Is that an act of heroism or cowardice?


Either way, it does play into the fact that the laity, despite the horrific crimes condoned and perpetuated by the church, continues to protect the church.

Maybe it's because there isn't any.

Never claimed there was.

All irrelevant.

That's the good thing about believing in non-reality based religions, you can make up whatever makes you feel good.

And feel free to continue to ignore others discussing the same thing below.

I understand your compulsion to type "pedophile priests" at any opportunity but you should rerally work on that.

But I know how difficult is for you to accept that your church is full of child-rapers and their protectors and enablers.

it is.

It has something to do with children and multiple violations of the priest's oath of celibacy...

Plus all the internal Vatican drama that has occurred over the last year.

I think it is (was) difficult for Popes to resign because of long tradition and/or the feeling they were "letting down" the members of the Church. At the least, the tradition of serving until the end has a modern counter-example. I saw Pope John Paul II in his later years, and while it was exciting to see him, and in his talk he seemed to be more "with it" than he appeared, his physical condition was disheartening, and not one for someone to lead a world church.