Speaking as a Catholic woman (single, not married) & wiling to lose "friends" over it:

The Pope is allowed to retire. It doesn't happen very often, but it is within his rights to do so. Personally, more respect should be shown a man who knows when it is time to step back and let younger hands take over. We've got politicians I wish had HALF that much common sense.

It would be nice if Catholics could get a little of the respect people seem to automatically give to other groups. You don't have to agree with our beliefs, but tearing us down? Insulting them just because you don't like them? Who does that say the most about? I don't tear down people who I disagree with - similar respect would be appreciated.

In answer to some of what I've been hearing on the net and in RL -

American Catholics are NOT going to separate from Rome - to do so would make us Protestant, not Catholic, and there are other churches we could go to if we wanted to do that.

The new Pope is not going to overturn Church teachings on women priests, contraception, abortion, gay marriage, etc.

The Church is not going to throw everything out and suddenly become "politically correct" according to the secular world's desires just because there is a new Pope.

I am grateful for the time we have had with Pope Benedict as our shepherd. This is a time of prayer for all Catholics as we wait for our new Pope to be chosen.

May God bless Pope Benedict and his successor.

Day 2 - Name the fandoms you've written in, and how much you've written in that fandom, and if you still write in it.

The Avengers - 5 one-shots and 1 WIP
Tin Man - 7 one-shots and 1 WIP
The Magnificent Seven - 11 one-shots and 3 big bangs
Leverage - 6 one-shots and 1 big bang - WIP in progress
The Hunger Games - 3 one-shots
Harry Potter - several shorts and a couple of one-shots
Stargate Atlantis - 3 one-shots
Torchwood - 2 one-shots
Glee - one big bang story & a crossover big bang with M7
The Bourne Legacy - one-shot
Chronicles of Narnia - one-shot and 1 WIP
The 10th Kingdom - one-shot
The Sentinel - 5000+ word one-shot
Labyrinth - one-shot
Star Trek - one-shot
Criminal Minds - one-shot
CSI:NY - one-shot
Firefly - one-shot
Buffy Crossover - WIP in progress
LotR - WIP in progress

All of these are open to play in, and I've got notes for 3 more Avengers stories, 3-4 more M7 stories, and a huge crime show crossover.

Want to play? Full meme is HERE

Given a lot of the stuff I've been hearing from people around me, seeing on the news, and on the web, I decided to do some posts on the Catholic Church and its beliefs. I've decided it is going to be a Lenten practice for me. Not only can I (hopefully) get some real information out there about the Church and her teachings, but I can renew my own faith. I will start by posting the first entry tomorrow.

This is especially directed towards Catholics who want a refresher, but also anyone who is interested in the Catholic faith.

I will put the posts under a cut so you can skip them. However, should you read them and wish to ask questions, each new post will build upon the previous one - they start with the foundation and build up. While I will try and answer questions as best I can, please read everything leading up to your question so you will have the background for the information you are questioning. It might even answer your question without having to ask it.

I am not a theology major, teacher, expert, etc. I am a lay Catholic - that is, a Catholic in the pews. I did not study Catholicism in school and I am a regular office worker with a forty hour a week job. This does not mean I'm clueless. I am going to use a few main sources and various supporting sources.

Main Sources:

The Bible
The Catechism of the Catholic Church
"Open Wide the Doors to Christ" by Lucas Pollice

Supporting Sources:

Writings by the early Church Fathers
Writings by the Popes
and various other sources

I've been stretching my writing muscles with some drabbles/ficlets, and I'm looking at a fandom challenge. To write a drabble/ficlet using a one word prompt - 26 prompts, one for each letter of the alphabet. So, to avoid having to pick all the words myself, I'm asking for prompts, one word prompts.

Feel free to give me any words at all...if I get more than one word starting with the same letter, I'll throw it in the randomizer.

Thanks bunches!