Pope Benedict XVI To Step Down –The Firebrand of the Holy See

Benedict meets with Fidel Castro, March of 2012 - Reuters

Reuters: The following is the text of the resignation of Pope Benedict

"Dear Brothers,

I have convoked you to this Consistory, not only for the three canonizations, but also to communicate to you a decision of great importance for the life of the Church. After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry. I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only with words and deeds, but no less with prayer and suffering. However, in today's world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to govern the bark of Saint Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me. For this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter, entrusted to me by the Cardinals on 19 April 2005, in such a way, that as from 28 February 2013, at 20:00 hours, the See of Rome, the See of Saint Peter, will be vacant and a Conclave to elect the new Supreme Pontiff will have to be convoked by those whose competence it is.

"Dear Brothers, I thank you most sincerely for all the love and work with which you have supported me in my ministry and I ask pardon for all my defects. And now, let us entrust the Holy Church to the care of Our Supreme Pastor, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and implore his holy Mother Mary, so that she may assist the Cardinal Fathers with her maternal solicitude, in electing a new Supreme Pontiff. With regard to myself, I wish to also devotedly serve the Holy Church of God in the future through a life dedicated to prayer."

The announcement is dubbed a “shock” by the BBC, as it was “entirely unexpected” Generally, it is rare that a Pope resign, according to CBBC Newsround, the last Pope to resign was in the 1400’s, was Gregory XII, on July 4, 1415; prior to that Celestine V, abdicated in 1294. (popes and papacy).

Pope Benedict cites his age, and the global nature of the papacy in today’s world, as reasoning for his resignation. Benedict was relentless in his anti-abortion – pro-life message (Catholic News Service). In a meeting with then, Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi a Pro-Choice, Pro-Abortion, Democrat, the pope instructed Ms. Pelosi on the duty to protect all human life (politicalvelcraft.org), a rarity for a Pope in recent years to speak out privately or publicly to leaders of the U.S. on the subject.

Most recently, the Pope had traveled to the Island of Cuba (and other nations), calling for an end to the U.S. embargo on that island as well as promoting Democracy in the dictator-state.

He was outspoken, modern, (his twitter account), and steadfast in his ministry. It remains to be seen if the next Pope chosen by the College of Cardinal will be another leader in the vein of Benedict. One might think, however that Benedict would have some input into the choice.

Rome labels Democrats – Party of Death – Catholic Perspective and Opinion

The Catholic Church recently weighed in on abortion proponents in the United States. The Vatican’s high court is now controlled by American, Archbishop Raymond Burke, who is expected to be more involved when it comes to U.S. policies. Burke, the prefect of the Vatican’s Supreme Court of the Apostolic Signature, in an interview with Avvenire (Italian Catholic newspaper), noted that
“the U.S. Democratic Party risked “transforming itself definitively into a party of death for its decisions on bioethical issues.” He then attacked two of the party’s most high profile Catholics — vice presidential candidate Joe Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — for misrepresenting Church teaching on abortion.” Why the disparity between the two major U.S. political parties? “Burke said pro-life Democrats were “rare” and that it saddened him that the party that helped “our immigrant parents and grandparents” prosper in America had changed so much over the years”
This is not the first time that the Vatican has weighed in on US policies. In 2004, John Kerry was denied communion due to his support for abortion. Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi are now receiving the same attention (Article regarding Vatican policy on politicians’ who proclaim to be Catholic yet, support abortion.)

The message should be abundantly clear to every Catholic in the United States: One is either a practicing Catholic, or one is a politician and or constituent that supports abortion. If one chooses politics over their own religion, then they forfeit rights under that religion. Christianity does not offer options where abortion is concerned. One finds that the politicians who support abortion - show up in Church (with press in tow) to prove their Catholicism and garner votes - hypocrites - they accept financial support from abortion rights groups, and use their Catholic Identity to procure votes from within the Church.

Pope Benedict outlined divorce and abortion this April “The Church's ethical opinion with regard to divorce and procured abortion is unambivalent and known to all: these are grave sins which, to a different extent and taking into account the evaluation of subjective responsibility, harm the dignity of the human person, involve a profound injustice in human and social relations and offend God himself, Guarantor of the conjugal covenant and the Author of life. Yet the Church, after the example of her Divine Teacher, always has the people themselves before her, especially the weakest and most innocent who are victims of injustice and sin, and also those other men and women who, having perpetrated these acts, stained by sin and wounded within, are seeking peace and the chance to begin anew.” The Pope speaks to the root of Christianity – protect the innocent and allow forgiveness to those who are suffering as a result of being the sinner.

The Vatican, in singling out a single political party, may be overstepping its bounds; the rules of the church, which are to be followed by parishioners, should have indicted politicians who support abortion - regardless of party. As a pro-life, practicing Evangelical Catholic, faith comes before politics; therefore, political choices reflect faith which is a personal choice. One can only resent politicians who use faith to gain votes, while not practicing that faith. When a Kerry or a Biden cammpaign in Church (coverage by the press) - it is a blatant violation of church and state and they have no business crying foul should the heads of the church hand down criticims.