...it's not dark yet, but it's gettin' there...
i'm ecstatic about the selection of Cardinal Ratzinger, which is strange since i'm quite liberal on many Catholic issues. It's not just because we share a Bavarian ancestry. i really believe that the Church needs an orthodox leader after the touchy-feely pontificate of John Paul II.
The list of changes i would favor in my Church is long. But my faith remains strong. i'm not going to leave the Church because women can't be ordained, for example. It is good that the Pope is more conservative than i am. That's something the reformers seem to forget. When religion doesn't set moral standards, it ceases to be a religion, and becomes a social club.
Also, the media critics don't want to admit that most of the Catholic world is very happy at the selection of a conservative cardinal. It's just here in the godless west that you hear the whining. i am hopeful and happy about Pope Benedict XVI because he has already signalled that he will not lead the Church into error by chasing after fallen Catholics. It is up to the faithful to remain in faith, not the other way around.
Lastly, i'm sick and tired of hearing the talking heads question whether Cardinal Ratzinger will be too divisive, when (they arrogantly surmise) the Church needs a uniter. i'm reminded of the following words of scripture:
Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, a man's enemies will be the members of his own household. [Matthew 10:34-36]Two thousand years of Catholic tradition and teaching should never be thrown out lightly, and certainly not on the basis of any CNN poll or Andrew Sullivan column.
Viva il Papa nuova.
Update: Zomby has a great post on this very thing.
Nicely said.
Posted by: jake on Apr. 19, 2005"We share a Bavarian ancestry." Ah, so you're one of THOSE Danes.
Ratz is definitely the man to bitchslap the old kennedy-catholics of the senate. Sorry boys, can't vote for abortion and take communion, hehehehe. I can't wait for the excommunication of these assholes.
Posted by: Casca on Apr. 19, 2005BTW, Fabulous graphic.
Posted by: Casca on Apr. 19, 2005I don't know that I'd characterize JPII as “touchy-feely” (although perhaps that was his public image) but he certainly had little interest in the mundane administration of the Church. That's where I have hopes for Benedict XVI.
Posted by: Dave Schuler on Apr. 20, 2005As a fellow Catholic, I must admit that I was skeptical of Ratzinger when I first heard he was from Germany, but that was due to my ignorance of the man's background. Fortunately, the squawking Leftists like Chris Matthews have alleviated my concerns with their renewed Pope-bashing. Rush Limbaugh also mentioned how German poll results show that most of them don't like their new Pope since he's not liberal enough for them. That is good news for everyone that takes the Church seriously.
Posted by: reagan80 on Apr. 20, 2005And let's remember, that just like Supreme Court justices, popes have a way of confounding expectations... no one could have predicted John XXIII would turn out as liberal as he did.
Posted by: Hugo on Apr. 20, 2005I like him, especially the homily he gave before they entered the conclave. I TiVo'd it.
Posted by: Scof on Apr. 20, 2005"Pappa Ratzi"
Gotta love the guy. The Jesuits are shivering and Kerry is ready to convert vback to Judaism.
Ain't it cool?
Posted by: shelly on Apr. 20, 2005My sister who lives in Hamburg with her german husband, said that an overwhelming number of germans don't accept Ratzinger's dogma! I remember her saying about two weeks ago that germans feared he would become the pontiff. I seriously was expecting a more progressive pope to be elected. Perhaps there is a good chance next time considering how Ratzinger is of an elder age.
Posted by: Daniel on Apr. 20, 2005Couldn't be happier.
"Senator Kennedy, I have good news and bad news. The good news is that we have a pope. The bad news is that he's a Catholic."
Posted by: Matt on Apr. 20, 2005"Two thousand years of Catholic tradition and teaching should never be thrown out lightly, and certainly not on the basis of any CNN poll or Andrew Sullivan column."
Amen!
And as a non-Catholic, I can still appreciate what it means to have a new Pope who will stick to the guns of traditional doctrine.
Posted by: Desert Cat on Apr. 20, 2005