Pope Benedict XVI, 85 years old and infirm, announced his resignation effective February 28, 2013. He was tired. Perhaps that is why he showed poor judgment in so many instances.
He refused to welcome women priests into the Church. He remained ignorant of Vatican financial corruption. Most troubling, when he was Cardinal Ratzinger, he had all child sex abuse by clergy cases sent directly to his office. Then he did not demand those abuses be reported to the police. He did not defrock the sexual deviants, nor did he castigate their superiors who hid the abuses.
To his credit, Pope Benedict XVI followed his conscience and decided he wasn’t able to effectively remain Pope. In announcing his resignation, he said, "After repeatedly examining my conscience before God..." he decided to resign. His resignation underscores two notable truths.
First, he reminded Catholics that they, too, must follow their conscience--and not Church tradition or ritual (which changes)--when making important decisions, such as on birth control, attending Mass by Women Priests, or choosing whom to love.
God does not expect us to be perfect. But God does expect us to continually examine our conscience as we try to live ethical and moral lives. Pope Benedict XVI showed that one’s conscience is the ultimate judge for all Catholics, even a pope.
Second, the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI underscores an urgent reality.
Leading a billion Catholics is too much work to do for one person. It is too much work to do in secrecy.
It is too much work to do without the help and insights of women, who are over half the earth's Catholic population.
It is too much work to do isolated in a sumptuous palace far from the daily concerns of the laity.
Perhaps St. Paul and Mark were right. The Catholic Church should not have one head, or Benefactor. With one head and countless minions the institutional Church does not heed the words of Jesus; it does not follow the impulse of a loving God; it cannot comprehend the Wisdom of the Holy Spirit Sophia.
The institutional Church needs not only a wise pope; it needs a system of checks and balances. It needs the help of women within its hierarchy. It needs transparency in all of its dealings. Then it can begin to work again for justice and inclusion of everyone in God's love. Book is available:bdianamilesko.com, as well as amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.
Diana makes an important point. Can anyone person/pope lead Catholicism into its future?
One thing is for certain, the future pope will need women.
One thing is for certain, the future pope will need women.
Bridget Mary Meehan, arcwp, www.arcwp.org
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