[ctdonath2]

But...what of the principle of papal inerrency?

[Lex Gabba]

a widely misunderstood doctrine: it apply ONLY when the pope is formally speaking ex cathedra something that has been done only twice in the 150 years since the doctrine was officially announced. At any other time the Pope is no more or less than a man. A man whose opinion is entitled to great weight, but as fallible as any other. A for all that I truly believe god loves his church and protects it to the greatest extent possible without compromising free will, it's a matter of historical fact that some scoundrels and downright evil men has sat in that chair. To be fair, I don't think Benedict is evil, so much as misguided and limited. He was great no. 2 to JPII but he lacks the overall capacity to hold the lead spot