SamSaid!

THE POPE

     At the age of 84, Pope John Paul II has died. What a truly remakable life he led. While his virtues and accomplishments are being extolled in the world wide press, the long process has begun to replace him. It is far too premature to guess who his successor might be, but it is none too soon to think about the major issues and decisions that will confront the new Pope. First, there is the issue of making women eligible to serve as priests, and add to that the declining number of new priests being ordained.  Likewise, the marriage of priests is a growing issue in many countries. Then there is the ever present issue of birth control, plus homosexuality in general and same sex marriage in particular. What to do about pedophiles among priests is still on the Vatican agenda, to say nothing about “right to die” kinds of decisions. The new Pope will probably have to hit the gound running. And not by choice.