Well now. An ultraconservative. Who would have thought?
The chosen name of the new pope — Benedict — draws a connection to Benedict XV, the Italian pontiff from 1914 to 1922 who had the difficult task of providing leadership for Catholic countries on opposite sides of World War I. His declared neutrality, and his repeated protests against weapons like poison gas angered both sides. Benedict was also known for reaching out to Muslims and for efforts to close the nearly 1,000-year estrangement with Christian Orthodox churches
Some hope that this is a sign of things to come, that the policies that will come forth from the vatican might be somewhat more..moderate.
That there is no flexibility on the church’s views on priestly celibacy, contraception and the ban on ordinations for women, i am not surprised. I have learnt to live with catholic tradition as much as anyone can i suppose, but the rest?
In 1986, he denounced rock music as the “vehicle of anti-religion.” In 1988, he dismissed anyone who tried to find “feminist” meanings in the Bible. Last year, he told American bishops that it was allowable to deny Communion to those who support such “manifest grave sin” as abortion and euthanasia.
Pontiff or not, who has the power to deny communion?
There's more. He once called Buddhism a religion for the self-indulgent. In an interview with the French magazine Le Figaro last year, he suggested Turkey’s bid to join the Europe Union conflicted with Europe’s Christian roots — a view that could unsettle Vatican attempts to improve relations with Muslims apparently.
“Turkey has always represented a different continent, in permanent contrast to Europe,” he was quoted as saying.
Mmhmm.
I worry. A day before he was elected pope, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger made clear the type of church he wanted: one that rigidly maintained the doctrines he himself had upheld as guardian of church orthodoxy, where there were absolute truths on matters such as abortion, celibacy and homosexuality.
It's all very well to uphold the values one was brought up with, but.. In a changing world, with modern problems, will a mindset such as his be appropriate?
There is only one other thing that keeps me wondering. His holiness celebrated his 78th birthday during the weekend. How long will before we hold another conclave? Why did the Vatican choose someone who only has a few more years at most? Reasons simplistic me will doubtless never guess, but what i would give to be privy.
