New pope loves gays and women...

It might come true, though I have to admit it's unlikely.  Still, we're all allowed to dream. If you like your dreams to be visual, have a look at this wonderful cartoon!

The more likely outcome of the conclave is that we'll see a continuation of what has happened over roughly the past 1,700 years. The RC sect/state has protected and furthered its own politial and economic ends since the Roman empire under Constantine made "Christianity" the official religion. When later emperors tried to reverse that decision they came up against a formidable machine - part political, part commercial, part mafia, and very little that could legitimately be called spiritual. 

Throughout its history it has ruthlessly stamped on anyone and anything that questions its self-declared authority. The Vatican wants the earth to be the centre of the universe? Result - persecute those who provide reliable evidence to the contrary. The Vatican decides it can sell forgiveness? Result - crack down on those who suggest otherwise. And so it continues.

Of course, when it suits them, popes have changed what was previously declared to be God's perfect and unchangeable word. Like most autocracies, the Vatican manages to be all things to all people. In countries where contraception is commonly used by members, the Vatican stays remarkably quiet on the subject. To do otherwise might lose members. Elsewhere, including in areas with AIDS at epidemic levels, it is as strict as ever in its insistence that contraception is evil.

The idea of equality for women and gays will eventually be acccepted by the Vatican, but only in countries where it is essential to the organisation's survival. Should the new pope declare that, for example, women will be allowed to "train for the priesthood" or that priests will be allowed to marry don't fall into the trap of thinking that the Vatican has undergone a cultural change. The purpose will be the same - to protect the power of the sect/state. Whatever the justification offered, we must never forget that the Vatican is masterful at spin.

We can dream that the new pope will dissolve the whole structure and urge members to follow Jesus instead of "Mother Church", and prioritise the teachings of the bible over "church teachings". The pope himself, the curia, ardinals, bishops, priests and anyone else in the hierarchy and bureaucracy should 'seek first the kingdom of God' instead of the Vatican state.