"Pope's hope to revive Europe's Christian heritage imperiled"

[hedgehog]

PARIS -- Days after being elected pope in 2005, Pope Benedict XVI referred to one of Europe's patron saints, Benedict of Norcia, as he explained his choice of papal name to thousands of pilgrims massed in St. Peter's Square.

“He represents a fundamental point of reference for the unity of Europe and a strong reminder of the unrenounceable Christian roots of its culture and civilization,” the new pontiff said on a sunny April morning in 2005.

Now, five years later, Benedict is reeling from reports of sex abuse scandals mushrooming across Europe that risk undermining a central mission of his papacy: promoting and reviving Europe's Christian heritage.

Worse, some analysts say, the scandals may accelerate the drift away from the Roman Catholic Church that has been underway here for decades.

http://ncronline.org/news/popes-hope-revive-europes-christian-heritage-imperiled


Gee, ya think?

[closeupready]

1. Can someone explain why a child molester acting alone is punished by secular authorities, but

a priest who molests children is not?

[ZeitgeistObserver]

2. Some good news to come out of it, anyway.

Cloud, silver lining, etc.

[SpiralHawk]

3. "Pope should try faux lesbian diaper bondage, or something." - Family Values Republicons

"It'll shift attention from the buggery-coveruppery thingy. We have found that it did, um, wonders for our peculiar brand of, um, morality."

- Family Values Republicons

[DavidDvorkin]

4. What about Europe's polytheistic roots?

Those endured for longer and resulted in the creation of European civilization before the Church existed.

[Toasterlad]

5. Well, We Can Only Fucking Hope.