Posted on 04/18/2005 6:12:19 AM PDT by NYer
VATICAN CITY - German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger defended Roman Catholic Church doctrine and condemned “the dictatorship of relativism” at Monday’s mass to pray for guidance in the election of the next pope.
In his homily, Ratzinger, the dean of the College of Cardinals and a leading candidate for the papacy, said relativism “recognizes nothing definitive and its final measure is no more than ego and desire.”
The 78-year-old cardinal pointed to “so many winds of doctrine that we have known in recent decades, so many ideological currents, so many ways of thinking,” including Marxism, liberalism, radical individualism, atheism and mysticism.
He was speaking before 115 cardinal electors were set later Monday to begin a days-long secret conclave to elect a successor to John Paul II.
Ratzinger said a “mature faith is not one that follows the waves of fashion and the latest novelty; adult and mature is a faith that is deeply grounded in friendship with Christ.”
The conservative German prelate, who as Prefect of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith is one of the Church’s leading enforcers of theological discipline, said: “Every day new sects are born, and what Saint Paul said about the deception of men, on cleverness that leads to mistakes, is becoming so.
“Having clear faith according to the credo of the Church is often labeled fundamentalism, while relativism, that is, allowing oneself to be carried here and there by whatever wind of doctrine, seems like the only attitude with any currency today,” said Ratzinger.
In the homily, which received quiet applause from few cardinals while others showed no particular reaction, he also called on the clerics to be “guided by holy concern: the concern to bring to everyone the gift of faith and friendship with Christ.
“In truth, the love, the friendship of God has been given to us to transmit to others,” he said.
Ratzinger implored the faithful and the cardinal electors to ”heartily pray to the Lord at this time so that, after the great gift of Pope John Paul II, He will give us once again a pastor according to His heart, a pastor who will guide us to the knowledge of Christ, His love and true joy.”
His homily is posted here, on the "live" thread:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1385286/posts?page=233#233
What language did Ratzinger speak in?
"Do cardinals usually applaud during homilies? It's never happened at any Mass that I've been to."
Be careful... That might lead to dancing!
And hopefully the child molesters as well. Those are two things I pray the next Pope will stand up and take care of, forcefully and decisively.
Please do - and be sure you ping me - I like this guy - because the dems are gonna hate him.
Not during Mass! 8-)
Doh!
These are the people who I settle the blame for the current state of the Catholic Church in America. These men accepted the concept of "chaste" homosexuals in the clergy and opened the door to the rampant abuse of young boys by homosexual priests (and its the homosexuals that have caused the Church problems - hetro priests who break their vows do it with adult women who don't sue for abuse). These men also covered for the abusers because they do not want their liberal views discredited.
We need Cardinal R., or someone with his chops, to keep the Church on the narrow road, unlike some others who have set foot on the wide road that leads only down (Lutherans, Episcopalians, etc.).
I thought I would sing another verse for the choir. ;^D)
That would be fine. He could spend it all in Rome, and that would be enough time to clean house. Swing the meat cleaver. Break out the lumber. Throw around big metaphors.
Cardinal Ratzinger is a Man's Man of God and a very powerful spiritual person. He is pragmatic, compassionate and tough and he would set a good foundation for the future. He has the balance of tenderness and toughness that we should look for in our leaders. It would be interesting and entertaining to watch him as Supreme Pontiff.
Luther also taught that bigamy was OK because Scripture didn't condemn it.
Sorry .. I don't understand what you mean by that ..??
I am in 100% agreement with both of you.
Let the white smoke out!
Especially for the Panzerkardinal!
P.S. Loved ole Groucho. You Bet Your Life was one of my dad's favorite T.V. shows.
Yeah - me too. I sure hope he gets it. He's a no-nonsense kind of guy.
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