Troubled Time

This priest has a lot on his mind.

Maybe he is thinking about tomorrow when Pope Benedict, soon to turn 86, will be the first pope in 600 years to resign. Benedict is wise and brave to do so, because with failing health he is no longer up to the job. Yet, the Vatican has struggled through public relations crises over sexual abuse, financial ineptitude, criminal allegations, and bureaucratic fumbling.

Pope Benedict's intellect and successful role as a spiritual leader for the world's 1.1 billion Catholics is not in doubt. I pray that as he steps down he is replaced with a leader with the courage and vision to thoroughly reform the church. At this important time we need scholarship and theology less than common sense.