US Church and Faithful React to Pope's Resignation

New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, a Washington priest along with worshipers at America's largest Roman Catholic church react to news of Pope Benedict XVI's surprise decision to resign.

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3 months ago

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US

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Religion & Spirituality, United States

People

Timothy Dolan, Pope Benedict Xvi

Places

United States of America

Transcript

SHOTLIST: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 11, 2013 (SOURCE: CBS) **RESTRICTIONS: NO RESALE for non-editorial purposes No Japan No Free over the air broadcasters in Australia No US cable news outlets, free over the air networks or stations, their websites and their mobile phone services SOUNDBITE 1 Timothy Dolan (man) New York Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church (English, 14 sec): "I was very startled. And I don't know what to say. I myself am waiting for information, for instructions as to what, what we would do now as the College of Cardinals." Worshipers at America’s largest Roman Catholic church react to news of the resignation` SHOTLIST: WASHINGTON, DC, FEBRUARY 11, 2013 (SOURCE: AFPTV) SOUNDBITE 2 Monsignor Vito Buonanno (man) Director of Pilgrimages, National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (English, 27 sec): "Many people are very surprised. People are upset. But we, I think, all of us are just... we're concerned. We care for our Holy Father -- we call him OUR Holy Father. There is that connection. SOUNDBITE 3 (woman, English, 13 sec): "It's a terrible decision for the Church. He has been the one that's been a rock, holding down the Church, even more conservative, I believe, than Pope John-Paul the Second. So I like this, I like that consistency going back to the early church and the tradition." -WS exterior the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception -CU rose window on the front of the Shrine -WS Monsignor Buonanno gives communion -MS worshipers taking wine at communion -MS clergy leaving after mass --------------------------- AFP TEXT STORY: Vatican-religion-pope-US-bishops Pope's resignation shows 'great care' for church: US bishops WASHINGTON, Feb 11, 2013 (AFP) - The US conference of Roman Catholic bishops saluted Pope Benedict XVI's surprise decision to resign as "another sign of his great care for the Church." "We are sad that he will be resigning but grateful for his eight years of selfless leadership as successor of St Peter," said Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, the president of the conference. The 85-year-old pontiff stunned Catholics Monday by announcing that he would resign at the end of the month, saying that, "due to advanced age," he no longer felt strong enough to lead the church. "His resignation is but another sign of his great care for the Church," Dolan said in a statement on behalf of the bishops. The cardinal touched on the child sex abuse scandals that have rocked the US church during Benedict's seven year reign, recalling his 2008 visit to Washington. "As a pastor feeling pain in a stirring, private meeting at the Vatican nunciature in Washington, he brought a listening heart to victims of sexual abuse by clerics," the cardinal said said. His resignation comes as the US church is fighting mandates under President Barack Obama's health care reform for contraception insurance coverage, as well as against abortion rights and same-sex marriage rights. "Pope Benedict often cited the significance of eternal truths and he warned of a dictatorship of relativism. Some values, such as human life, stand out above all others, he taught again and again. It is a message for eternity," Dolan said. ff/jm/mdl