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In reply to the discussion: Pope resignation timing explanation: Thank you, Rhode Island judge. Papal papers unsealed friday. [View all]Hekate
(90,673 posts)This is the kind of factual news account post that I want to be able to read here, with links. This will help secular law move forward against the RC church, and I want to see it done.
I've read all the abuse stories I can handle, and I don't doubt them (being a family abuse survivor myself), but when they devolve (as they nearly always do) to smearing the character of every one of the faithful remaining in the pews, I have to leave the room.
I really want to see the boil of corruption lanced, and as they say, sunlight is the best disinfectant.
As for RC church membership -- it has been declining in the US and Europe, so with this news expect that to continue and/or accelerate -- but is growing apace in Africa and Asia. More than 2/3 of Roman Catholics live in the developing world.
http://www.prb.org/Articles/2005/TheChangingDemographicsofRomanCatholics.aspx
As converts generally go, expect Third World Catholics to be conservative, especially the cardinals chosen by the abdicating pope.
I believe it is up to Europe and the US to invoke our own secular legal system to clean up inside our own nations, to do what we can within our own borders. And if that means prison sentences for a bunch of priests, bishops, and cardinals, get on with it.