VATICAN CITY The Vatican lashed out Saturday at the media for what it said has been a run of defamatory and false reports before the conclave to elect Pope Benedict XVI's successor, saying they were an attempt to influence the election.
Italian newspapers have been rife with unsourced reports in recent days about the contents of a secret dossier prepared for the pope by three cardinals who investigated the origins of the 2012 scandal over leaked Vatican documents.
The reports have suggested the revelations in the dossier, given to Benedict in December, were a factor in his decision to resign. The pope himself has said merely that he doesn't have the "strength of mind and body" to carry on.
CBS News correspondent Allen Pizzey reports from Rome that lurid reports in the Italian press have spoken of a gay lobby of homosexual priests whose activities have not only gone against church teaching but have left them, and by extension the Vatican, open to blackmail.
The three cardinals who investigated the leaked documents are expected to meet with Benedict Monday, a sign of just how seriously he takes the issue, Pizzey reports. What's not clear is whether the dossier will be given to the rest of the cardinals before they enter the conclave or left in a safe for the next pope's consideration.
On Saturday, the Vatican secretariat of state said the Catholic Church has for centuries insisted on the independence of its cardinals to elect their pope. Now, it said, the "pressures of public opinion" is in play in a bid to influence their vote.
"It is deplorable that as we draw closer to the time of the beginning of the conclave ... that there be a widespread distribution of often unverified, unverifiable or completely false news stories that cause serious damage to persons and institutions."
It was issued as Benedict met for the last time with the Vatican bureaucracy before stepping down Feb. 28. The occasion was the final session of the Vatican's Lenten spiritual retreat, a weeklong series of meditations composed by Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, himself a papal contender.
In one of his final meditations Friday, Ravasi denounced the "divisions, dissent, careerism, jealousies" that afflict the Vatican bureaucracy — divisions that were exposed by the leaks of documents taken from the pope's study. The documents revealed the petty wrangling, corruption and cronyism and even allegations of a gay plot at the highest levels of the Catholic Church.
The three cardinals who investigated the theft of the documents had wide-ranging powers to interview even cardinals to get to the bottom of the dynamics within the Curia — the Vatican bureaucracy — that resulted in the gravest Vatican security breach in modern times.
Benedict has referred obliquely to the Vatican's dysfunction in recent days, deploring how the church is often "defiled" by attacks and divisions and urging its members to overcome "pride and egoism."
Unlike the de fide doctrine of the all-male priesthood which can never and will never change, clerical celibacy is a discipline of the Church and could therefore possibly be changed at some point in the future.
However I would correct the Cardinal when he says that celibacy is "not of divine origin" and "the celibacy of the clergy, whether priests should marry - Jesus didn't say that."
First he has no earthly idea what Jesus said to his apostles that was not recorded in the New Testament documents. That is where Sacred Tradition and the Sacred Magisterium enter the discussion.
If he speaks this way he is thinking more like a Protestant fundamentalist who accepts only what Scripture says and rejects Tradition and the Magisterium of the Church.
Priestly celibacy has deep and ancient roots in the Church as can be understood when we look at the life long celibate lives of John the Baptist, Jesus Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Paul the apostle, St. John the apostle and many more.
Celibacy is also practiced, albeit in a slightly different manner, in the Eastern Catholic Church and in the various Eastern Orthodox churches.
I would recommend that he read Stefan Heid's excellent and well researched book on the subject, "Celibacy in the Early Church."
Fr. Kenneth Baker said about the book, "(Heid's) arguments for a celibate clergy are convincing and irrefutable."
Forbidding priests to marry is no where taught in the Bible, and is a doctrine of demons which has brought unneeded tempation, sin, and reproach within the catholic church...........
........1 Timothy 4:1-3.........
4 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.........
Of course man-boy gaysex slavers set it all up by sending in prostitutes beaten with wire hangers since they were pulled off the streets by gay pimps. Such'boys' are kept in houses and beaten half to death if they do not do exactly what they are told on cue. Sometimes they are beaten completely to death. The US is the heaven of child rapists, just rocking the cradle of love all night and day in stables full of little boys and/or girls who have numbers instead of names. The US Government, so up above all moral judgements as it is, would never shut such a ring down, lest it have to admit how they are universally tolerated in the US and anywhere the US and its troops, and its allies go. In fact, the US goes into countries to GET more sex slaves to sell, and to use anyway its gay and straight pimps desire. Just in case anyone thinks that the gay and straight pimps who hang around outside Catholic youth shelters
are GOOD, and looking to liberate(sexually) the teenagers within,
the only sandwiches offered by such pimps are connected to knuckle sandwiches if they dont bring in enough money once the children are turned out on the streetcorner. You give sexual psychopaths, gay or otherwise, too much credit for good intentions. The day you go into gay brothels and bring out boys to tell their stories, give them protection from the pimps, send them home to their families, as Catholic shelters do,THEN tell us something about the Catholic Church. You want to look like VICTIMS, but YOUR victims are the boys you have shot dead in your gay sex rings, and the boys you have deliberately fathered with women you have lied to, and then chased away so that you can HAVE their male children. Bribed judges secretly blackmailed by gay rings handing children to gay men, forcing women to run with their children for their lives. YOU want to point the finger of blame, but what about YOUR secrets?
good intentions,
To iam4honesty - If you read my comment again you will notice that never once did I write or even suggest that "you (Catholics)and your fellows hate The United States." I said very simply that this country has been anti-Catholic from the beginning, not that Catholics were ever anti-American in return. In fact while the United States is proud of its long tolerance of religious beliefs, there was in fact no tolerance or freedom of religion until English Catholics founded the colony of Maryland. Before that, Catholics were not allowed vote or to purchase, own land or inherit land. As one historian wrote, the state of the Protestant denominations in the early colonies was one of "bitter, deeply-entrenched anti-Catholicism." Apparently you do not know the history of the colonies very well, but now you've just learned something.
It's hard to say what your point is because the English language seems to have escaped you. If you want to know what I actually said please read my comments again. I was very clear and specific in what I wrote. You however seem to have an agenda that has nothing to do with American history. Could this be because you do not know American history? Ah, that must be it.
The media is told what to report in order the NWO is protected so their long term plan does not get interrupted. We all know through the Divine Messages being received that Pope Benedict was ousted. Within the corridors of the Vatican are indeed Gods TRUE Shepherds but what is being hidden from the public is that the Masonic Order (free masons) infiltrated the Church and they began devising a plan on March 17, 2011 to oust Pope Benedict. Sorry CBS but just because you are a reputable news agency you cannot deceive those of us who know what is really going on within the Vatican Walls. Pope Benedict is the Last True Pope. The keys of the Church are in the hands of Jesus now. The next Pope although elected will Not be of God. At first he will seem like the best thing to ever happen to the Church. Many will be fooled including God's chosen and elect. But over a period of time you will see that this Pope will begin making changes that are completely against the teachings of Christ. Such as gay marriage, contraception, abortion and then the worst of all the abomination of the Daily Sacrifice, which will be when the next Pope, who is actually the prophecised false prophet will deem that the Eucharist is only a symbol and not the body and blood of Christ consecrated. Of course you do not know me and you do not have to believe me, its your free will. Just keep a close eye on the Church as these changes begin to materialize. This person that will be elected is a free mason and works very close with the secret group behind the scenes churning the wheels for decades to bring in this insane New Word Order which is NOT of God but of satan. Sound crazy to you? Just keep your eyes open and pay close attention. God Bless +
Of course the Eucharist is a symbol of Christ's Body and Blood. Christ Himself made it thet Symbol at the Last Supper. Anyone who believes that it is the actual Tissue, Bone, Blood, and Bodily Substance of Christ's Body and Blood can't tell the difference between fact and fantasy. There is no way that Christ would deliberately attempt to mean anything other than the Eucharist as the Symbol of his Life and Death for us.
To SERVORUM - As always, well done. It's always a great pleasure to read your comments amidst the vile crowd that gluts this comment section with such ignorant hatred of Christ and his church. I can't help but think of what St. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians, "Three things will last forever-faith, hope, and love--and the greatest of these is love." The Catholic church has such an incredible record of expressing Christian love that all else pales beside it. For 2,000 years the church has preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world, and even in the face of the greatest persecutions we have never failed. Our missionaries have gone to all parts of the world and accepted every sort of suffering for the sake of Christ. We have preached, taught, blessed, fed and cared for more people than any other institution on earth, all for the sake of Jesus Christ. As the historians say, the Catholic church is by far the greatest charitable institution the world has ever seen, establishing more hospitals than anyone else; for instance, 50% of the medical workers caring for AIDS sufferers in Africa are sponsored and paid for by the Catholic church. We created orphanages to care for those without parents and continue to teach more children than any other organization in the world. Ethiopia is only 1% Catholic but we have established 350 schools there to educate the poor. Catholic scientists invented the scientific method and the church created and established the university system. The Holy Bible only exists because it was written by Catholic saints, canonized by the Catholic church and defended by the church from those who only wished to destroy it. Demographers now tell us that 75 million Christians, most of them Catholics, have been martyred since the time of Jesus Christ, 45 million during the 20th century alone, and approximately 100,000 Christians are now martyred every year. The angry words of these people who know nothing about the church are a terrible sign of what is coming very soon for us, because hateful murderous thoughts have now become hateful murderous words, and these words will most certainly lead to hateful and murderous actions against us. The United States has been anti-Catholic since the Puritans first landed on these shores and so the kind of fundamentalistic atheist hatred we see on this site has quite a history in the U.S. But again, St. Paul told us that love never fails. We will continue to love and pray even as these unfortunate people - I believe you rightly called them "ignorant" - hate us without a cause and hate Jesus Christ and hate his beloved Catholic church. After all, how can they love when they have rejected God who is the source of all love? "God-haters" indeed because that is what they are. They will not be happy until the blood of every one of the 1.2 billion Catholics in the world flows like water. So be it. In the end we will win because Jesus Christ is with us always and his love for us will never fail. God bless you for your witness. May the Lord reward you in Heaven.
Rajah88, that is what the Vatican and The City of London want you to think. Their faith and practice is not Christianity any more than poison added to a host's meal is the best part of the feast. Ethics common to all faiths and nonfaiths exist in mutually recognized form. These things we share as exchange students and happy travellers. The pope and the cardinals who chose him do not know God. The devil does not share his toys, and if God exists, these swine will feel as sick throughout eternity as much as the disease they inflict. I agree. Ban the cult, liquidate the stored antiquities and send the money to the victims world wide who may personally kick their victimizers' ***** if they so wish. Neutralizing or vanquishing(or beheading) an attacker is to be delivered from the nightmare.
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However I would correct the Cardinal when he says that celibacy is "not of divine origin" and "the celibacy of the clergy, whether priests should marry - Jesus didn't say that."
First he has no earthly idea what Jesus said to his apostles that was not recorded in the New Testament documents. That is where Sacred Tradition and the Sacred Magisterium enter the discussion.
If he speaks this way he is thinking more like a Protestant fundamentalist who accepts only what Scripture says and rejects Tradition and the Magisterium of the Church.
Priestly celibacy has deep and ancient roots in the Church as can be understood when we look at the life long celibate lives of John the Baptist, Jesus Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Paul the apostle, St. John the apostle and many more.
Celibacy is also practiced, albeit in a slightly different manner, in the Eastern Catholic Church and in the various Eastern Orthodox churches.
I would recommend that he read Stefan Heid's excellent and well researched book on the subject, "Celibacy in the Early Church."
Fr. Kenneth Baker said about the book, "(Heid's) arguments for a celibate clergy are convincing and irrefutable."
-SERVORUM
........1 Timothy 4:1-3.........
4 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.........
And WHO goes after little boys if they are not allowed women anyway...
are GOOD, and looking to liberate(sexually) the teenagers within,
the only sandwiches offered by such pimps are connected to knuckle sandwiches if they dont bring in enough money once the children are turned out on the streetcorner. You give sexual psychopaths, gay or otherwise, too much credit for good intentions. The day you go into gay brothels and bring out boys to tell their stories, give them protection from the pimps, send them home to their families, as Catholic shelters do,THEN tell us something about the Catholic Church. You want to look like VICTIMS, but YOUR victims are the boys you have shot dead in your gay sex rings, and the boys you have deliberately fathered with women you have lied to, and then chased away so that you can HAVE their male children. Bribed judges secretly blackmailed by gay rings handing children to gay men, forcing women to run with their children for their lives. YOU want to point the finger of blame, but what about YOUR secrets?
good intentions,
As one historian wrote, the state of the Protestant denominations in the early colonies was one of "bitter, deeply-entrenched anti-Catholicism." Apparently you do not know the history of the colonies very well, but now you've just learned something.
Our missionaries have gone to all parts of the world and accepted every sort of suffering for the sake of Christ. We have preached, taught, blessed, fed and cared for more people than any other institution on earth, all for the sake of Jesus Christ. As the historians say, the Catholic church is by far the greatest charitable institution the world has ever seen, establishing more hospitals than anyone else; for instance, 50% of the medical workers caring for AIDS sufferers in Africa are sponsored and paid for by the Catholic church. We created orphanages to care for those without parents and continue to teach more children than any other organization in the world. Ethiopia is only 1% Catholic but we have established 350 schools there to educate the poor.
Catholic scientists invented the scientific method and the church created and established the university system.
The Holy Bible only exists because it was written by Catholic saints, canonized by the Catholic church and defended by the church from those who only wished to destroy it.
Demographers now tell us that 75 million Christians, most of them Catholics, have been martyred since the time of Jesus Christ, 45 million during the 20th century alone, and approximately 100,000 Christians are now martyred every year. The angry words of these people who know nothing about the church are a terrible sign of what is coming very soon for us, because hateful murderous thoughts have now become hateful murderous words, and these words will most certainly lead to hateful and murderous actions against us. The United States has been anti-Catholic since the Puritans first landed on these shores and so the kind of fundamentalistic atheist hatred we see on this site has quite a history in the U.S.
But again, St. Paul told us that love never fails. We will continue to love and pray even as these unfortunate people - I believe you rightly called them "ignorant" - hate us without a cause and hate Jesus Christ and hate his beloved Catholic church. After all, how can they love when they have rejected God who is the source of all love? "God-haters" indeed because that is what they are. They will not be happy until the blood of every one of the 1.2 billion Catholics in the world flows like water.
So be it. In the end we will win because Jesus Christ is with us always and his love for us will never fail. God bless you for your witness. May the Lord reward you in Heaven.
"The abolition of religion as the illusory happiness of the people is required for their real happiness"
- Karl Marx
He had some things right.
The pope and the cardinals who chose him do not know God. The devil does not share his toys, and if God exists, these swine will feel as sick throughout eternity as much as the disease they inflict. I agree. Ban the cult, liquidate the stored antiquities and send the money to the victims world wide who may personally kick their victimizers' ***** if they so wish. Neutralizing or vanquishing(or beheading) an attacker is to be delivered from the nightmare.