PAPAL 'TERM LIMITS'

New York Post ^ | 3 February, 2005 | MARK BULLIET and ANDY SOLTIS

[Servant of the 9]

Future popes will be required to retire at a fixed age, according to secret plans being discussed because of the recurring health woes of John Paul II, it was reported today.

Senior Roman Catholic Church sources said cardinals who will select the next pontiff have discussed the need to choose a successor who is open to a retirement age, most likely 80.

They said the cardinals want to avoid a repeat of recent years in which John Paul's ailments forced him to turn decision-making over to a small group of senior aides, The Times of London reported.

The creation of a retirement age would end a tradition that has lasted 2,000 years — that a pope serves until death.

Disclosure of the secret plan comes as officials said John Paul II's health had stabilized following his emergency hospitalization.

The 84-year-old pontiff will remain at a Rome hospital for "a few more days," mainly as a precaution against complications, such as pneumonia, the Vatican said.

[johnnycap]

See that, put a bunch of old queens together in fabulous magenta frocks and the gossip goes hog wild.

[misharu]

So if they go through with this and a Pope retires at 80 and they install another Pope, which one do we listen to? What if they are saying different things? If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[OSHA]

I don't know why there should be a limit on my paypal account. As long as it is kept in good standing......OH! You said Papal. Nevermind.

[ironcitymike]

Wasn't there a prophecy about the end times that talked about a Pope and Anti-Pope causing a split of the Church? Not that I put too much stock in that sort of thing, but this sure sounds like a recipe for schism.

[devane617]

The guy is has become nothing more than a carrot-stick in his current condition. So, who is really the pope? I say retire the guy to a nursing home in Miami.

[Rutles4Ever]

Bring in married priests and we can start getting rid of the "pink palaces" and the fags they send out among the faithful.

Wow - is that all it takes? How about not admitting them in the first place?

I can't wait for the first married priest who DA - DA - DAAAAAAAAH - HAS AN AFFAIR! Then we'll talk about all the womanizing priests and how all married priests need marriage counselors!

Besides, it's not theological. The priest is married to the Church, as Christ is.

[Rutles4Ever]

Uh - how many books have you written in the last three years?

The Pope is more lucid than anyone on this board. I've been here long enough to know (and that includes me).

[Servant of the 9]

Wasn't there a prophecy about the end times that talked about a Pope and Anti-Pope causing a split of the Church? Not that I put too much stock in that sort of thing, but this sure sounds like a recipe for schism.

It has already happened a number of times. At one point, there were three putative Popes.

So9

[Paul C. Jesup]

The creation of a retirement age would end a tradition that has lasted 2,000 years — that a pope serves until death.

Try around 1600 years, unless you are counting the Roman Emperors as Popes.

[Servant of the 9]

Besides, it's not theological. The priest is married to the Church, as Christ is.

Yet the Church has married priests, in fact, married bishops that have come in from the Orthodox and Episcopal Churches.
Who are they married to?
Have Popes been wrong to accept them?
Are they less capable of serving than purportedly chaste priests?

SO9

[lupie]

I heard on the radio yesterday that the Pope stated long ago he would retire the day Christ steps down from the cross. Ummm.. He hasn't been on the cross for about 200 yrs.He lives!!! He was only on it for a few hours. Then He declared "It is finished", died, was buried and arose on the 3rd day in an uncorruptible body as Firstfruits. If He were still on the cross, then why isn't it mentioned by all those who saw Him after the Resurrection? Or how does He sit at the Right Hand of the Father?

[MinuteGal]

It was merely papal humor.

Leni

[Don Corleone]

How about an athiest LESBIAN Pope?

Hitlery??

[lupie]

I am not sure I see anything funny about hinting that Christ the Lord is still hanging on the cross. For then our faith would be in vain. Ask Paul.

[MinuteGal]

Take your momentous complaint up with the pope and his light-hearted quip, not with me.

Leni

[saradippity]

The Pope is more lucid than anyone on this board.

You nailed it!!

[lupie]

It wasn't meant to be a complaint. I am sorry you took it that way. And I don't really think our great God would consider it "light-hearted". Quite the opposite.

[NYer]

The papacy is like a catholic marriage - 'til death do we part.

Catholic Ping - please freepmail me if you want on/off this list

[Dominick]

Disclosure of the secret plan comes as officials said John Paul II's health had stabilized following his emergency hospitalization.

This is bogus. No Secret plan can be revealed and stay Secret. This is wishful thinking on someone in the apparatchik.

[murphE]

Bad, bad, bad. This is a further attempt at weakening the office of the papacy by the wolves in the curia.

Ping