February 11, 2013 | Sex & Society

Pope resigns

Surprising many, Pope Benedict XVI announced this morning that he was resigning at the end of the month. At 85, he felt it was time to move on.

"After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry," Benedict said.

This is the first papal resignation in nearly 600 years.

No friend of the gays, Benedict spoke out against the evils of homosexuality and the dangers of same-sex marriage.

One replacement being considered is Ghanaian Cardinal Peter Turkson, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. Like Benedict - and any other potential Pope - Turkson is homophobic. Worse, he has spoken out in defense of Uganda's 'Kill the Gays' bill, arguing African views and African culture need to be respected.

Still, we can hope for someone more enlightened, more liberal, more thoughtful. (We just won't be holding our breath.)