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Sinead O'Connor congratulates pope on his 'greatest act' – resigning Sinead O'Connor congratulates pope on his 'greatest act' – resigning
(7 months later)
Sinéad O'Connor has congratulated Pope Benedict XVI on his decision to leave his post, saying "Benedict's greatest achievement is this act of retiring".Sinéad O'Connor has congratulated Pope Benedict XVI on his decision to leave his post, saying "Benedict's greatest achievement is this act of retiring".
The singer, who famously ripped up a photo of Pope John Paul II live on US TV in 1992, issued a statement on her website on Monday. "I would like to congratulate Pope Benedict on his wise decision to retire before the very worst of what has been going on is discovered," she said. "The church has been brought into dreadful disrepute by lies and blasphemies against the holy spirit … There is a chance now for the church to be rebuilt and made fit to house the holy spirit."The singer, who famously ripped up a photo of Pope John Paul II live on US TV in 1992, issued a statement on her website on Monday. "I would like to congratulate Pope Benedict on his wise decision to retire before the very worst of what has been going on is discovered," she said. "The church has been brought into dreadful disrepute by lies and blasphemies against the holy spirit … There is a chance now for the church to be rebuilt and made fit to house the holy spirit."
O'Connor had torn up the photo in protest at the Roman Catholic church's cover-up of child abuse by priests, but she later apologised. "It was a disrespectful thing to do," O'Connor said, after she was ordained a Latin Tridentine priest in 1999. "I am sure [the pope] is a lovely man."O'Connor had torn up the photo in protest at the Roman Catholic church's cover-up of child abuse by priests, but she later apologised. "It was a disrespectful thing to do," O'Connor said, after she was ordained a Latin Tridentine priest in 1999. "I am sure [the pope] is a lovely man."
But the singer's anger with the Vatican flared up again after the inauguration of Pope Benedict XVI. "[Catholicism has] been brought into disrepute by the people running it," she said in 2010. "The pope should stand down, the Vatican should stand down, not only because of the cover-up, they're incredibly arrogant, they're anti-Christian. They don't have the remotest relationship with God."But the singer's anger with the Vatican flared up again after the inauguration of Pope Benedict XVI. "[Catholicism has] been brought into disrepute by the people running it," she said in 2010. "The pope should stand down, the Vatican should stand down, not only because of the cover-up, they're incredibly arrogant, they're anti-Christian. They don't have the remotest relationship with God."
"The Vatican is a nest of devils and a haven for criminals," O'Connor added in an interview with the Guardian. "It's evil, the very top of the toppermost is evil … Do we need a fucking pope? Why do we need a pope? … Ten years from now the church will be nothing resembling what it has been.""The Vatican is a nest of devils and a haven for criminals," O'Connor added in an interview with the Guardian. "It's evil, the very top of the toppermost is evil … Do we need a fucking pope? Why do we need a pope? … Ten years from now the church will be nothing resembling what it has been."
Benedict announced his resignation on Monday, citing his deteriorating strength in both mind and body. He also alluded to the challenges of his role in a world "shaken by questions". These comments, O'Connor claimed, were an acknowledgement of some of the Catholic church's ongoing scandals. "I appreciate [the pope's] alluding to some of it in his statement," she said, "and assure him The Most High forgives those who can faithfully say they did wrong."Benedict announced his resignation on Monday, citing his deteriorating strength in both mind and body. He also alluded to the challenges of his role in a world "shaken by questions". These comments, O'Connor claimed, were an acknowledgement of some of the Catholic church's ongoing scandals. "I appreciate [the pope's] alluding to some of it in his statement," she said, "and assure him The Most High forgives those who can faithfully say they did wrong."
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