The current “pope” seems to be massively butthurt over something.
The request for clarification isn’t unreasonable, but from the response you’d think someone was really horrifically offended.
RULE 12: Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.” Cut off the support network and isolate the target from sympathy. Go after people and not institutions; people hurt faster than institutions. (This is cruel, but very effective. Direct, personalized criticism and ridicule works.)
“….The request for clarification isn’t unreasonable, but from the response you’d think someone was really horrifically offended.”
Indeed so! If not for the “Four Cardinals” who may or may not have personal agendas, responding to the faithful with a simple yes or no is nothing but reasonable. In no manner is it a test of faith. In silent refusal of yes-no, Pope Benedict may do well to consider public attitudes formed in other venues by similar response to point-of-fact questions.
A response is also helpful to the obtuse like myself who, while trying to sort out the electoral college, wars and rumors of war and everything above-below the morning fold, now have to reckon with the College of Cardinals.
Cheez ‘n Crackers Bennie, take a pill or go back to Córdoba…
This is the danger in an organization such as this. You have one man with most of the power. Any questioning of his views is a threat to that power.
What did the four cardinals think was going to happen? What would happen if you openly question your boss in public?