Pope to resign?

Understanding Delusion.
http://whywontgodhealamputees.com/your-delusion.htm

What can one expect really from religions founded by men?

What can one expect really from religions founded by men?

I guess that makes the 8 million (est.) members of the Pentacostal Foresquare Church different then. I guess you could include the Shakers movement as different too.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Church_of_the_Foursquare_Gospel

In reality the founder/figurehead is irrelevent. It is the teachings, indoctrination, symbolism, and most importantly actions of a religion that define it.

It is really not surprising that the pope is resigning. He is under a lot of pressure. Many of his friends that he has helped are under attack this month. It's all about Pedophile Priests and MONEY. He has a pacemaker and I am sure the pressure is building.

His friend Cardinal Mahony from Los Angeles is under attack. He has been relieved of all church duties by his successor. And it turns out that he almost depleted the cemeteries fund, using the money to pay off settlements for pedophile priests. These are moneys donated by people who have loved ones buried in catholic cemeteries. It is supposed to be used to maintain the cemetery.
http://articles.latimes.com/2013/feb/09/local/la-me-church-cemetery-fund-20130210

One of the most Catholic countries in the world has broken ties with the Vatican.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/04/ireland-closes-embassy-to-vatican_n_1076528.html

Check out The Legion of Christ and its founder Father Marcial Maciel, a big contributor to the Vatican coffers. This organization is going to court tomorrow. It seems that they encourage the elderly church members to leave their estates to the church. This is being contested in probate court. I guess it's kind of like buying indulgences.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/01/25/ri-judge-agrees-to-delay-unsealing-documents-from-lawsuit-against-disgraced/

It is really not surprising that the pope is resigning. He is under a lot of pressure. Many of his friends that he has helped are under attack this month. It's all about Pedophile Priests and MONEY. He has a pacemaker and I am sure the pressure is building.

His friend Cardinal Mahony from Los Angles is under attack. He has been relieved of all church duties by his successor. And it turns out that he almost depleted the cemeteries fund, using the money to pay off settlements for pedophile priests. These are moneys donated by people who have loved ones buried in catholic cemeteries. It is supposed to be used to maintain the cemetery.
http://articles.latimes.com/2013/feb/09/local/la-me-church-cemetery-fund-20130210

Not just money but a maneuver to avoid prison. This is the deal. The church is insured. Since the conspiracy was on going, all back claims are still valid and not erased by statute of limitations--meaning the insurer and re-insurer could be on the hook for billions. The policy, like all contracts, excludes criminal activity. To avoid paying a record breaking claim, the lawyers for the insurance company started to pressure the DA to file criminal charges against the church. Mahony and his pals were facing spending the remainder of their years at Pelican Bay.
Mahoney, decided (with heavy handed persuasion from two big name law firms) not file a claim and to raid the cemetery fund instead. The same law firm also represented the democratic national convention in LA. Lots of behind the sceans power brokering.
So in the final deal, Mahoney stays out jail. The money comes from dead (and buried) catholics. And the Mayor gets another term and speaks at the National Convention. Win, Win, Win.
Why isn't this reported in the mainstream media?

The next few months might get very interesting for the Vatican. This group claims that the pope resigned to avoid prosecution. They claim that they will continue seeking prosecution against Ratzinger and whoever replaces him. One funny thing about the story is that they do not mention which European country has issued the warrant.

Pope Benedict, Joseph Ratzinger, has scheduled a meeting with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano for Saturday, February 23 to discuss securing protection and immunity from prosecution from the Italian government, according to Italian media sources.
http://itccs.org/

A drunk who smelled like cheap wine sat down on a subway seat next to a priest. The man's tie was stained, his face was plastered with red lipstick, and a half empty bottle of gin was sticking out of his torn coat pocket. He opened his newspaper and began reading.

After a few minutes the man turned to the priest and asked, "Say, Father, what causes arthritis?"

"My Son, it's caused by loose living, being with cheap, wicked women, too much alcohol and a contempt for your fellow man."

"Well, I'll be hornswaggled," the drunk muttered, returning to his paper.

The priest, thinking about what he had said, nudged the man and apologized. "I'm very sorry. I didn't mean to come on so strong. How long have you had arthritis?"

"I don't have it, Father. I was just reading here that the Pope does".

Papal Priorities.

Ya know, I followed this thread and Rotors extensive comments about religion and the catholic church. I am afraid that his hyperbole has driven support away from his just position.

Rotor is right. However, he is too much like the religious crusaders he critiques. I agree with almost everything he says about religion, but I cannot and will not spend hours entertaining others with my disdain.

Religion, whether it be Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Buddist or what ever, is a creation of flim..flam con artists who have operated through out the centuries. It fills a human need for explanation of the unknown. That is why it works and that is why con men using bibles and korans and tracts have used it to persuade gullible people to send their money and join up.

The most successful flim flam men have been christian, and muslim. Recently in America the evangelical holy rollers have found a ripe audience. Historically the catholic church has used ignorance and family to capture a huge following. The catholic church has other issues like child abuse. However most religions end up abusing children or followers, because they are about power and control.

You would think, that the church (christians, muslims, jews, hindus...etc) could not survive the internet and mass communication. You would think that ignorance and stupidity would be exposed and intelligent people would realize they are being lied to and used. Well?

Cardinal Favored to Become First Black Pope Blames Gay Priests for the Church’s Sexual Abuse Scandals

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone...said that some psychiatrists had found a relationship between homosexuality and paedophilia.

‘That is the problem,' he said.

Papal resignation linked to inquiry into 'Vatican gay officials', says paper
A potentially explosive report has linked the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI to the discovery of a network of gay prelates in the Vatican, some of whom – the report said – were being blackmailed by outsiders.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/21/pope-retired-amid-gay-bishop-blackmail-inquiry

You know its bad in Catholic Land when even the Pope can't take it anymore.

Oh Great Sky Wizard...lead us out of this mess!

Give those poor abused priests a break.
http://www.examiner.com/article/cardinal-claims-pedophiles-should-not-be-treated-like-criminals