Frances has a tough row to hoe, but everyone here in Rome seems to be supportive of him so far. There is a feeling of hope and optimism in the air. When I ask folk here what they think of him, the universal answer is "It was time".

I feel for him the same as I feel for Obama. That's a mountain of shit you gotta shovel. Good luck!

resign over this?

I'm going to ask a good friend who is much closer to the Vatican action. The main concern for most people right now is the Pope's health. They want this guy around for a while, and the Vatican doesn't have the best track record when it comes to Popes who want to shake things up. I was living here during the papacy of John Paul I and there was an air of hope for the future of the RCC. He lasted 33 days. A sad time and much speculation as to what caused his death.

I wish Frances the best and the strength to do what needs to be done.

Propagated by the sinister conspiracy nuts who adore and fawn over Francis, but who think that if he moves too far in some directions that conservatives in the hierarchy will have him whacked.

If they thought that were actually true, what they're describing is a criminal organization at the highest levels, so what sane person would support or belong to it if they didn't have to?

At the idea of telling anyone that they should quit the Catholic Church over its coverup and abetting of child rape. Wonder if she'll chime in here to rip on Tom Petty for his efforts here. If so, she may have some splainin' to do.

a few people are starting to talk about the evangelical sex abuse crisis: http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2014/05/07/boz_tchividjian_is_on_a_mission_billy_graham_s_grandson_wants_to_root_out.html

Anywhere and everywhere that patriarchal hierarchs are committing sexual abuse and covering it up, they need to be rooted out, and dealt with by the secular authorities, not "in house".

Decent people have been talking about it for decades. A lot of us. You're a little late to the party, and so is anyone in the Catholic hierarchy who's only now acting like they care.

The Catholic Church has said nothing, done nothing and revealed nothing of their own accord. Ever. All that has happened has been the result of pressure brought to bear from outside the RCC. If the popes and their cronies had their way, everything the Catholic Church has even done with regard to raping children would still be hidden from the public.

But as far as I'm aware (and I'll happily correct myself if I'm wrong), the evangelical sex abuse crisis has not generated the same kind of headlines, so I was commenting on increasing awareness of that.