looks like I'm out the running then.......

from BBC News

Pope wants strict sainthood rules


Pope Benedict XVI has urged the cardinals responsible for nominating candidates for sainthood to be strict in their selection.

The Pope's predecessor, John Paul II, created 482 saints - more than had been canonised in the last 500 years.

John Paul himself has been fast-tracked by the Vatican towards sainthood - a process that once took many years.

But Pope Benedict wants more caution to be exercised in the examination of miracles and martyrdom.

Proof of a miracle is usually required before a virtuous person can be made a saint.

Martyrs

In a letter to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, the Pope emphasised the need to study "deeply" the subject of miracles, especially "in the light of the tradition of the Church, of modern theology, and of the most accredited discoveries of science".

It is clear that a cause of beatification or canonisation cannot be initiated in the absence of a proven reputation for holiness

Pope Benedict XVI

"It should also be clearly borne in mind that unbroken Church practice establishes the need for a physical miracle, a moral miracle is not enough," he said.

Another road to sainthood is martyrdom, but the Pope also stressed the need for strict criteria.

"It is of course necessary to find incontrovertible proof of willingness to suffer martyrdom... and of the victim's acceptance thereof," he wrote.

But he added that the persecutor's hatred of the faith should also be apparent.

"If this element is lacking, there is no real martyrdom in accordance with the perennial theological and juridical doctrine of the Church," he said.

 

How do you prove a moral miracle?

 

RE: How do you prove a moral miracle?

Why do you ask, are you thinking that you might have peformed one?

 

It doesn't matter, it's not enough anyway

 

That should have been in response to La Dent!

 

I am thinking I would piss on Old Trafford if it was on fire.

 

I know that , I was just wondering how one went about approving a moral miracle.

 

a moral miracle is something like

a bank letting you off £50.00 overdraft charges or something like that. i think HSBC should be the new pope. probably see increased profits for the church at any rate

 

maybe you can.....

....apply fo a Sainthood online? check http://www.vatican.va/

 

RE: maybe you can.....

who would interview you?

 

RE: maybe you can.....

I think Davina McCall got the contract, not sure though.

 

ant and dec presenting?

excellent stuff.

simon cowell would obviously be one interviewer, although im more of a purist so maybe the position should be given to nasty nigel?

 

Great Employing IOWT

Piss funny

 

RE: maybe you can.....

dunno, probably depends how many applications they get. If it's only a few then maybe the Pope could do it himself, the first Sunday of every month could be "interview day". If they were inundated with applications then presumably they'd have to outsource the work to a call centre in India anddo the interviews over the phone, as an "economy measure".

 

Would you require proof of immorality first ,

before your moral miracle could be verified?

 

RE: Would you require proof of immorality first ,

dunno, they'd probably just take your word for it, like when you make an insurance claim over the phone.

 

btw, did you mean immorality, or immortality?

 

Immortality would be a lot easier to prove.