Tuesday 26 February 2013

The End of the Catholic Church?

Unlike popes in history who resigned to escape duty, Pope Benedict XVI cited his age and waning health. The 85 year-old German pontiff, noteworthy for his devotion to religious conservatism in the face of a rapidly changing, increasingly secular European social landscape, delivered his resignation in Latin to a small, private body of the Vatican Monday, 11 February: “I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me,” he said, adding, “for this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of bishop of Rome, successor of Saint Peter”. Pope Benedict’s resignation comes at a time when more European countries, like France and Britain, are proposing the legalization of gay marriage while banning crosses in the workplace and prayers at council meetings, while the Church remains shaken by accusations of clerical sex abuse.

full artical here

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