34 Comments

• warlocks | Apr 15, 2012, 12:21 AM EDT

  I Wouldn't buy a Automobile from Pope Rat zinger just look at his eyes. tell me you don't see Evil in them ! this Guy should Step Down . he's got his Head in the sand like the rest of his Past Cronies .The Church is in Moral decay & in Deep Trouble it needs new leaders or it will Die.the Corruption has to stop at the Top first

• IrelandNorth | Apr 11, 2012, 07:33 AM EDT

  redhand32! Your comments are in extremely poor taste. A bit like allan07's muted reference to giving the Virgin/Madonna 'One' rather than any figure out of 10. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm picking up on a certain Ulster Prod spiritual supremacist vibe here. Unless you and him are one and the same. It's one thing to disagree with one's belief system. Quite another to be contemptuous of it. There are more respectable forms of Protestantism than the virulent Roman Catholic hating brand of some Northern Ireland sects.

• Seanmor | Apr 10, 2012, 11:54 PM EDT

  The R.C. Church could alliviate is shortage of prients if would permit its ordained clergy to marry a spouse of the opposite gender, and ordain women, includinhg those who wish to find husbands. Such changes would be acceptable to me- a staunch tradidionalist. Christian unity is also very desirable to me. But I hope that the Roman Church will never allow the killing of the unborn or same-sex unions of any kind.

• eiriamach | Apr 10, 2012, 12:51 PM EDT

  SingleDonald, the point I made is that it is not believable that a "girl," even a middle-aged or older woman, would question a priest about his celibacy. I do not believe a woman who did such a thing would have gotten friendly and candid answers. Perhaps a female journalist could manage it in a legitimate interview, but most other women would be loath to try. And I do not believe that collie"girl" is female. If collie"girl" is indeed a young female, her parents should have cautioned her about using such a screen name anywhere on the Internet. If she is a woman, she makes herself look silly. Whatever you think about the appropriateness of calling women "girls," don't do it to me (fair warning).

• Gearoid4 | Apr 09, 2012, 05:50 PM EDT

  The churches of the reformation, such as the Lutherans and Anglicans have abolished clerical celibacy and ordained women to the priesthood. The fall-out within anglicanism, has been detrimental to the unity of that communion and has sowed confusion and division. The lutheran churches in the Scandinavian countries and other countries in Europe, have been experiencing drastic decreases in terms of adherents and influences over recent decades and this will not be reversed anytime soon. The pope is only being true to the deposit of Faith passed down to successive popes since the Apostolic age and he cannot change that.

• Gearoid4 | Apr 09, 2012, 05:49 PM EDT

  The churches of the reformations, such as the Lutherans and Anglicans have abolished clerical celibacy and ordained women to the priesthood. The fall-out within anglicanism, has been detrimental to the unity of that communion and has sowed confusion and division. The lutheran churches in the Scandinavian countries and other countries in Europe, has been experiencing drastic decreases in terms of adherents and influences over recent decades and this will not be reversed anytime soon. The pope is only being true to the deposit of Faith passed down to successive popes since the Apostolic age and he cannot change that.

• redhand32 | Apr 09, 2012, 10:06 AM EDT

  Pope Benedict: "Hey Ladies, I have Good News and Bad News." First, the Bad News (after all we're Catholic; we're all about "bad news," right ?). Women's Ordination is still off at least for the next several millennia. Now the Good News: 60% off for the highest-priced item for female customers only at the Vatican Museum bookstore for the next 30 days if you mention the words "Pope me" !

• SingleDonald | Apr 08, 2012, 09:30 PM EDT

  1) Thanks, maryemoore! I figured that was the case, concerning deacons whose wives passed away.2)eiriamach, I, and many others (men & women) use the term "girl" generically, along with "woman", "lady", "female", etc. The term denotes youthfulness & femininity, traits which most women find appealing. Putting "little" in front of "girl", denotes immaturity. I wish most people would get beyond "political correctness"! After all, men are OK with being called the "guys", or even the "boys"!

• Curitiba | Apr 08, 2012, 03:08 PM EDT

  Celibacy was introduced for financial reasons, not because of anything in the Scripture. It should be allowed....but the question would arise then about how the priest would support his family on his small stipend, and would presbeteries be suitable accomdation in which to house them. Women priests, sure, eventually, but that's more revolutionary and should be introduced over a period of about 50 years to allow people to get used to the idea. It could cause the same chaos as in the Church of England when women priests were suddenly introduced and a lot of clergy went over to Rome (ironically, many of them were married and brought their families with them).

• eiriamach | Apr 08, 2012, 02:29 PM EDT

  Collie"girl" writes, "The priests I know are happily celibate." Did collie"girl" ask them? How does someone with the word "girl" in his screen name put such a question to a priest-- "Ah, . . . ahem, Father . . . I was wondering how you feel about not having sex at all?" Really? And did the priests say "I'm quite happy not to have sex at all," or did they run in the opposite direction from collie"girl"?

• BrunoRamirez | Apr 08, 2012, 11:16 AM EDT

  At the risk of pissing some of you off nice & early on Easter Sunday I have to give my POV on this "Evil lkng Nazi bast*rd in a dress"..... WTF?!!?? He is the only man that with one statement can set back Womens Lib 100 years. Then he has the gall to speak about "Celibacy", really? Do I really need to remind him about the thousands if not hundreds of thousands (incl myself) of sexually abused children his "Celibate" priest have taken advantage of? Give me a break.

• dibble2008 | Apr 08, 2012, 09:22 AM EDT

  Women should be ordained and priests allowed to marry if the church even wants to begin to face reality.

• pilib04 | Apr 08, 2012, 07:49 AM EDT

  Colliegirl, with all due respect, what are you on about? Did you miss the article about the Pope silencing a priest for commenting on the need for woman priests and married priests?Do you attend mass on a regular basis? Do you see the massive shortage of priests? Do you see our priests ministering to numerous parishes/churches because we don't have enough priests to go around? Do you really think that your "ask any priest" comment is scientific research?

• pilib04 | Apr 08, 2012, 07:44 AM EDT

  I would feel a lot better about my Pope if he would speak out about child rapists in the ministry and in the hierarchy. Also if he would turn the protectors of these rapists over to the authorities for prosecution. But instead he speaks on something he knows nothing about, Artificial Birth Control, Women priests and married priests.

• Colliegirl | Apr 08, 2012, 02:22 AM EDT

  By the bay, this is the second thread you posted your figures on but I don't believe them. Maybe some US Catholics think married men would be good priests but ask any priest if he would have time for a wife. The priests I know are happily celibate. I wonder if the Catholics who do want married priests want to raise what they put in the collections to support the wives and children. And the only Catholic of my acquaintance (and I know LOTS of Catholics) who would like to see women ordained is a nun. I think most of the women who want to see women priests are those who want to BE women priests.

• el rubio | Apr 08, 2012, 12:09 AM EDT

  markday, the photo above was selected out of hundreds of others because the author or editor wishes to portray him in a particular way. As I stated, anyone can portray a public figure in a negative light. It is not art; it doesn't take skill, only selective editing to convey a point of view.

• maryemoore | Apr 07, 2012, 11:11 PM EDT

  And Single Donald- if you were married and became a deacon and your wife predeceased you, you then would not be allowed to remarry! What garbage. Joan1954, being married to an Episcopal priest is like being married to a doctor- they always are on call but you should realize that going into it. I have been home ill and could not participate in the Holy Week services. Did watch the Good Friday service from Rome. Not one woman was asked to participate, not even to do one of the readings. The amount of testosterone at St. Peter's practically exploded out of my television. Where were the women, I kept asking? In this day and age not to have any female representation was not only insulting but really stupid on their part. And then you wonder why many of us wonder why we should listen to anything they have to say when we women are invisible to them?

• markday | Apr 07, 2012, 10:46 PM EDT

  The photo makes him look devious, because he IS devious. Photography is art, and art immitates life. Actually, he looks like a Charles Adams cartoon figure. And it behooves him. Long live Charles Adams!

• eiriamach | Apr 07, 2012, 08:48 PM EDT

  cillowen writes, "join the religion of henry 8th and their problem is solved." LOL! Henry VIII was baptized and remained Catholic. Read your history. Henry VIII-style Catholicism without a Roman pope, yeah, that would solve many problems complained of by many hereabouts.

• SeanO | Apr 07, 2012, 07:28 PM EDT

  The Celtic Catholic Church we got from Saint Patrick was independant of Rome, it did not pay Peters Pence, It was Pope Gregory that gave Stewardship of Ireland to the King of England. Once we reform and become an independant Celtic Catholic Church, we can negotiate a treaty with the Roman Catholic Church. No More Rome Rule..

• irishpjk | Apr 07, 2012, 07:22 PM EDT

  Some of today’s women are very confused they want to be priests, more want to be husbands others think they are fathers. I am not going to tell you what I think they are because it might offend some of the ladies who read this and are happy to be just what God and nature intended them to be.

• Tilliewillow | Apr 07, 2012, 07:03 PM EDT

  Blah-blah, blah-blah, blah-blah.

• Gearoid4 | Apr 07, 2012, 05:37 PM EDT

  The pope has spoken in firm and unambiguous terms concerning Church teachings on priestly celibacy and the male-only priesthood. Discussions will go on in print, television and radio. He is only affirming what the Church has consistently taught, regarding the restriction of the priesthood to men over 2000 years. Although there were married priests in the Latin Church during the early years of Christianity, celibacy was viewed even then as the ideal condition for a priest to give his undivided attention to his priestly duties and flock.

• el rubio | Apr 07, 2012, 04:55 PM EDT

  To Cathy Hayes, or whoever is responsible for this article: How many photographs of Pope Benedict did you peruse before deciding to use the one accompanying this article? In all seriousness, do you set out with the idea of choosing the most unflattering and devious looking picture of the Pope before publishing it? Anyone can sort through hundreds of photos of public figures before finding one which portrays that a particular person negatively. Honestly, this is why journalists are perceived as having an agenda against certain groups (Catholics).

• SeamusMor | Apr 07, 2012, 02:20 PM EDT

  Pope Benedict XVI is the Vicar of Christ. The Pontiff speaks for God on Earth through words inspired and informed by His Holiness's communion with the Holy Spirit. The Roman Catholic Church is not a democracy, it is a theocratic monarchy, with an absolute ruler. Divine inspiration, not polls of public opinion, guide Papal decisions. There is an able pilot and excellent navigator in the cabin; the passengers should not try to fly the plane.

• 89west | Apr 07, 2012, 01:57 PM EDT

  The historic basis for a celibate clergy was all about the inheritance of earthly goods and nothing at all to do with Church dogma.

• Nicomax | Apr 07, 2012, 01:35 PM EDT

  The Pope has decided to strategically move the church in a different direction. Instead of seeking to expand membership particularly in Western nations with a more open approach, he will go for the 'small ball' approach of sticking with the supremely loyal members who reside mostly near or below the Equator and support the most restrictive dogma and rules. A mistake I believe, they will eventually bleed the church financially.

• JimmieM | Apr 07, 2012, 12:56 PM EDT

  What part of celibacy do they not understand?...shouldn't it be well defined before taking an oath before God...Almighty?...Whatever.....

• EditorCT | Apr 07, 2012, 12:13 PM EDT

  "He said he was not surprised by the Pope’s comments: 'But I don’t think they were very harsh,” he said. “There was no threat or sanction implied in his words.'" And therein lies the problem. Until we get a pope who ACTS like a pope, we'll continue to have these idiots grabbing the headlines.

• SingleDonald | Apr 07, 2012, 12:06 PM EDT

  On the note of celibacy, I just found out something, about deacons. I could become a deacon, but would not be allowed to get married, even though most deacons are married men! The priest I spoke to said that if I then resigned as a deacon, I WOULD be allowed to get married, in the Catholic Church. What convoluted thinking still prevails in the Church, regarding marriage!! Oh well, it could have been worse. I should be thankful that an unmarried man would not be barred from a Catholic marriage, after leaving the deaconhood.

• JimmieM | Apr 07, 2012, 11:40 AM EDT

  What part of celibacy do they not understand?...shouldn't it be well defined before taking an oath before God?...

• CelticQueenUSA | Apr 07, 2012, 11:29 AM EDT

  My minister in the Episcopal church is a former Catholic who went to Episcopalianism because she knew Rome would never saction her as a priest. She is a wonderful example of a dedicated woman of God. She works tirelessly to keep our church going in the right direction and has so much to offer anyone who needs her. She has a very supportive husband who is also dedicated to God. I am blessed to know these two fine Godly People. Ther gender is of no importance, their message and lifestyle is exemple to follow. I do not admire a lonely life, unloved by the people around you and put in a position of a priest. Christ loved. He went out to the marginalized, sinners, rejects of humanity and taught love with NO conditions. Vatical, Ratzinger, upper echelon clergy are all politians as far as I can see. Very little Christ to be found in many of them.

• joan1954 | Apr 07, 2012, 11:01 AM EDT

  I would not want a priest's 24/7 lifestyle. I remember a good friend of mine, now decesed, who was the wife of an Episcopal clergyman telling me that that it took a special type of woman to be married to a priest. She had to remember that his first duty was to the church and then to the family. How many women would put up with that? She admired the RC clergy because they didn't have those concerns.

• bbj3212 | Apr 07, 2012, 10:09 AM EDT

  I hate this hypochrisy, the church is happy to ordain married, former Anglican clergymen as Catholic priests but continues to deny the possibility of marriage to ordained Catholic priests! What is possibly wrong in ordaining women as priests? I would be happy to see it happen.