Persecuted Christians (Ratzinger, Nov 2004)

telegraph ^ | 11/4/04 | telegraph

[Sthitch]

I believe so as well.

[mikeus_maximus]

This could get interesting....

Meanwhile, the American Catholic left is wrining its appeasement-laden hands...

[gaslucas]

Pope Benedict XVI is the last hope for Europe against secularism and the last hope for Latin America against the Theology of Liberation

[ConservativeDude]

And by the way....deficient is a far cry from "heretic." V II formally admitted that we Protestants can be saved....I guess I am grateful, whatever. It doesn't affect me one way or the other. But when discussing these matters precision of language is important and Prots are not deemed heretics by the RCC.

I do hope that Ratzinger will have the stones to deem SOME heretics, though....starting with liberation theologians!

[mikeus_maximus]

"Leaders of Islam would do well to fear and re-assess their own faith in a militant false prohpet." This ain't the Middle Ages, and the Pope does not wield the political power to deploy armies anymore, even if Europe had 'em, which it doesn't.

[massgopguy]

"The most bigoted of the Grand Inquisitors".
Tell us how you really feel?

[ChocChipCookie]

Wow. I think this guy gets it. I'm impressed with this new Pope. And I'm not even Catholic.

[Uncle Hal]

I heard on the radio this morning, before Ratzinger was named the new pope, that his opponents were circulating stories that he was a member of the Hitler youth movement during WW2. I expect these types of accusations will escalate in the next few weeks.

[epluribus_2]

Any christian church that is not part of an official catholic church diocese is by definition "heretical". It is not an insult but a condition. If a heresy is to believe and preach in doctrines contrary to the teaching of the church, then all protestant movements were and are heretical, whether they have merit (which many catholics might eventually accept) or not. Lots of language like that in a 2000 year old church with a billion people in it.

[henkster]

All churches and all men are deficient. Why does the left constantly harp on this? I believe its because the left is the tool of Satan. All of their moral relativism is as old as the lies of the serpent in the Garden. It's nothing new. The doctrines of the left permeate the Bible as the works of Satan. Anything you hear from socialists around the world is right there.

Sure, they are going to trot out that Benedict was in the Hitler Youth. So was everyone else in Germany (not that it makes it right). I'll watch to see how he reacts to that. If it's a "sure I was, I sinned" more power to him! It's nice to know I've got something in common with the Pope; he's a sinner just like me!

We're all sinners. And we can all be saved from our sin by the intercession of our Lord Jesus. That is the one absolute truth that the moral relativism of the left is absolutely terrified of.

[Andy from Beaverton]

It has already started!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1386748/posts

[Andyman]

Here's another good one:

His long interview in yesterday's La Repubblica is thus an authentic reflection of the consensus inside the Vatican. It makes for disturbing reading.

[RexBeach]

I wouldn't know about any of that, I was merely referring to someone on CNN, reportedly, who was very upset that Cardinal Ratzinger was selected as the new pope. The chances are these: If CNN doesn't like it, I will probably love it!

As for other faiths in Christianity, I am just a lowly Catholic who misses JP 2.

Be of good cheer, though. Good days are ahead for us all.

[GarySpFc]

Ping

[OldFriend]

He's got the left all fit to be tied. He's the perfect choice!

[PaulaB]

I am a Southern Baptist female sitting at her desk in Texas thankful to my Lord that Ratzinger is the new Pope. Christians should stay aware of who is speaking about their faith. We all Catholic and non Catholic should be praising God for this Pope. We will need him to fight the forces of evil. It's good to have such a powerful, God fearing man in a position to do just that.

[bella1]

Are you talking to me???????

[RegulatorCountry]

It was more than "stories" that he was involved in the Hitler Youth; this, from the Washington Times:

"Cardinal Ratzinger's secretary was unavailable for comment when his office was called yesterday, but John Allen Jr., a journalist for the National Catholic Reporter, wrote about the episode in a 2002 biography of the cardinal.
Cardinal Ratzinger "was briefly enrolled in the Hitler Youth in the early 1940s, though he was never a member of the Nazi party," Mr. Allen wrote.
"In 1943, he was conscripted into an anti-aircraft unit guarding a BMW plant outside Munich. Later, Ratzinger was sent to Austria's border with Hungary to erect tank traps. After being shipped back to Bavaria, he deserted. When the war ended, he was an American prisoner of war."

[hermgem]

Can Ratzinger turn Europe back towards Christianity and away from secularism?
His full energy is required as Socialism/Marxism has turned into the people's Ersatz God by providing all those welfare and good living goodies without asking for contributions.
Income redistribution through taxation is looked at as a godly right since monies are taken from the rich and wealthy.
Too bad this redistribution also killed the golden goose called economy that used to lay golden eggs.
Ratzinger has an uphill battle ahead of him which might not be winnable since socialism/secularism have ascended to godly status.

[OldFriend]

Imagine declaring that there is actually a RIGHT and a WRONG.