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Uploaded: Tuesday, February 12, 2013, 7:17 AM
Bay Area reacts to first Papal resignation in nearly 600 years
Religious communities reacting with 'surprise, shock' to Monday's announcement
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Bay Area religious communities reacted with "surprise" and "shock" to Monday's announcement that Pope Benedict XVI will resign.
The 85-year-old pope, born in Germany as Joseph Ratzinger, cited his ailing health as the reason he is stepping down as head of the Roman Catholic church.
His papacy began in 2005 and will end on Feb. 28, he announced Monday at the Vatican in Italy.
Thomas Cattoi, an associate professor of Christology and cultures at Santa Clara University's Jesuit School of Theology, said it is within the pope's jurisdiction to resign at any time, but that a sitting pope hasn't made the decision to step down since 1415. Before that, a pope resigned in 1294.
Brother Charles Hilken, a history professor at St. Mary's College in Moraga, said five popes have resigned in the history of popes, which dates
back to the first century.
"Everyone is completely stunned," Cattoi said.
San Francisco archdiocese spokesman George Wesolek said the local reaction has been "surprise and even shock."
"There is some sadness because he is leaving," Wesolek said. "People here ... regard him with great affection."
He said the Roman Catholic archbishop of San Francisco, Salvatore Cordileone, considers the pope's decision an "act of boldness and great
humility."
Although the news is unexpected, Cattoi said, the pope had previously said in public that if he felt he had to step down, he would do so.
He called the pope's resignation a "modern decision," with centuries of history seeing popes serve until death.
"This is going to cast a different light on his legacy," Cattoi said.
Cattoi said he thinks the aging pope saw the deterioration of his predecessor, Pope John Paul II -- who served for 27 years as pope before he died in 2005 at the age of 84 -- and does not want to become a frail leader.
Pope Benedict's successor has yet to be named, but Cattoi said the next 17 days will give the College of Cardinals ample time to discuss candidates to elect as the Bishop of Rome at the March papal conclave in Rome.
The church has said there will be a new pope before Easter on March 31, he said.
President Obama released a statement Monday in response to the news.
"The Church plays a critical role in the United States and the world, and I wish the best to those who will soon gather to choose His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI's successor," Obama said.
Cattoi listed the archbishop of Milan in Italy as a frontrunner for the post, while other viable candidates may be religious leaders from the Philippines, Argentina, Brazil or Canada.
Wesolek said there is some speculation that because the main growth of the church is in the developing world, the new religious leader could hail from Latin America, Asia, or Africa.
Hilken noted that in naming a new pope, "the biggest determining factor is the personal esteem this person holds."
Back in the Bay Area, there is a local connection to the conclave -- former San Francisco archbishop William Levada is one of the papal electors.
The Wax Museum at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco has a wax figure of Pope Benedict XVI that was made after he was named successor to Pope John Paul II in 2005.
After this Monday's announcement, the wax likeness was moved to the museum's lobby, museum spokesman David Perry said.Sasha Lekach, Bay City News — Bay City News Service Are you receiving Express, our free daily e-mail edition? See a sample and sign-up for Express.
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Posted by Tom, a resident of the Country Fair neighborhood, on Feb 12, 2013 at 10:03 am I am interested in knowing where the present Pope will reside
during the remainder of his years.Will be admit himself to a Cloistered Monastery or will be remain within the Vatican grounds ?
He of course will continue to remain a Cardinal in the ranks of the Catholic Church as he steps down from being the Holy Father.Since he is so ill will he consider being admitted into Religious Infirmary
and having proper medical care ??
I admire His holiness for his humility and being honest with himself and his fellow Cardinals by stepping down. He is and will continue to be a great man in many people's eyes. let us keep him in our hearts and prayers.
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Posted by Mary, a resident of the Danville neighborhood, on Feb 12, 2013 at 10:12 am The idea that he should expect compensation from the Church, either in cloistered monastery or on the Vatican grounds, strikes me as ludicrous. I don't give money to the Church to support a disgraced papal resident who claims to be God's voice on earth and then steps down with a cloud of suspicion over his head. Anybody ever hear of a 401K? For heaven's sake!
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Posted by Frank Lynn, a resident of the Valley Trails neighborhood, on Feb 12, 2013 at 10:12 am @ Tom - I heard on the news yesterday that he will remain on Vatican grounds in a special living quarters set up for him. From as cost-standpoint, this makes sense - I think there would be security issues if he went to live in a non-Vatican infirmary.
Plus, I don't think he's really ill ill, he's just not up for the demands of travel. I think it's great that he's setting a precedent that it's okay for the Pope to retire prior to his death.
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Posted by Godless, a resident of the Downtown neighborhood, on Feb 12, 2013 at 10:33 am Newsflash - The pope's personal butler, who has been sitting in a Vatican jailhouse for many months because of personal papers he stole from the Vatican, has released some of these documents to the press. These documents show that the pope himself has been accused of molesting children prior to his rise to the papacy. Prior to today's release, these documents had been concealed by the Roman Catholic Church.
There. Now you know why he's stepping down.
BTW - Do you know of any other local priests who have retired from the priesthood and/or active duties at an age earlier than most? Ever wonder why?
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Posted by Kathleen Ruegsegger, a resident of the Vintage Hills Elementary School neighborhood, on Feb 12, 2013 at 11:03 am
Kathleen Ruegsegger is a member (registered user) of PleasantonWeekly.com Mea Maxima Culpa - Silence in the House of God is currently playing on HBO. Ratzinger's role is included. An article about the filmmaker: Web Link
And the New York Times coverage: Web Link&
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Posted by Danville resident, a resident of the Danville neighborhood, on Feb 12, 2013 at 1:26 pm This is a message for Mary of Danville and Godless...it's a wonder you both don't get struck by lightening or have your tongues cut off.
I would not hesitate to accomodate the both of you. Sick people like you should be silenced.
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Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore, on Feb 12, 2013 at 2:36 pm il papa is not ill but he is frail. He will eventually live in a cloistered environment on Vatican property.
Kevin Annet says FOLLOW THE MONEY: Web Link
This is the best analysis that I've read to the unexpected resignation of il papa!
BUSTED!
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Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore, on Feb 12, 2013 at 2:38 pm This is where il papa will live once it is renovated: Web Link
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Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore, on Feb 12, 2013 at 2:45 pm To the best of my knowledge, il papa was not accused of sexually molesting children and the papers that were stolen had nothing to do with such an accusation.
The butler has been released from jail and the Vatican will help him find another job.
I must say that I'm ticklled that he is stepping down...tee hee...
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Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore, on Feb 12, 2013 at 3:12 pm Papal Butler released: Web Link
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Posted by Mary, a resident of the Danville neighborhood, on Feb 12, 2013 at 3:16 pm Thank you, Cholo. This breaking story may turn out to be even bigger than the Mary Hayashi shop lifting scandal.
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Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore, on Feb 12, 2013 at 3:17 pm Archbishop Georg Ganswein to assist il papa in his new digs:
Web Link
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Posted by Godless, a resident of the Downtown neighborhood, on Feb 12, 2013 at 6:20 pm (Post removed by Pleasanton Weekly Online staff because it contains personal information about an individual or business.)
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Posted by Godless, a resident of the Downtown neighborhood, on Feb 12, 2013 at 6:54 pm (Post removed by Pleasanton Weekly Online staff because it contains personal information about an individual or business.)
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Posted by Godless, a resident of the Downtown neighborhood, on Feb 12, 2013 at 9:53 pm WOW! The Pleasanton Weekly is removing posts where atheists express their points of view? Really?
What happened to open forums? Just because I don't believe in a god does that mean I don't have a voice on this website?
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Posted by Mary, a resident of the Danville neighborhood, on Feb 12, 2013 at 10:02 pm If you want to criticize the church because it has relied upon union labor, that's one thing; but criticizing the church as a private institution, no way. But what does it matter to you, because you're going to hell anyway?
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Posted by Godless, a resident of the Downtown neighborhood, on Feb 12, 2013 at 10:08 pm Here. I'll post something relevant to the news story at hand.
I hope that the papal seat remains vacant for the next 605 years (the same length of time that the Roman Catholic Inquisition lasted).
The Bay Area reacts...
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Posted by godlike, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Feb 13, 2013 at 2:14 pm godless, are all you irrelevant atheist minorities so hostile towards the rest of us, or did a person of faith step on your toes when you were little? Your belief in atheism is an act of faith just like the majority of people have faith in God. Even though you believe you were created magically out of a pile of goo somewhere in the universe, with no intervention from any higher being, you're faith is not much different from ours...except for the part where you're totally wrong.
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Posted by godliness, a resident of the California Reflections neighborhood, on Feb 13, 2013 at 3:45 pm Here is one reason I believe there is no god: children who suffer at the hands of adults. At a minimum, a god would make himself known to the family, let them know the child is in heaven. There is no merciful god who leaves a family to wonder where their child is, like Eileen Mishelhoff (and a tingly sense that all is taken care of doesn't counter the unnecessarily cruel death of the child). I can live with the inevitability of disease. I can live with not knowing where my dead relatives ended up. I can live with man's inhumanity to man. I cannot live with a god (and religions) who sees one child hurt and let's the perp live to hurt another child--particularly a man who is ordained as his representative. A god who allows just one person to repeat all the unspeakable offenses that happen to children does not deserve my belief, respect, or acknowledgment.
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Posted by Hilda, a resident of the Rosewood neighborhood, on Feb 13, 2013 at 6:25 pm Dear godliness,
God works in mysteries ways. Suffer the little children, but we are all children before God. He's testing us, and your failing. You'll never get into heavan with your bad attitude. Wise up.
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Posted by Scientist, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Feb 13, 2013 at 10:16 pm I rather liked the reasoning of godliness, and tend to agree. I'm rather 'fact based', and don't believe in fairy tales like santa and easter bunny.
ALL child molesters should be behind bars, including any coaches or priests....puzzling how some get a free pass for unlimited abuses.
I just hope the next guy can deal with the 'real' world of today and instead of promoting excessive breeding, stop the poverty caused by that excessive breeding, in the likes of Mexico and Haiti, then dumping those starving kids on US taxpayers. Condoms should be by every hymnal in the pews. Condoms prevent abortions....shouldn't intelligent people in the TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY want to prevent abortions? There should not be another pope from the dark ages. Empty words about caring for the earth are quite hypocritical when over-population is destroying the earth, starving siblings, and breaking welfare. Time to deal with the realty.
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Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore, on Feb 13, 2013 at 10:38 pm Web Link
Bishop Accountability is a database of Catholic priests & nuns who have sexually abused children and vulnerable adults. Thousands and thousands and thousands of Catholic clergy have been involved in destroying the lives American children and their families.
Other religions and their representatives have also committed sex crimes against children. Very few Americans are concerned about the rape of children by clergy. They may have feelings, but those feelings don't generally translate into actions that lead to the capture and imprisonment of the perpetrators. I have no explanation for why America's elected representative have remained largely silent re: child rape by clergy.
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Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore, on Feb 13, 2013 at 10:44 pm I don't believe that "G_D" is testing anybody. What's continuing to happen is adults who want to rape and murder children have a free pass.
It seems to me that most Americans believe children as sub-human with no rights. No American President has taken decisive action to protect the most vulnerable American citizens.
People can pray for children until the cows come home, your children art still at risk for rape daily.
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Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore, on Feb 13, 2013 at 10:48 pm Rabbis also rape children: Web Link
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Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore, on Feb 13, 2013 at 10:56 pm The Awareness Center: Web Link
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Posted by Scientist, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Feb 14, 2013 at 2:54 pm The links are interesting. There is a wide range of hypocrisies. The pope continuing to cause poverty and over-populating of earth beyond it's resourses, is cruel to mankind. Condoms PREVENT abortions... An intelligent, realistic pope is desperately needed in this twenty-first century. It's up to the people to demand it.... shame on the silence by the people on a number of issues, even silencing their own children. Shame. Intelligent people must speak up and out.
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Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore, on Feb 14, 2013 at 6:08 pm Child Abuse Fact Sheet for Parents:
Web Link
PROTECT AMERICAN CHILDREN.
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Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore, on Feb 14, 2013 at 7:46 pm Put up your money...the next pope will come from this bunch:
Web Link
I bet on the Cardinal Hummes of Brazil, top row, left.
All bets are ON!
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Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore, on Feb 15, 2013 at 4:11 pm Cardinal Turkson, leading contender for Pope and from Africa supports legislation to kill gay people:
Web Link
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Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore, on Feb 15, 2013 at 6:45 pm Does Cardinal Turkson support the genocide of sexual minorities in Africa?
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