with rigid hierarchists bent on seeing that no John XXIII's arise out of the woodwork. They'll clone Ratzi for the next Pope.

Amazing incest.

They will choose one of their own and the crap with continue. Rome doesn't care about the people of the church, it cares about it's own best interest and always has.

include a Pope who had no part in the abuse cover-ups. A Cardinal from Mars, if there were one, would be ideal. Barring that, I'm hoping for one not of European provenance--Latin American, African or Asian.

and then takes steps to fix them. Apologies go a long way in doing that. Wouldn't you agree?

It's sad that a simple apology, and acknowledgment of wrongdoing (with a promise not to do it again) would have done so much good, but that opportunity was wasted.

it would lead one to conclude that the offender meant the wrongdoing.

That would explain the current behavior.

But at least there can be no doubt that the perpetrator is acting out of hatred and bigotry, and has lost any semblance of moral ground on which they could try and criticize someone else.

Amazing how some would rather display that kind of behavior instead if acknowledging a mistake.

All the voting Cardinals are very conservative and they'll pick a new Pope that is as conservative as Pope Rat. was or one even more conservative than he was. Nothing will change. Imperium Romanum vixerit super.

To me, it now seems to be something that looked really good, but in the end turned out to be false hope.