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  Contest…If I Were Pope Benedict, I Would…

By Frank Douglas
Voice from the Desert
March 21, 2010

http://reform-network.net/?p=3148

I am sick and tired of words, words, words, and more words–some of them my own–about the Catholic clergy sex abuse scandal and its cover up by bishops, religious superiors, and the pope. Which leads me to run a contest to identify the most realistic and likely actions the real pope could take to protect the innocent, heal the wounded, and begin the long process of church reform.

Suppose you were Pope Benedict XVI for a day. Suppose, as Archbishop of Munich, you covered up, i.e., kept silent about, clergy sex abuse in the archdiocese. Suppose, as the leader of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, you promoted a document that all clergy sex abuse cases were to be kept secret. Keep these facts in mind as you prepare your contest entry. These are the baggage items with which you are burdened.

Suppose further, as part of the contest, that the following ground rules apply:

1. You, as pope for a day, are to recommend one, or two, but no more than three initial, concrete actions, not words, not apologies, not a papal letter, that the real pope could or might implement.

2. Your recommended actions must be realistic and within the realm of possibility, i.e., somewhat likely. Recommending unrealistic or unlikely actions (e.g., papal resignation, wholesale firing of bishops) will not be accepted.

3. Keep your recommendations short.
Further contest rules:

1. All contest entries must be submitted on or before 8:00 pm EDT on March 28, 2010.

2. Submit your recommended papal actions by using the space under Leave a Reply below or by sending an email to me at frankdouglas62@yahoo.com.

3. I will be the sole judge.

4. The winner receives a $10 check from me, and the two runners-up get $5 each.
  
 
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