Church has the opportunity to transform

With the impending resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, the Catholic Church has a chance to make a crucial move in hopes of surviving the 21st century and becoming relevant again ["Pope’s dramatic move shifts church to future,” page one, Feb. 12].

Catholicism is dying in the modern day, and will soon join Latin as a mere memento of the Old World. One of the biggest challenges that awaits the Pope’s successor is how to advertise Catholicism as a faith of acceptance.

Benedict XVI, stuck in the cement of tradition, did nothing to help the church progress into an age of equal rights and technology (although his move to Twitter should be applauded, albeit a little late).

The shortage of up-and-coming priests in the Western world is just the beginning of a decline for the Catholic Church unless it takes a few steps forward in the next couple years. Now is the time to pick a new face and a new outlook.

--Natalie Beaulieu, Seattle