A historic day

For the first time in many centuries, the Pope has resigned from his post and gone into retirement. Pope Benedict XVI is now "Pope Emeritus", in retirement temporarily at Castel Gandolfo, the summer papal residence, until the place where he plans to permanently retire, the Mater Ecclesiae at the Vatican, is finished being remodeled for him in a few months time. Until the next Pope is elected, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Papal Camerlengo, or Chamberlain, will be in charge of the Catholic Church. Watching the whole thing this morning on TV (I have the day off because I have to work this weekend), I noticed that the Pope seemed rather feeble and walked very slowly with a cane at times, so I expect that he feels that his ability to do the demanding job of Pope is just something that he no longer has the strength to do at his age (85). I was raised Catholic and am no longer a member of that faith, having converted 20 years ago to Unitarian Universalist, and I don't quite understand why the Catholic Church remains beholden to what seems almost like a Mediaeval monarchic structure. The Pope is, in a sense, a King, the Cardinals are considered to be the Princes of the Church and Bishops preside over Diocese, which are almost like Dukedoms. I don't think that Jesus ever foresaw this kind of structure for a church, nor do I feel that he was trying to found a new church, but rather, envisioned reformation of Judaism, which I think he felt had grown corrupt.

The Catholic Church is still mired in an almost Mediaeval patriarchal mentality and I think that it's high time for it to modernize and come into the 21st century. I don't foresee that ever happening because of the conservative faction that seems to rule things, and I wonder how they expect to be able to attract younger members to their church when they shun the involvement of women and make rules that prevent women from being able to make decisions about their own bodies. It will be most interesting to see how things pan out with the Conclave and the election of a new Pope. Frankly, I think that they could do well to continue not electing an Italian, but to perhaps elect an African or Latin American as a nod to growing Catholicism in those parts of the world. It's going to be interesting to have a "Pope Emeritus" and a "Pope" both at the same time. Should make for an interesting few years for the Catholic Church as it adapts to the notion that perhaps the Papacy does not have to be a lifelong job, but something from which you could potentially resign if you feel that your physical and mental capacity are no longer up to the demands of doing the job. I'm just grateful to be a member of a church that is dedicated to the democratic process. We, the congregants, elect our own minister, board and national church leadership. We have complete congregational polity, a legacy of our Puritan forebears and something for which I am extremely thankful. Every member has a say in all matters of church governance. I still have great respect for Catholic social teaching with regard to caring for the least of us and opposing war and advocating for peace and so on, but I don't see the relevance in maintaining a Mediaeval monarchic system of governance, forbidding women from becoming clergy as well as the church view on birth control in the 21st century when we know that we live on a planet of limited resources that we must work to conserve. There is no longer a place for families of 15 kids when we know that natural resources like water, natural gas, oil, etc. are finite in supply. We can't afford to have huge families like that anymore. It's high time that the Vatican drags itself into the modern era and gets with the current attitudes toward things like birth control and abortion. It's a well known fact that 98% of American Catholic women already admit to using birth control in open defiance of the Church, so they need to realize that they're out of step with the modern American woman if they hope to keep the church healthy, functioning and growing into our new century. Let's hope that they elect a Pope who realizes what needs to be done to update the Church and bring it kicking and screaming into the modern era. Stay tuned, it's going to get very interesting in the coming weeks. Who they elect will send a huge signal to the faithful which direction the Church intends to go.