The New Pope - Benedict XVI
I have to say, at first blush I'm a little disappointed. I was really hoping the next Pope would come from Latin America, Africa or Asia. There is so much growth in Catholicism on those continents, I was thinking the Pope would, or could, represent that new life. But we have a 78 year old German. Not to say that's bad, but I'd love to strip European-ess from the face of the Church for just a little bit so people could see that Christianity does not equal a white man's club.
And it seems like in terms of doctrine, this is a staunch return to traditionalism. NOT that that is bad, necassarily, in fact in some ways it could be very good. Yet there are some issues that really do need re-examination. Why do priests have to celibate, for instance? Can't they just be happily married people. Do they even have to be men? Isn't there a place for women? And there is the molestation crisis as well that really needs to be confronted. Speaking as a non-Catholic, perhaps these questions are too easy for me to ask, but they should at least be asked and discussed and explored. Benedict isn't going to be the one to do this.
I also don't like constantly reading the "Pope is sick," "Pope is recovering," and "Pope is resting and should be getting better" stories. . . I can't help to think that by picking a 78 year old, we'll be reading those headlines again soon. That's just about life expectancy!
OK, and last thing, he just doesn't look like a kind man. That's subjective, no doubt, and probably a little too intuitive of an observation, but the man just kind of makes me nervous. I miss good old John Paul already. Why does the new Pope have to wear all red, like a devil or something? (Again betraying my Catholic ignorance. . . . it's probably tradition. . . )
8 Comments:
I am glad that the church picked a conservative traditionalist.
One thing that has really annoyed me over the past week was the endless analysis on what the catholic church should do. Could you imagine how annoying it would be to have people who arn't Christians sit up in the balcony of our church and make judgements about what we should be or should not be doing.
I think he is more or less evangelical and that is a good thing. Consider the path of church liberalism and where that has led in the Episcopalian church. This is a church that elected an openly gay man who divorced his wife and left his two children to go live with a gay man that he had an affair with. Recently while speaking at Planned Parenthood Prayer Breakfast he related the story of Exodus to gay people coming out of the closet, stated that no one should interfere with a woman's right to choose, and lastly declared that all the people in that Planned Parenthood meeting that "I know, in the end, that I'm going to heaven, and so are you."
Of course this is all after he inplied that Jesus was gay two weeks ago.
sources:
http://www.washtimes.com/metro/20050415-102359-6226r.htm
http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=43618
Now obviously this is just one guy, but he was elected under the approval of the majority of the Episcopal church.
This is all the context under which the new pope was chosen. You have very liberal people, quasi liberal people, and conservative people all vying for their piece of the pie. I belive that many of the more liberal elements of the church would seek to turn it into the world while compltely abandoning the word of God.
The quote he said before the conclave was "We are moving toward a dictatorship of relativism which does not recognize anything as for certain and which has as its highest goal one's own ego and one's own desires."
"Having a clear faith, based on the creed of the church, is often labeled today as a fundamentalism,"
This is a guy who is going to stand up against the kind of liberalism that would seek to destroy the church and he will take a firm stand based on the fundamentals of Catholicism (whether we agree with them or not) and I can appriciate that.
just fyi, it's Pope Benedict XVI... you might get more hits that way :)
Thanks, I updated it.
Jayson, I don't disagree with you, but he's also on record saying that other forms of Christianity aren't the true Church, just Catholicism. . . . that kind of traditionalism I can do without.
Yes he is old but he's just a temporary one actually...just to fill in time for the real pope i dont know that's what my social studies teacher told us today because we were wondering why, even though he is an exceptional candidate, they out a 78 yr old as the pope when he could die anytime soon. *shrugs* Just sharing what I heard.
I know people keep saying he is transitional, but he is 78. Plenty of people live into their 90s and even a few hit 100s. If he lies to 90 thats 12 years which is quite long if you ask me
I am also glad that ol' benny was elected president of the catholic church.
The catholic has very openly and publicly stood up against the forces of evil in the cultural clashes, such as homosexuality and pre-marital sex, and benny will not do anything less. Though, I am concerned about the effects his presidency will have on catholic following, potential or otherwise, in America.
but on another note, benny looks kinda like bilbo baggins when he went crazy for a second and tried to take the ring from froto.
just fyi, it's Frodo XVI... you might get more hits that way :)
he doesn't look like bilbo baggins, he looks like the emperor from star wars.
incidentally, former member of the hitler youth...
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