Pope's retirement

[BillyStubbsTears]

I bet he's been looking forward to this.

Cardinal on Radio 4 on the day of the papal resignation. He was talking listeners through the process. He said that the Pope's finger jewellery, the symbol of his authority, had to be destroyed.

His exact words were, "The Pope will be taken into a back room by a senior Cardinal, who will proceed to smash his ring."

[glosterred]

I bet he is looking forward to having a Sunday of for the first time in a long while

[RobTheRover]

I bet he gets his ring smashed most days by some filthy Catholic priest

[jucyberry]

I read the widespread ring smasing in the catholic church was the reason he stepped down... 

[The Red Baron]

Fascinating. I also found this:

But there’s one ritual Benedict won’t endure.
 
Traditionally, a cardinal would approach a Pope moments after his death and tap his head three times with a silver hammer to ensure that he was deceased.

I wonder if that was what gave The Beatles the idea for this...

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIMGgBLOwfg" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIMGgBLOwfg</a>

[not on facebook]

He saw a local rome phone box, full Of gay catholic clergy all trying to ring eachother

[jucyberry]

Either that or he bumped into cardinal O'brein in the confessional and was offered more than a rub of his rosary.......

[RedJ]

Not sure how much truth there is in it but I heard he kicked off cos the choir boys weren't polishing his scepter the way he liked.

[BillyStubbsTears]

More Catholic Church titters.

According to the R4 news tonight, cardinal Keith O'Brien who resigned after allegations that he made unwelcome sexual advances on young priests, is to be subjected to an internal probe by Vatican clergy.

[turnbull for england]

is that the main reason for  R4 Billy , sourcing accidental catholic bumfun hilarity?

[BillyStubbsTears]

Well it was Eddie Mair presenting. It was double entendre city. He had a gay rights activist on, asking about his reaction to hearing the Cardinal's admission of guilt. He said, "Did a little bit of you get a spasm of pleasure at the news?"

I was waiting for him to announce that the Vatican had asked everyone to stop bashing the Bishop.

[jucyberry]

On an aside, are boys like girls? I ask because many girls of a certain age toy with the thought of becoming nuns.. well I know I did when I was around 12... Do young lads ever think of becoming priests?

[BillyStubbsTears]

My best mate from school did Debs. Actually became a Catholic priest.

Strange one. He used to have to carry a shitty stick around as a 20 year old to beat fit lasses off. But he gave up all that to serve God.