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I wonder if these are the subjects the Holy Father will write about in his first encyclical.

VATICAN CITY â€” Pope Benedict XVI lamented the seemingly "dying" church in Europe and the United States and raised questions about the soaring number of priests in Asia and Africa in a lengthy, off-the-cuff speech to Italian priests.

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that African and Asian priests are allowed to marry and have families, and European and American priests aren't?

I love him !

I guess it all depends on where you're at. In the southern U.S., churches are doing pretty well. In the northeast, not so good.

As regards the comments made about celibate priesthood, I think celibacy has an impact on the numbers, but not as great as one might expect. Being a priest is often a thankless job, and certainly not one with many material rewards.

England 'Return To Your God'

Pope Says Churches In the West Look To Be Dying

I have a sincere belief that the lines will be drawn after the October Synod and what happens as a direct result of the inspiration of the Holy Spirit through Pope Benedict XVI in speaking to the heart of the concerns in the Roman Catholic Church. I perceive a spiritual renewal and reawakening among the Bishops, Archbishops and Cardinals. Those liberal Priests and Bishops who aren't as serious about the Tenets of The Faith or who are not faithful to the Magisterium will slowly (and some quite quickly) look like the "odd man out" among the Catholic faithful. Those "progressive Catholics" will be encouraged to make a decision. Either they're for The Church and it's time to enter the Confessional or they can find another denomenation which appeals to their liberal ideas.

I also believe that "young" Roman Catholics will begin to teach their elders what it means to be a Roman Catholic by their actions and involvement in The Church. Those teens to forties who have been awaiting an opportunity to serve Christ and The Church will follow this Pope because he is speaking to their heart of hearts. God said in Scripture that he has placed His laws within our hearts. Baruch 3:7 Because for this end thou hast put thy fear in our hearts, to the intent that we should call upon thy name, and praise thee in our captivity, for we are converted from the iniquity of our fathers, who sinned before thee. Romans 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God. 12 For whosoever have sinned without the law, shall perish without the law; and whosoever have sinned in the law, shall be judged by the law. 13 For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. 14 For when the Gentiles, who have not the law, do by nature those things that are of the law; these having not the law are a law to themselves: 15 Who shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness to them, and their thoughts between themselves accusing, or also defending one another,

This next section speaks to the situation in The Church (and world) today: 21 Thou therefore that teachest another, teachest not thyself: thou that preachest that men should not steal, stealest: 22 Thou that sayest, men should not commit adultery, committest adultery: thou that abhorrest idols, committest sacrilege: 23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law, by transgression of the law dishonourest God. 24 (For the name of God through you is blasphemed among the Gentiles, as it is written.)

I believe that Pope Benedict will round up the known suspects and have someone (if not himself) sit down with them and remind them of Whom they represent. And it's not themselves. I think that Pope Benedict clearly sees that in the West and especially in the US (and perhaps other Countries) the Priesthood has taken on the taint of politics. Priests and Bishops must be beyond (not above) politics. They are Christ's representatives on earth. If I read my Scripture correctly, Jesus didn't come into the world to bring peace, but a sword. (Matt 10:34) And St. Paul said in Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and effectual, and more piercing than any two edged sword; and reaching unto the division of the soul and the spirit, of the joints also and the marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

It is my belief that Pope Benedict XVI will be holding that two edged sword when he opens the October Synod.