or permanently unchurched – but for those still with Rome now — most will find another church that feeds their well learned sense of inferiority and need, and takes the place of the authoritarian RCC by being even more in control. I don’t know about anyone else, but as much as I was appalled by the immediately past pope — that frightens me more.