Pope Benedict's surprise announcement that he is stepping down leaves the church that
is weakened struggling with how to widen its appeal in a world that is becoming more secular.
So what this mean for the 1 mill Catholics here in San Diego.
Joining me are Sandi Dolbee and Jimmy Akin.
Sandi, there is a renewed struggle between conservatives in the church.
What are the correspond issues that are disagreed upon?
>> They disagree on women in the church, and should priests be allowed to marry and the
other smaller items are the use of condoms to stop the spread of AIDS, birth control,
those cultural social issues, I'm going to take you back to the book of Issah where God
says your ways are not my ways and that's how the Catholic church feels its way is not
always the way of popular opinion so the ideas of women becoming priests, men being able
to marry, probably not going to happen in our lifetime, the others, maybe.
>> AMITA: Jimmy, what do you feel the issues are?
>> I think Sandi has described the principle issues, the reference to the book of Issah
is appropriate and God's ways are designed to help bring us happiness and sometimes people
think of God's law as if it's a restriction on human freedom but it is guidance to liberate
us so we can find fulfillment and that's what the church is concerned about.
It's true that we don't always want to do what we should, but it's the church's job
to call us to that freedom of doing what will ultimately make us happy and ultimately help
us find fulfillment.
>> AMITA: Who did you want to see win this struggle between the liberals and the conservatives?
What traits did you want the Pope to have?
>> I don't know that there is a struggle, to the extent that those terms apply, I don't
think they apply to the college of cardinals, the cardinals were selected by John Paul the
second or Benedict the 16th, they reflect the Catholic historical viewpoint.
The cardinals are going to seek guidance from God, from the holy spirit in terms of who
can best lead the church.
I think one of the things they will be concerned about is the ability to bring God's message
to the world and I know that will be very much on their hearts.
>> AMITA: 42% come from South America, 15% from Africa and 25% from Europe in San Diego
county alone we have a sizable number of Latinos, almost half of the masses are conducted in
Spanish, what are the chances that we are going to see a Pope from Latin America?
>> The chances are very real.
Right now the passion of the Catholic church is in Latin America and Africa so they're
on the short list that I've been seeing and it's not like a candidate like the United
States presidency, but on the short list, people are put together lists with cardinals
from Brazil, Honduras, Guama who they say have a real chance of being elected.
>> AMITA: How big of an issue is this going to be for the in coming Pope with regard to
the sexual abuse scandal that has taken place?
>> It's hard to say.
There is always a question, what else is out there that hasn't come to light yet so the
issue do come backÊ could come back but I'm sure the new Pope will take the same line
saying the abuse is not to be tolerated.
>> AMITA: Sandi, the worshippers who left because of the sexual abuse sandal, how huge
is this issue?
>> It's a huge issue, they're looking for someone to go out and make disciples, bring
people back to the Catholic church and give it a new live, John Paul the second in Denver
at world youth day, 100,000 yelled "we love you J.P.2" and he said back, "J.P. 2 loves
you, too."
>> AMITA: Thank you, Sandi and Jimmy.