I guess one can be God's infallible anointed until one decides that one is not. As an infallible being, any major decision one makes is beyond reproach or question. However, as an ex-Pope one becomes flawed and tainted by original sin again. If one extrapolates on this -- retired popes better keep their mouths shut. Ex-Popes become exposed to close scrutiny of their misogynistic, homophobic, pedophilia related remarks. As the successor of Peter they can be homophobic and misogynistic with impunity; as a retired cleric they are open to folks openly calling bullshit on their bigotry.
We haven't had a retired pope since Pope
Gregory XII in 1415. He retired because there where two other
guys claiming that they were also God's chosen. The abdication of Pope Benedict exposes the reality of the Modern
Catholic church -- he can no longer be an effective CEO. He no longer has the strength to lead his
"Company" in the "spiritual" takeover of Africa - he can no longer lead in the
corporate crusade to further brutalize an already brutalized continent.
I am a Catholic that no
longer goes to Mass. I got a divorce
because of my ex-wife's mental illness.
The Catholic Church proclaimed my child a bastard. The Institutional Catholic Church is a
cesspool. The real Catholic Church --
the truly spiritual clergy and the committed laity, is a thing of beauty.
It's time to close down
the Vatican, turn it into a wonderful museum, and return "the Church" to the
local parishes, as Jesus wanted.
