New pope could shake up antiquated policies
As Pope Benedict XVI announced that he was resigning his position earlier this week, it’s the perfect time for the church to distance itself from its scandalous past and move into the new century.
With the majority of the church’s recent growth in Africa and Latin America, now would be a great opportunity to find a more a diverse pope to represent the demographic shift within the church membership. There has to be someone worthy of becoming pope in the 600 million Catholics located in the non-Western world.
The church also needs to reconsider its stance on women within the hierarchy of the church. In 2010, the church released a list of grave crimes that included the ordination of women. For any religious institution to make gender equality a grave crime, on par with that of the sexual abuse of minors, is disheartening at best. This attitude must change as the church moves forward. Women make up a significant portion of the church and should not be barred from leadership positions due to circumstances that are completely beyond their control.
Religion has had many positive effects on society, and it is also a huge way of life for many Americans. If the Catholic Church really wants to distance itself from the scandals and criticism of the past while maintaining a key presence in many lives, it must adapt to the times. To remain viable, the church can no longer cling to some of its antiquated and anachronistic policies.