As I said, 'the Church works exactly as the world works. That's the problem.' Of course, if it works in this way, then it will think in this way, too. How did Jesus put it? You think as men think, not as God thinks.

No, Jesus did not have to die, in the sense this was his incarnational mission. He came to live in loving obedience to his Father, for which the world would put him to death. The Father did not seek his son's death, yet knew that this would happen. God is a God of the living, not the dead. (Think it says this in one of the gospels, possibly Luke)

How can you even consider that God might approve the death penalty? 'Let he among you who is without sin be the first to cast a stone.' This is a universal condemnation of capital punishment.  And no, it doesn't mean I'm more sympathetic with murderers. That's silly.

As for the Spirit, there is only one, and HE leads. What's more, he is in all. Leadership must be collective, therefore, to be effective. But will Rome listen?