Do every day ordinary Catholics have any say what-so-ever in who the Pope

[Toots]

is? Can they protest or do they just have to lump it? If Catholics have absolutely no say in the type of person chosen to represent the entire Church to the world and yet remain Catholic I will believe they really are in sad shape. I can foresee the fall of the Catholic Church within the next decade.....and you know what, I think it would be for the betterment of the world..

[Lone Pawn]

1. You can forsee the fall of a 2000-year-old institution?

You forsee the fall of the world's largest religion? You think it's something new and different that the laity does not choose the Pope? Wow. That's some impressive forseeing there. :eyes:

Technically, it is not even the Cardinals who choose the next Pope. Catholics believe God chooses Peter's next successor via the College of Cardinals. Why would any man doubt God?

[forgethell]

2. This is what I've always

thought about any church. Why try to change them? Let them stew in their own error. Find a church that you agree with. There's plenty of them out there.

If you can't find one, start your own.

[SnowGoose]

3. Of course they do.

The church breathes the same air as other big institutions: MONEY.

If American Catholics simply stopped putting money in the collection plate (or as one inventive DUer suggested, instead put a note in the plate explaining why they wouldn't be contributing a dime) until they had a pope who reflected their values, that would be that.

It's as simple as that. If one is putting money in the plate, it is not only giving approval for the church's behaviors, it is making those behaviors possible.