Drudge Retort: The Other Side of the News
Thursday, February 21, 2013

UPDATE: It turns out we were right about the Pope remaining in the Vatican to retain immunity. To read the update, click HERE.


We knew something had to be up with the resignation of Pope Benedict. After all, Popes don't just resign; in fact, this is the first time a Pope has resigned in 600 years. Therefore, the hoopla surrounding this is more than understandable. However, as per usual with the Catholic Church, there seems to be a catch, and, lo and behold, it likely surrounds the infamous abuse scandals that have plagued the church's image for so long.

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BruceBanner

 

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It seems that with his resignation announced, the Pope, whose given name is Joseph Ratzinger, has a meeting with the Italian President, Giorgio Napolitano on February 23 to beg for immunity against prosecution for allegations of child sex crimes. Apparently, this hastily arranged meeting, and likely the resignation as well, are the result of a supposed note received by the Vatican from an undisclosed European government that stated that there are plans to issue a warrant for the Pope's arrest. This letter was allegedly received on February 4, and Ratzinger resigned a week later. Now, there's no way people can ignore how fishy this is. The first Pope to resign in 600 years does so after panicking about an impending arrest and in the midst of a hastily arranged meeting begging for protection from the Italian government? How they will keep people from connecting the two is beyond me. Chances are, the world will be popping popcorn and steadily watching.

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I report, you decide.

#1 | Posted by BruceBanner at 2013-02-21 01:28 AM | Reply | Flag:

Interesting to see the Pope fall back on "Prisoner of the Vatican" status. I did not see this one coming. I'm a little surprised the rest of the Church isn't pushing Ratzinger to take one for the team. Or maybe they realize the prosecutors have more than one fish to fry.

#2 | Posted by snoofy at 2013-02-21 02:49 AM | Reply | Flag:

It makes me sick , you have the longest running "business" protecting their own. So much for morals and following what you preach.

#3 | Posted by zack991 at 2013-02-21 06:17 AM | Reply | Flag:

The pope has no need for a "meeting with the Italian President, Giorgio Napolitano on February 23 to beg for immunity against prosecution for allegations of child sex crimes."

By continuing to live in the Vatican and keep its protective citizenship mantle, Ratziner benefits from the 1929 Lateran Pacts and cannot be touched by any Italian prosecutor.

#4 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2013-02-21 06:57 AM | Reply | Flag:

While no fan of Pope Benedict, the International Tribunal into Crimes of Church and State cited in the article, does sound like a group with an official sounding name and dubious, if any, authority.

#5 | Posted by SLBronkowitz at 2013-02-21 07:06 AM | Reply | Flag:

I think the church should finally allow priests to marry and thereby signal to the old guard of pedophiles that their days of power of over for good.

#6 | Posted by danni at 2013-02-21 07:24 AM | Reply | Flag:

My guess is that this pope and his predecessor have so loaded up the College of Cardinals with old-guard types that the sort of reforms that might bring the Church within even a few centuries of the present - all it takes, when push comes to shove, it a papal declaration (along the lines of LDS kahunas declaring polygamy off limits and blacks okay - pretty much moot.

Along this line, take a look at the age of these guys - en.wikipedia.org - a few are youngish but there are some seriously old geezers in there. (Although, it needs to be said, if a cardinal is 80 before the papal conclave opens, he doesn't get to vote.)

An interesting possibility: an African pope. (One-sixth of Catholics are African as are at least 16 cardinals.)

Ratzinger's long-term legacy is almost certainly that of an obscure footnote in the organization's history.

(Personally, I'm going to miss hearing a Vatican choir chant the "Littany of the Saints," as they did for the last papal funeral - http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=ktvzjSx_K4Q - it has an eerie, compelling quality, even for a nonbeliever:

#7 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2013-02-21 07:39 AM | Reply | Flag:

The Pope is currently a Head of State. He's therefore inviolable, unless someone like George W. wants to invade the Vatican and haul him out. It's interesting that anyone thinks that he thinks he might be safer legally by resigning.

#8 | Posted by Zed at 2013-02-21 10:12 AM | Reply | Flag:

So, that "undisclosed European government" (we never do get to have the names, do we?) is going to have its agents do battle with the Swiss Guards?

#9 | Posted by Zed at 2013-02-21 10:15 AM | Reply | Flag:

"The Pope is currently a Head of State. He's therefore inviolable, unless someone like George W. wants to invade the Vatican and haul him out. It's interesting that anyone thinks that he thinks he might be safer legally by resigning.

#8 | Posted by Zed at 2013-02-21 10:12 AM | Reply | Flag:"

Yeah, the headline is completely assinine. I haven't bothered reading the article under the assumption that the headline accurately portrays its content and therefore the article is also hopelessly stupid.

He could be manuevering to make sure he stays untouchable in retirement. But he certainly isn't strengthening his immunity from prosecution by retiring.

#10 | Posted by Sully at 2013-02-21 10:20 AM | Reply | Flag:

The Vatican would want to protect Ex-Benedict from prosecution whether or not there was a realistic reason to fear prosecution. If he were to live anywhere else, a new government in that country could be elected in the future that might choose to hold him legally responsible for child sex abuse committed by church officials under his watch. That risk is forever.

So it's no surprise he'd stay in the Vatican, where its status as a sovereign state gives the church the ability to keep him from being a legal target.

#11 | Posted by rcade at 2013-02-21 01:54 PM | Reply | Flag:

"...a supposed note received by the Vatican from an undisclosed European government that stated that there are plans to issue a warrant for the Pope's arrest. This letter was allegedly received on February 4, and Ratzinger resigned a week later."

That is flimsier than one of Rogers sexy nighties. (oops!)

And substantiated by the fact that the 85 year old Pope will live out his life in the Vatican?

I've seen better evidence for antennae wielding aliens.

#12 | Posted by Corky at 2013-02-21 02:15 PM | Reply | Flag:

Other headlines from the linked website:

"Proof That President Obama Has Accomplished A Lot, Despite Obstruction"

"Republicans Getting It Wrong: It's The Message, Not The Messaging"

"Republicans Outdo Each Other For Idiocy At Clinton Benghazi Hearing"

"Massachusetts Takes The Lead Once More And Recognizes The Rights of Transgender Students"

Obviously a rigorous standard of objectivity at this "news" source. And they complain about Fox??
This article does not cite any report. It merely asserts things not in evidence. It DOES cite, as if legitimate, the "International Tribunal on Crimes of Church" whose own website says:

"The abuse, trafficking, torture and murder of children appears endemic to European culture, and continues to be actively practiced, and condoned and protected, by church, state, judicial and police forces around the globe.

"These same institutions are equally responsible for the historic genocide of indigenous peoples at the hands of European Christendom: an enormous crime against humanity which has never stopped, and continues to ravage and destroy the innocent and the earth."

Come on, Brucebanner, this is like citing the Klan for a reference!

#13 | Posted by Diablo at 2013-02-21 08:32 PM | Reply | Flag:

Oh, the article also cites the Centre (note the French spelling! The organization does not use it but the linked article does.) for Constitutional rights, founded by William Kunstler, a rabid marxist and church hater.
This is rank bigotry, Bruce. You should be ashamed of yourself.

#14 | Posted by Diablo at 2013-02-21 08:35 PM | Reply | Flag:

I've seen better evidence for antennae wielding aliens.

#12 | Posted by Corky
yup, I agree

#15 | Posted by PunchyPossum at 2013-02-21 08:44 PM | Reply | Flag:

Ridiculous article. Who posted this piece of . . . ah. Never mind.

#16 | Posted by uglyblinddate at 2013-02-21 08:45 PM | Reply | Flag:

I've seen better evidence for antennae wielding aliens.

#12 | Posted by Corky

Creative insult. Original, too!

#17 | Posted by nullifidian at 2013-02-21 08:48 PM | Reply | Flag:

Hey! I just found a website for an impressive sounding organization called the "Institute for Historical Review." Every article seems to demean Jews but hey, with a name like that it has to have some cred, right? Just like the Center for Constitutional Rights or the International Tribunal on Crimes of Church sound like, y'know, gravitas.
So maybe if I start a thread like Bruce's using that heady sounding 'institute' for holocaust denial....I mean, historical review... as a reference, we can have a holocaust denial thread at the Drudge Retort and it will not be punished by Rcade....as Bruce's bigoted thread should be.

#18 | Posted by Diablo at 2013-02-21 09:24 PM | Reply | Flag:

Holocaust deniers, Catholic abuse cover-up deniers.

Birds of a feather?

#19 | Posted by snoofy at 2013-02-21 09:41 PM | Reply | Flag:

Who has denied there has been clergy abuse, Snoof? Name names.

#20 | Posted by Diablo at 2013-02-21 09:57 PM | Reply | Flag:

Who has denied there has been clergy abuse, Snoof? Name names.

#20 | Posted by Diablo at 2013-02-21 09:57 PM | Reply | Flag:
Who has denied that there has been child abuse by clergy in general? No one.

Who has worked to cover up individual cases of child abuse by members of the clergy? A number of high ranking Catholic officials.

Your attempt to pretend like you do not know the difference is amusing.

By the by, would you care to explain just how this thread is bigoted? Surely it is at least possible that the current Pope is resigning because of some impending legal charge that would bring scandal to the Papacy.

#21 | Posted by DirkStruan at 2013-02-21 10:14 PM | Reply | Flag:

Who has denied there has been clergy abuse, Snoof? Name names.

That's not what I said.
I didn't say people deny the abuse.
I said people deny the cover-up.

#22 | Posted by snoofy at 2013-02-21 11:41 PM | Reply | Flag:

"Surely it is at least possible that the current Pope is resigning because of some impending legal charge that would bring scandal to the Papacy."

It's possible Obama was born in Kenya, too. Trust those news sources?

#23 | Posted by Diablo at 2013-02-22 12:20 AM | Reply | Flag:

Oh no, Diablo dodged #22. Whatever am I to do?

#24 | Posted by snoofy at 2013-02-22 04:26 AM | Reply | Flag:

DIRKSTRUAN

"Surely it is at least possible that the current Pope is resigning because of some impending legal charge that would bring scandal to the Papacy."

Anything is possible, but is it probable?

No it isn't. (But thank you for your membership dues in the Molehill Club.)

It's more likely that the Pope is resigning for exactly the reasons he said he is.

Scandal in the papacy has been going on long before America was even a twinkle in Christopher Columbus' eye. He's used to it.

Read some European history. It's pretty rough stuff.

#25 | Posted by Twinpac at 2013-02-22 04:56 AM | Reply | Flag:

"By the by, would you care to explain just how this thread is bigoted?"

Look at the sources cited (cf. my above post on that) and the fact the linked article makes no effort to substantiate the premise of the article.

#26 | Posted by Diablo at 2013-02-22 09:51 PM | Reply | Flag:

"I didn't say people deny the abuse.
I said people deny the cover-up."

Okay, Snoof, so who has done that? Name names.
I just recently posted how glad I was Mahoney is stripped of diocesan duties. I also have several times noted it was conservative Catholics like me complaining for the past three decades about relaxed clergy standards and homos in the Church. We were called nazis by the same people eating up the stories now and glorying in the scandal, mostly ex-Catholics the likes of which post here.
So name names. I am waiting to hear.

#27 | Posted by Diablo at 2013-02-22 09:55 PM | Reply | Flag:

Oh no, Snoof dodged #27. Whatever am I to do?

#28 | Posted by Diablo at 2013-02-23 12:42 AM | Reply | Flag:

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