Interesting angle, runner.

>>maybe the three who knived Rudd might have some suggestions?<<

And there's this:

Nicola Roxon resigns.

Pope Benedict resigns the following week.

Coincidence?

You be the judge.

Momentous is the word Lexi,I too believed that.
We must not avoid the current state of a Church many true Christians believe is the anti Christ.
Had to be said not nice and not right, there is no anti Christ.
But just maybe this man, under a shadow rightly or wrongly, from his past actions when confronted by Child molestation events.
He may have left in hope not fear.
No doubt a true reformist Pope, fronting head on the need for single priests not wed ones and changing to get closer to the normal.
Head on open book look at current world wide fears about many things no less than child molesting.
We may see a new more reformist Catholic Church.
If not?
Well if other reasons drove him out we may see the increasing move away from such a Church.

Dear Belly,

We have not yet even begun to calculate the
damage sexual abuse has done to people's
trust and to the reputation of the Church.
Trust is going to have to be built from the
bottom up by bishops and priests before their
pronouncements on morality will be taken
seriously again. That's why Papal leadership
is so important.

The controlling approach to
the community and the inability of its
leadership to come to grips with a fast-changing
society will have people abandoning worship
and faith practice.

Unfortunately, if the Vatican again elects a Pope
like Benedict XVI, who sees the Church as the
sole repository of absolute, unchangeable truth
about God, life, and moral values, then their
response to the dilemmas Catholicism faces will
be to simply say that the Church is here to guide
the world and that it has little or nothing to
gain from mundane wisdom.

The Catholic's task as Benedict saw it was to tell
it as it is, to proclaim the Church's teaching in
season and out of season. This was especially true
regarding life issues like, abortion, stem cell
research, contraception, gender issues, homosexuality,
all that are seen as centrally important in today's
world.

We can only hope that a new pope will be of a different
school - though as another poster stated - don't hold
your breath.

Lexi aware you and others are Catholics I was reluctant to go full on in relation to the charge some lay against your Church.
That it is the anti Christ.
Yet you in that post spoke of the reality your Church confronts better than any one, with honesty.
I think it is the very last chance Catholics must hope you get a better leader.
And get the reforms.
I fear such a man may not exist , not one with the years of being part of the Church.
Not one who has the great courage and insight to see what is needed.
I do not except the given reason for this one leaving.

What about the Mad Monk, He wants an election ASAP, here is his perfect opportunity, I can just picture the Abbott in the Holy Sea.......without a life jacket! Give me Tony's How To Vote on this one, please.

>>Give me Tony's How To Vote on this one, please.<<

Become a Cardinal. That means lots of study and lots of celibacy :(

Alternatively fly to Rome and mug a Cardinal that looks like you, steal his robes and take his place in the conclave.

Cheers,

Tony