It takes a lot of guts to do what he did. Especially when you are supposed to be infallible. My grandma is also 86 and we still can't get her to give up her DL even though she is blind as a bat and can't remember which pedal is which anymore. I wish she could take a hint from the Pope and just pass that torch on to someone else...

"econdly, only the Cardinals are able to be Pope, thus leaving out Bishop Burbridge OUT."

Not so. Only cardinals can vote for a pope, but technically, there is no requirement that they vote for a cardinal. In fact, unless the rules have changed, I'm not sure there is even a requirement that he be a priest, much less a bishop. He just can't be female.

It's hard to imagine that happening today, but in the Middle Ages the papacy was as much a political job as a spiritual one.

All this time I have been secretly hoping for our very own local Bishop of Raleigh to step up and take over in March. His work in NC has been incredible so far; just imagine what he could do for the world as a whole.

OpenM1nd

You can't BE serious, can you? That's so riddled with holes it's frightening!

OM, first off, no one just 'steps up' to be the Pope.

Secondly, only the Cardinals are able to be Pope, thus leaving out Bishop Burbridge OUT.

Lastly, if you are a practicing Catholic, you really need to get someone to explain the 'workings' of the church to you.

Seems like there would be a better word than "resign." Maybe "step down" or "abdicate" or "retire." Guess it happens so infrequently, there never was a reason to determine what that word would be.

"...and I don't hold Mary as a subject of veneration" - Relic

Catholics don't either. But the Bible does say "..From now on all generations will call me blessed" - Luke 1:48

All this time I have been secretly hoping for our very own local Bishop of Raleigh to step up and take over in March. His work in NC has been incredible so far; just imagine what he could do for the world as a whole.

"commanded to be in prayer for him"? Could you please furnish Chapter & Verse for that statement

Or Ephesians 6:18 "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplicatin for ALL (emphasis added) saints."

"commanded to be in prayer for him"? Could you please furnish Chapter & Verse for that statement

Our Lord commanded us to pray for others, even those who hate us, Matthew 5:44. If He commanded us to pray for those who are against us, how much more should we pray for those of the faith? We are to pray for each other always, even if we do not agree with them!

You can and should absolutely have a devout relationship with God without leaving your home to go to any organized Church. - beaulahjackson4

Well not exactly...

"I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD" - Psalm 122:1

"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them" - Matthew 18:20

Yes we are to pray without ceasing and not where men see you. But we are also taught to join in worship of God and minister to brothers and sisters in Christ as well as non-believers so that Christ can be seen through us.

At one point in my life I was the 'closet Christian'. I prayed as good as I could, tried to live my life well, all by myself etc. But until I rejoined a fellowship I truly had not experienced the blessings I now realize I was missing. There is something good about attending with a group to worship and sing with like minded individuals that can not be gained by oneself.

tayled stated: "Regarless of how you feel about the man, the Catholic Church, if you are a Christian, you are commanded to be in prayer for him."

I am a Bible believing Holiness Pentecostal. I disagree with most of the Catholic beliefs and beliefs of the Pope. However, I respect the Pope in that he is looking at the interests for his church above anything else.

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