Benedict XVI to Resign

Via the BBC:  Pope Benedict XVI in shock resignation

Pope Benedict XVI is to resign at the end of this month after nearly eight years as the head of the Catholic Church, saying he is too old to continue at the age of 85.

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There is a clause in Church Canon Law saying that a papal resignation is valid if the decision is made freely and manifested properly.

This is the first resignation in almost six centuries

FILED UNDER: Religion, World Politics, ,
Steven L. Taylor
About Steven L. Taylor
Steven L. Taylor is a Professor of Political Science and a College of Arts and Sciences Dean. His main areas of expertise include parties, elections, and the institutional design of democracies. His most recent book is the co-authored A Different Democracy: American Government in a 31-Country Perspective. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Texas and his BA from the University of California, Irvine. He has been blogging since 2003 (originally at the now defunct Poliblog). Follow Steven on Twitter

Comments

  1. walter says:

    For the first time in 600 years a public figure is retiring, without being under an indictment, and not saying he wants to spend more time with his family!

    Don’t like that one? The jokes will get worse. Much, much, much worse.

  2. edmondo says:

    Rick Santorum is gearing up his campaign staff as we speak

  3. Gustopher says:

    Is it because having a Nazi Pope who covers up for child molesters tarnishes the Church? With all the gold and silver the Church has amassed, tarnish is really something they want to avoid.

    Well, I wish him the best in his future endeavors. I’d encourage him to find a better crowd of people to hang out with than nazis and child molesters and the hoarders of wealth if his serious about that Christ thing, those people are bound to rub off on him.

    Maybe he could sell all his jewelry and give the money to the poor, like in that old Woody Guthrie song. I know I’d trust Woody on religion before I would trust a nazi pedophile-enabler.