This is very interesting thread. The potential consequences for the Catholic Church is huge. It is my understanding that the only way to save it would be for them to purge everybody involved in sexual abuse, open up all their records for scrunity, actively co-operate with the authorities, set up a huge compensation fund and throw themselves at the mercy of Christians and governments around the world. A second reformation is about to take place, the first was by King Henry VIII.

Y'know Rees, I hope you're right. But, like any abuser, I think the Vatican Illuminati are so entrenched that nothing short of involvement by world governments (say, the ICC) will force them into submission...and they'll be kicking and screaming all the way.

For balance, a wonderful NYT op-ed piece drawing a delineation between parishes, where the work is done, and the corrupt bureaucracy:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/27/opinion/global/which-catholic-church.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Lancer,

My read on it is the secret Vatican power players (those you refer to as the Illuminati) were trying to blackmail the pope and Benedict turned the tables on them by resigning. I don't have evidence of this other than my hunch.

That means, possibly, that all bets are off and that the truth may out itself after all.

Although, probably not. The possibility is in play.

Cant