"Pope Benedict XVI alone has authority over bishops." >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> But according to the recent Supreme Court decision, priests, bishops, and archbishops are NOT employees of the Catholic Church. They are "dotted line" to the Pope so that if they mess up it's not the Pope or the hierarchy's fault, and if they do good, it's because of the Pope and the hierarchy. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Just another case (of many these days) of having your cake and eating it too, or being on both sides of the fence at the same time. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> People, remember, you have the power. If the local people will it, Finn will be gone. The heirarchy will not do it without great pressure because that would send a message that the people have the power and the hierarchy doesn't want people to realize that. And the hierarchy cares more about keeping things as they are (and themselves in power) than about any suffering of the flock.

The holier than thou act of the hierarchy is a show they are putting on. Perhaps one could compare it to the Republican and Democratic Conventions, or a Holywood movie. Sure, it makes you feel, it stirs emotions -- but, think about it, is everything in the movies that stirs emotion "fact" and "real"? You may enjoy the emotional experience, but at the same time you know that there may or may not be ANYTHING behind it.

Why are they waiting for him to resign?? He should be fired and defrocked. He's been CONVICTED of a crime related to the sexual abuse of kids. How could anyone consider him a spiritual leader? What are they thinking??

christinehickey wrote, "Why are they waiting for him to resign?? He should be fired and defrocked. He's been CONVICTED of a crime related to the sexual abuse of kids. How could anyone consider him a spiritual leader? What are they thinking??" >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> They are thinking that they are in charge, not the people, and what they say is law (God's law, that is) and not what the people or governments say. They are thinking that those who are loyal to the hierarchy, with the Pope at the top, who is wise in all things and who talks to God, will be given every chance to redeem themselves if they break human's laws. They are thinking that those who break the rules of the hierarchy (God's laws, as far as they are concerrned) shall be treated in the opposite manner (excommunicated, etc, etc.)

Sounds a lot like what it was like in Boston years ago , the call for bernard law to step down grew louder and louder ... until he finally slipped away in the dark of night. I still think they have should have charged him - instead - he gets a cushy vatican job, his reward for his many years of "fine priestly services rendered" - a term he so loved to use when writing to some of the pedophile rapists he sent into unsuspecting parishes , thanking them for servicing the children of god at their previous post , knowing full well , that he was putting kids in harms way every time he transferred these perverts.