but still wonder exactly WHY the last (conservative) Pope really resigned. I’ll bet there is a lot more to that than the official explanation. The European media covered speculative reasons.
Papal resignation linked to inquiry into 'Vatican gay officials', says paper
Was the Pope pushed? An abuse scandal, corruption and the dark intrigue behind Benedict's shock resignation
Pope Benedict's resignation linked to gay conclave: report
"A 300-page dossier compiled by three cardinals investigating the theft of Vatican documents was reportedly given to the Pope the day he decided to resign. The investigation is said to have uncovered a number of factions within the Vatican of gay men who have engaged in sexual activity with male prostitutes and at organized sex romps....Male prostitutes — who had pictures of the priests dressed in drag and others performing gay sex acts — were behind the extortion, The Daily Beast reported."
I find it almost impossible that Benedict was not involved in gay sex, directly, himself. Many of the reports focus on other "gay Vatican priests and officials" but do not implicate Benedict himself. If he was clean, and without sin, all he had to do was punish the guilty and wash the house.
But he didn't do that. He resigned. Quickly.
But he didn’t do that. He resigned. Quickly.
Again, I’m not Catholic. But it seems to be that allowing priests to marry (the opposite sex) might solve a lot of these problems. Even if a tiny minority of priests are pedophiles, it seems far too many of them are and they are in positions of power. This is unacceptable and has damaged the Church greatly. I personally know a few “devout” Catholics who have referred to priests as perverts (or something similar) without prompting or batting an eye.
You will believe what you will. Relying on info from The Guardian is like relying on The New York Times for unbiased clarity in all things conservative.
Pope Benedict XVI was one of the first to call for the removal of clergy guilty of abuse of children. That is the real record. And, as to the reason(s) he chose to resign - he as not made those public except to say he was getting too old to keep up the hectic schedule, which is far more grueling than that of the wimpy - and much younger - Obama.