He was never the same after his visit to Glasgow !

Of course, the story is nonsense ... as Head of State the Pontiff has immunity anyway !

Just some weird organisation (that no one has ever heard of) trying to get some publicity for itself.

I did predict these kinds of rumours would start but, as the paranoid pope said...

In The Know wrote:
He was never the same after his visit to Glasgow !

I'm not surprised. This is a place where the people deep-fry PIZZAS!

Benedict has clearly been planning his retirement for some time. It may have come last autumn - but the Papel "butler" scandel was going on then, so unlikely. Also his future retirement home has been undergoing rennovation for over a year already.

The pilgrimage had seemed rather random, but its significance is finally clear.

On April 28, 2009, while visiting the earthquake-stricken city of L'Aquila in central Italy, Pope Benedict XVI paid a visit to the nearby tomb of Celestine V, a 13th century Pope who reigned for only five months.

After pausing in silent prayer, Benedict left his predecessor a gift - his pallium, a vestment he received when he was created Pontiff in 2005.

Celestine's claim to fame - and infamy - was his resignation from the office of the papacy, choosing instead to return to a hermit's life. The Roman Catholic Church eventually made him a saint.

Also, by retiring, rather than slowly decline like his predessesor, Benedict has "opened the door" for ALL future Popes to decide when they have gone on long enough.

In The Know wrote:
Benedict has clearly been planning his retirement for some time

Benedict has "opened the door" for ALL future Popes


There is no evidence to suggest that this was going to happen - but, as always (Elvis etc.), stories are made up. A visit to the tomb of a 13th century pope IS rather tenuous, but really just a silly point.





With regard to the 'door' - it has been there for 2,000 years.

as Head of State why would he resign ??? and he has immunity...but those who know him well all say he looks very sick and drawn..it's for health reasons.

but the anti-Catholic crowd (including people I know) are virulent about pinning sex crimes on priests.

Monsignor Hedda wrote:
as Head of State why would he resign ??? and he has immunity...but those who know him well all say he looks very sick and drawn..it's for health reasons.

I'm not doubting that its for health reasons ... just saying its been in (his) planning stages for some time.

He has also "opened the door" to allow other Popes to retire early - only 2 previous Popes have ever previously quit - one to allow unity in the Church (Gregory?) and the one Bendick paid himage too recently (Celestine V).

Over a third of all Popes are buried in and around the Vatican. Weekly, the current Pope prays in the Vatican Grotto - where most of the c90 are interred. To try to deduce any specific relevance is pure folly......

Monsignor Hedda wrote:
the anti-Catholic crowd are virulent about pinning sex crimes on priests

So are 'the pro-catholic crowd' - just like they would for anyone guilty of such crimes.

Any many such crimes have now been proven to be committed by clergy all over the world.

Ireland is the major spot, closest to home. All well documented in the media.

Ben 9 wrote:
Monsignor Hedda wrote:
the anti-Catholic crowd are virulent about pinning sex crimes on priests

So are 'the pro-catholic crowd' - just like they would for anyone guilty of such crimes.

Any many such crimes have now been proven to be committed by clergy all over the world.

Ireland is the major spot, closest to home. All well documented in the media.




'documented' by the media ..possibly promoted by the media and the so-called 'survivor's networks' evidenced by the official report into the Magdalene laundries which couldn't actually find any sex abuse victims and around 200 women they did speak to said they never witnessed any sexual abuse nor heard about it from others at the time...

but it did find that conditions were pretty shocking and the women (who went into the laundries voluntarily because there was no-where else to go) were paid virtually nothing.

However not mentioned in any report is that conditions in basically any other job at the time in Ireland (and probably the UK) were similar and pay was barely subsistence level and unlike the Magdalene Laundry where the women were fed, clothed and sheltered, conditions may have been worse.

We may as well and probably should apologise to the working class masses of the UK & Ireland up until the 60s when conditions gradually became better.

and lets not start on the children who were involuntarily sent to Canada and Australia by the British government after being told their families were dead or didn't want them etc etc.

You seem to suggest that the Magdalene laundries saga was the norm for the time - and make no mention of the report from the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, which was published in Ireland in 2009.

This detailed the huge extent of abuse by clergy in Ireland and the shielding of religious orders' paedophiles from arrest. It has formed the base for numerous legal cases where substantial costs have been awarded against these orders and individuals.

As a result, many religious orders - such as the Irish Christian Brothers - are on the way to bankruptcy and will soon be wound up.

All of this has been recorded in the media and is available to see in goverment/court/legal records. Neither the catholic church nor the goverment of Ireland denies the abuse nowadays, nor does anyone in Ireland.

Examples of serious abuse by priests was seen in the cases against Vincent Mercer, Paul McGennis, Noel Reynolds, Thomas Naughton, Brendan Smythe and Ivan Payne (just six, of hundreds). All these priests were convicted and their crimes clearly documented - and may be viewed, inter alia, on google.

And if you were the Devil (assuming there is a devil) in a battle with God (assuming there is a god) wouldn't you be delighted? Check out Satan's Ultimate Weapons on You Tube.

yeh Jim Savile's crimes are well documented in the media.

Hedda. Saville was not convicted, but priests were in many jurisdictions......

One result is - they are now very difficult to find/track down, as few chaps now wish to join.

In Ireland, the priest was at the very top of the social ladder; now, he is at the bottom and often subjected to verbal abuse on the street - because of the deeds of his fellows.

I suspect the case in Ireland is similar to elsewhere : a mixture of truth, fact, fantasy and exageration.

and like everywhere...lots and lots of compensation paid out.