Jesuit priest Hal Head heads up a group of former priests and nuns who made similar decisions to marry. "I'm very happy the Pope has decided to lead from the front in this issue," he said. "There are too many back door men among us," he concluded.

Rank and file Catholics are uncertain how the Pope's resignation will affect local congregations, but many are certain the change was long overdue. Bill Phaser, chief of the Marmet, West Virginia Knights of Columbus group, told me, "Priests are real men, just like us. It's high time for all men to be real men, and altar boys to be terrified."