In a move that is unprecedented in modern history of the papacy, Pope Benedict (XVI) has resigned his position as the leader of the over one billion Catholics worldwide. In a letter he sent to the College of Cardinals, the Pope acknowledged that the recent wave of scandals involving Catholic priests has made it impossible for him to do the job he was elected to do. “I feel personally responsible for letting pedophilic priests who molested young boys to go free,” the Pope wrote. “Instead of being punished for the atrocities they committed, they got protection from Bishops and other church leaders like me.”

In the last few weeks, Pope Benedict has been accused of doing nothing about the molestation of kids by priests while serving as the Archbishop of Munich and Freising in his home country, Germany. Memos to the then Cardinal from Fr. Gerhard Gruber have recently been published in the media to the embarrassment of the Vatican. Also as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, he received complaints from American Bishops and other church leaders round the world but was too busy enforcing church doctrines that he failed to take action.

Last month, several news organizations revealed documents on how Rev. Lawrence C. Murphy molested over a 200 deaf boys from Wisconsin. The scandal was reported to the then Cardinal Ratzinger by the archbishop of Wisconsin asking the Vatican to defrock the priest. But Cardinal Ratzinger ignored the plea.

What is more shocking in Pope Benedict’s resignation letter was his decision to spend the rest of his life fighting to reform the Catholic Church.

“For the rest of my life,” the Pope wrote, “I will work to ensure that priests can marry, if they want; that women are allowed to be priest in the church; and to make sure that our great church softens its stance on social issues like gay marriage, condom use and abortion.”

Just last month, at the heat of the child abuse controversies, the Pope sent a Pastoral Letter to the Catholic Church in Ireland addressing abuse of minors by Catholic priests in the country. That letter and other push backs by the Vatican did little to steam the rash of anger towards the church by Catholics around the globe.

The news of the Pope’s resignation has spurred an immediate campaign by Italians cardinals to retake the position of the Pope. The campaign is going on despite Pope Benedict’s suggestion in his resignation letter that the College of Cardinals might be well served if it looks outside Europe for his replacement.

Speaking to Zero News Network (ZNN), the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Rowan Williams said, “This is a sad day for the whole church of Christ.” He added that he hoped that the Catholic Church would survive this and come out stronger than ever.

In his reaction, the General Overseers of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Rev. Enoch Adebayo said to ZNN, “Please, tell me this is April fool.”

http://www.saharareporters.com/news/5677-pope-benedict-xvi-resigns.html

april fool

And a very unscrupulous joke at that.

Na catholic turn 2 Bleep up  now, muslim own go soon come up again. This world don finish

agboifo:

And a very unscrupulous joke at that.

gidson12:

Na catholic turn 2 bleep up  now, muslim own go soon come up again. This world don finish

The way you peeps cling to religion makes me wonder if you will ever liberate your blocked minds.
This is April Fool and i dont care whoever they chose to write about it.
Pope or Muhammed.

Na catholic turn 2 Bleep up now, muslim own go soon come up again. This world don finish

brilantio:

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5548575-146/jonathan_adds_turais_name_to_ministerial.csp

this is sooooooooo funny

Stop spreading scrap if its a joke, u've just got me shocked

olodoooooooooo

My friends,
The resignation isn't that of Pope Benedict (xvi) but rather that of his private secretary Irish Bishop John Magee. Before now John Magee has been a 3 times private secretary to 3 different popes. John Magee was involved in series of Child Sex Abuse Scandal. Hence, the Bishop's resignation; kindly ignore that newspaper publication and surf through the internet for accurate information. -+2348032640895.

If this is a joke.u taken it too far .Pls poster i want the facts

April foooooooooooooooollllllllllllllllllllllll, I guest!

I actually fell for it. The article was well written. It sounded like some from the New york times.

This is absolutely false.Coming from sahara reporters, i am highly disappointed as it calls to question all previous articles from them.

Since april fool ends by 12:00 noon i will advice the moderators aisha and kosovo to pls remove this piece from further circulation as it is extremely offensive,

iyerim:

This is absolutely false.Coming from sahara reporters, i am highly disappointed as it calls to question all previous articles from them.

Since april fool ends by 12:00 noon i will advice the moderators aisha and kosovo to pls remove this piece from further circulation as it is extremely offensive,

We need to learn to accommodate some joke

So whats the next ridiculous story to make the front page?

Fhemmmy:

We need to learn to accommodate some joke

There are jokes and there are jokes. But some are simply bizarre and distasteful.

So whats going to be the next one? That the pope is a convicted murderer/paedophile? You may find that funny as well.

They said that to know if a fish is bad smell the head. Well the catholic bishops are really misbehaving, cases of child abuse poping up here n there, na wa o, this is wat we would keep hearing when ppl say they wount get married

Ridiculous. Can someone plz stop this b4 Amadioha strike

Why is everybody so involve in this April fool thing. My mother inlaw just call me for the same thing.

victorazy:

Ridiculous. Can someone plz stop this b4 Amadioha strike

Victorcrazy gerrout there and sharap

Not the best choice of Pranks,
, so not cool!

gidson12:

They said that to know if a fish is bad smell the head. Well the catholic bishops are really misbehaving, cases of child abuse poping up here n there, na wa o, this is wat we would keep hearing when ppl say they wount get married

My brother, is difficult to cheat nature. If we guys cant stay without making love to woman in one week, how will it be to a man to stay 1,2,20,50 years without entering woman's cloak?

sulad82i:

Victorcrazy gerrout there and sharap

ur showing ur tallent "yash" like u

@poster, pls stop that

Lol ^^^

envee:

Not the best choice of Pranks,
, so not cool!

otukpo:

This is not a funny April fool.
Pls stop this nonsense

victorazy:

your showing your tallent "yash" like u

ZUBBYNWA:

@poster, pls stop that

Guys, guys, chill out already, its just a joke! Fact is, the seriousness y'all are attaching to it even makes it funnier! LWKMD!!

kay9:


Guys, guyy!! Chill out already, its just a joke! Fact is, the seriousness y'all are attaching to it even makes it funnier! LWKMD!!

True that