Comments about ‘Papal campaigning is under way’

This is politics. Nothing more. Nothing less.

Like every contest in life, I'm sure there's active betting on this process in Nevada.

I would be curious to know how the bookies would set the odds. It would require a specialist with experience in bookmaking and in church politics. Plus it isn't an event that comes along often, usually only once every few decades.

-- "This is politics. Nothing more. Nothing less." --

It may seem that way, but this is the way the Catholic Church does it according to their doctrine and it isn't anyone else's place to judge it.

Acts 1:16-26 tells the story of the first calling of an apostle to fill a vacancy among the original Twelve. We read that two names were chosen by the Eleven to be considered, and everyone pondered and prayed until they settled on Matthias. Obviously there was spiritual guidance and prompting, but can any of us say for sure that no "politics" at all ever entered into that decision? After all, eleven human beings were doing the choosing.

The cardinals who will select the new Pope are good and faithful servants who devote their lives to God's work. Could any of us say for sure (and do we even have the right to suggest) that they will not receive divine guidance and prompting in this, one of the most important decisions a cardinal can make?