F R I D A Y , A P R I L 1 5 , 2 0 0 5The Vatican Already Has The Nuclear Optionby Michael in New York on 4/15/2005 05:58:00 PMMaybe Frist is taking his cues from the late pontiff John Paul II.I'm currently reading "Heirs of the Fisherman: Behind theScenes of Papal Death and Succession" by John-Peter Pham(Oxford Univ.</p><p> Press).</p><p> It's a great primer for the conclavebeginning Monday that will elect the next Pope of the roughlyone billion Catholics in the world.JP II was already disappointingly conservative to me and ofcourse I despair of a liberal Pope coming out of a conclavewhere 99% of the voters were put there by him.</p><p> But as if thatweren't safeguard enough, I find out that "in a radicaldeparture from previous legislation" JP II instituted the nuclearoption.Fiddling with the rules of the conclave is a perennial pasttimeof pontiffs, but one long-term tradition is that the Pope mustreceive a vote from two-thirds plus one of the cardinalspresent.</p><p> So if there were 90 voters, they'd keep working at ituntil 61 voted for one candidate.</p><p> But JP II changed that.</p><p> Ifafter 10 to 12 days of voting a new Pope hasn't been elected(not an unusual amount of time for this process, by the way),then a simple majority of 50% plus one will prevail.This change from a "super-majority" to a simple majority hasall the pitfalls in a Pope that we've considered for a SupremeCourt Justice -- rather than switching to a candidate that hasbroader support, a core group of a simple majority canpotentially elect someone who is vehemently opposed byalmost half of the people present.Knowing this, of course, cardinals might be far less willing tocompromise -- why bother when they can have their way ifthey just wait long enough, even if it means electing anextremely divisive pontiff?In the past, a dragged out conclave usually meant acompromise candidate -- ie less extreme -- was going to cometo the fore.</p><p> Now it means the exact opposite.</p><p> So the longer ittakes, the more worried moderate, Vatican II loving Catholicslike myself will be.</p><p> MORE POSTS ABOUT: CATHOLIC CHURCH Daily KosIOKIYAPI (It's OK If You're A Private Insurer) -Here's William Kristol revealing the *horrors*hidden within the health care bill as it emergedfrom the HELP committee...</p><p> For Kennedy and hisco-autho...2 minutes ago Ben SmithObama: Cambridge police acted 'stupidly' - Afterspending most of an hour patiently reiterating hisarguments for changing the health insurancesystem, President Barack Obama turned his press45 minutes ago HuffPost PoliticsKathleen Wells: Congressman Rangel on HealthCare Reform - Congressman Rangel: If somebodyis sick and needs insurance, it is just immoral forthem to be denied this opportunity.1 hour ago Paul KrugmanProfessor in chief - I found Obama's health carepresentation so impressive - so much command ofthe issues - that it had me worried.</p><p> If I really like apoliticians' speech, is...1 hour ago EschatonObama Speaks - In Case You Missed It1 hour agoJ O H N ' S P H OT O S Show AllA M E R I C A B L O G T V Next 6AMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: The Va...http://www.americablog.com/2005/04/vatican-already-has-nucle... 1 of 57/22/09 11:00 PMVisit our AMERICAblog TV site.see all 322 videos >I collect with vodpod For the GOPers, healthcare is politics.</p><p> They just Traditional media has todebunk the birthers One small step...</p><p> The right-wing media, thevoices of the GOP, in REM - Orange CrushAMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: The Va...http://www.americablog.com/2005/04/vatican-already-has-nucle... 2 of 57/22/09 11:00 PMEzra KleinTab Dump3 hours agoWonk RoomSen.</p><p> Byron Dorgan:The ‘Trade’ InCap-And-Trade ‘MakesNo Sense To Me’4 hours agoHealth BeatTruth Squad: WallStreet Journal HealthCare Editorial Wrong onthe Facts . . .5 hours agoThe TreatmentHatch Is Out7 hours agoDaily DoseProviders Endorse 'Payfor Value' Proposals12 hours agoG AY P O L I T I C S Visit our new gay politicssection, AMERICAblog Gay.F E E D S Blog RSS AMERICAblog TV RSS Twitter RSSTwitter Feed Get the blog by email: Subscribe me! 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