In fact, this whole thread is disrespectful. I've been a Freeper for a long time. But it certainly has it's share of Catholic bashers. Instead of cutesy cartoons, how about offering up a little prayer that the Holy Spirit leads the conclave to bring us a good man of God to lead this church of 1 Billion.
"After Christophe left I went to Rome to attend an international colloquium on Adoration. It was a very intense 4 days! The teachings and testimonies were excellent and the worship most uplifting. It was a contrast but also a confirmation of my “normal” day at home, which includes a prolonged time of prayer in solitude. Among the 300 attendees were many priests, bishops and 5 cardinals. It ended with mass with Pope Benedict XVI, and I was seated close to the altar. Before I left Rome, I got to pray at the tomb of Blessed John-Paul II. I came home just in time for the First Communion of Claude’s goddaughter, followed by the Confirmation of the daughter of one of my goddaughters."
I think she would be appalled by some comments made to non-Catholics from Catholics. I don't judge all Catholics by FR CAtholics!
BTW, I had email from her yesterday and she just returned from the Vatican ... "with Pope Benedict." FWIW, she said rumors are running wild.
If the RCC were sincere to their asserted dogma, they wouldn’t accept the resignation.
Consider Paul and the other Apostles.
Paul repeatedly believed he was to return to Jerusalem to minister to his brethren, but that was not God’s Plan for him. He was appointed to be the Apostle to the Gentiles and sent to Rome to witness to them.
Every time Paul attempted to divert his path, adversity lay in his path, even prison, and even prison didn’t redirect Paul from his appointed destiny.
The RCC has asserted the Pope is chosen by God through the the Conclave of Bishops. If this is true, then the RCC should instead be reassuring the Pope not to abdicate his position, regardless the adversity.
The present situation shows the world that either the appointment by the Conclave of Cardinals is not holy or they fail to place faith in God in that selection. In either case, a more fundamental change in thinking is required for a body of believers which substitutes anything for first a faith in Christ, in all thinking.
It is obvious the RCC ritualism appeals much more to worldliness, than the new man who lives through faith in Christ in all thinking, in all things.