[Paul Atreides]

I'm not Catholic and I don't know much about the inner workings of the Vatican, but it sounds to me as if the Catholic Church is on the verge of imploding. Or, there will be a clean sweep of conservatives out of the Catholic Church.

Is there a chance of a closeted homosexual priest taking the current Pope's place after his death? Imagine the implications if that occurred.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

Hard to say how widespread the "Lavender mafia" has managed to sink its fangs into Christendom.

This has been going on, as a matter of concern for conservatives, since about the late '70s. Catholics in America are roughly divided into conservative and more liberal factions. As with the rest of the culture war in U.S. society, it's a battle royal, that's for sure. Most Catholics I know deplore the homosexualization which has gone on in various parts of the Church. There will have to be a serious crackdown or the institution will be marginalized. The bishops must decide where they stand.

[yendu bwam]

It's clear that active, open homosexuality has become a norm in many parts of the American Catholic Church - and in many foreign Catholic Chruches as well. The Catholic Church is at a fulcrum in time now. It must decide whether it will promote and abet homosexual relations, or whether it will remain true to its past teaching. If it distances itself from past teaching, it will be distancing itself from Holy Scripture, and will cease to be Church which can say that none of its teaching is in conflict with Holy Scripture. Will the Catholic Church reamin authentically Christian, or will it go the way of all the liberal Protestant sects? One can only hope and pray that it will remain true to the truths it has always taught. People want sexual perversion. Will the Catholic Church find the strength to oppose those people? Or will it become a cowardly shadow of its former self?

[Antoninus]

I think you're more likely to see a clean sweep of the homosexual element out of the Church. We're after them and we ain't playing around anymore.

"For thou art Peter and upon this Rock I shall build my Church and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it."

No worries, mate!