Suppose that the Pope quits and becomes a police officer in Germany.

[Boojatta]

Would that be immoral on the grounds that somebody else might need the police officer job, or okay on the grounds that somebody else would be getting the Pope job? Does it depend on who replaces the current Pope?

[Ian David]

1. ...

[Cirque du So-What]

9. Jon Voight Day!

I make a motion that we have no more of these meetings that have been initiated by George Costanza.

[Drunken Irishman]

12. The jerk store called...

[Cirque du So-What]

13. Oh, yeah?

Well, I've been sleeping with your wife!:hide:

[tblue]

10. Bwaaaaaaah! You got me roflmao!

[polichick]

2. LOL - who knows, but I guarandamntee people would be hustling to get his old job. nt

[virgogal]

3. Strange post.

[saltpoint]

17. I like how the post shifts power around among figures who traditionally

wield it.

[paulsby]

4. ouch

my brain hurts!

[rucky]

5. This needs to be made into a screenplay.

Pontiff in Blue?

Holy Justice?

[Sal Minella]

14. ? Ritzy Ratzo Romperstomper ? n/t

[Cirque du So-What]

6. No, not immoral...

but considering that police officers are inherently infallible already, replacing one with an infallible religious figurehead is somewhat redundant.

[alittlelark]

7. I want some of what you're smokin' !

:smoke:

[Orrex]

8. Well, there's no pleasing some papal.

Or is that a cop out?

[ZombieHorde]

11. Win! nt

[LuvNewcastle]

15. He should just retire.

That way, two jobs would be open. It's time for Benedict to collect his retirement and run around to the early bird specials.

[saltpoint]

16. If there's a vigorous physical German policefolk have to pass to be

policefolk, the 80-some year-old Pontiff might not be able to make the grade.

No specific moral conflict for any man or woman to apply for a cop's job, near as I can tell. I'm guessing folks have to meet department demands and criteria.

Certainly I'd rather have Benedict as a cop than Bernie Kerik.

Not to put too fine a point on it, this Pope, in his 80s already, may not live all that much longer, and we'll see the drama of the white smoke play out again fairly soon. How about someone from Cuba or Nicaragua this time?

Also someone who thinks it would be consistent with New Testament context to sanction women as priests. I think it would do the Roman Catholic Church a world of good, literally. If Mary Magdalen enjoyed the status she enjoyed per the NT, it seems to me the criterion of apostolic succession is satisfied.

Your last question is a great one, IMO. Many things do depend on which of the Cardinals replaces him but the answer to your first question isn't one of them. But again, that last question is rich and layered and deserves its own thread.