In response to yogafriend's comment:

 I daresay he bears a large degree of responsibility for it if even a tenth of what Hitchens alleges is true.

In response to airborne-rgr's comment:

What would make a pope resign?

Doesn't like the hours? Has to work on Sundays.

Too many voices in his head? God calls at all hours of the night.

Sounds like an emergency room physician and the Pope have lots in common.  :)

Additionally, he was plagued by the sexual abuse scandal -- speaking of the "voices in his head" -- it's a bummer to have to clean up a mess that others have caused.   However, you never heard Pope Benedict say that it was Pope John Paul's fault.  

Incidentally, there are well over 400 posts (and growing) on BDC re: the Pope's intended resignation, and it looks as though 50% of them have been removed.  

While a mere fraction in number, this thread is doing quite well -- although the day is young.  :)   

Pope Benedict has done the right thing to retire, and for that, I respect his decision.   But that's about it.   I'm not at all versed in the writings of Christopher Hitchens, but it looks as though he's done some credible digging into the scandal.  

Probably as good a time as any for the Catholic Church to close its doors for good.

Man made Christianity has abused and defrauded enough people already.  Its time for facts and reality to rule the lands.

Oops Comrade Matty... I thought you speaking of Cardinal Law. You remember, the man who ran to Rome so he would not go to jail...

Wouldn't it be funny if the church opens up to woman priests and gays? 

Probably as good a time as any for the Catholic Church to close its doors for good.

Man made Christianity has abused and defrauded enough people already.  Its time for facts and reality to rule the lands.

What would make a pope resign?

Doesn't like the hours? Has to work on Sundays.

Too many voices in his head? God calls at all hours of the night.

In response to yogafriend's comment:

 I daresay he bears a large degree of responsibility for it if even a tenth of what Hitchens alleges is true.

He paints a piture of Ratzinger as an evil man who proteted child rapists on an individual level (moving priests around) and structurally (secretive internal investigations, urging policy of not sharing info with police, etc).

Agree or disagree with the man generally, but the sense I got from his writing and his life is that he was very conscientious about his positions and wouldn't fudge to make a point. He'll also do a 180 on prior positions or ideologies if he concluded he was mistaken in the past (ie, despite starting out as an avowed new communist early on, then turning hard away from the left generally in the lead up to, and aftermath of, the Iraq invasion).

In response to WhatDoYouWantNow's comment:

In response to yogafriend's comment:

 I daresay he bears a large degree of responsibility for it if even a tenth of what Hitchens alleges is true.

I was being facetious, actually.   The sexual abuse scandal dates back so far and has so many overlapping members of the Church heirarchy that are responsible, only a serious historian would be equipped to deal with the web of lies, deceit, corruption and level of complicity within the Church.  

I still get sick thinking about what went down in Boston and the fact that the Church didn't immediately defrock Bernard Law; that protection spoke volumes, and the execution of Law's appointment to relocate to Rome was under Pope John Paul II.   

Pope Benedict has done the right thing to retire, and for that, I respect his decision.   But that's about it.   I'm not at all versed in the writings of Christopher Hitchens, but it looks as though he's done some credible digging into the scandal.  

Im sensing the lefties squirming a little over this breaking news. Wouldn't it be funny if the church opens up to woman priests and gays? That with the Hispanic following would make a pretty strong Force to recon with. Given the lefties war on the catholic church I'd hate to be on that end if it all comes true! 

In response to jackbu's comment:

The point of that discussion as far as I recall it was disgust with the fact that the church would deem abortion doctors and women receiving abortions "murderers," but then allow their lawyers to defend a suit on the ground that fetuses weren't people after all.

In response to WhatDoYouWantNow's comment:

In response to yogafriend's comment:

 I daresay he bears a large degree of responsibility for it if even a tenth of what Hitchens alleges is true.

He paints a piture of Ratzinger as an evil man who proteted child rapists on an individual level (moving priests around) and structurally (secretive internal investigations, urging policy of not sharing info with police, etc).

Agree or disagree with the man generally, but the sense I got from his writing and his life is that he was very conscientious about his positions and wouldn't fudge to make a point. He'll also do a 180 on prior positions or ideologies if he concluded he was mistaken in the past (ie, despite starting out as an avowed new communist early on, then turning hard away from the left generally in the lead up to, and aftermath of, the Iraq invasion).

I read your previous post. I wish I could say that something..anything in Hitchen's account surprises me. It's what happens when there is no accountability in an organization..whether it be the Catholic Church..a corporation...a school ( Penn State). The perpetuation of the organization becomes more important than the well being of the members of said organization. The same can be true of some big unions.

If indeed then Cardinal Ratzinger did the things he is alleged to have done with regard to the sexual abuse coverup scandal..then that is inexcusable and indefensible.

Im sensing the lefties squirming a little over this breaking news. Wouldn't it be funny if the church opens up to woman priests and gays? That with the Hispanic following would make a pretty strong Force to recon with. Given the lefties war on the catholic church I'd hate to be on that end if it all comes true! 

Non-yawning non-papist here.