Posted on 04/19/2005 5:13:20 PM PDT by Alex Marko
BOSTON (Reuters) - Liberal U.S. Catholics on Tuesday expressed dismay at the choice of a conservative new pope and doubted he will heal an institution racked by disillusionment and tarnished by a sex abuse scandal among the clergy.
The election of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as Pope Benedict XVI rankled those who advocate married priests, a bigger role for women within the church and softening its policy on homosexuality, birth control, euthanasia and abortion.
Since taking over the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith as the Roman Catholic Church's chief ideologue, Ratzinger has denounced homosexuality and even branded other Christian churches as deficient.
"Gay and lesbian Catholics are going to be very hurt by this election because Cardinal Ratzinger was the lightning rod for so much of the anger they felt under the previous pope," said Francis DeBernardo, executive director of the New Ways Ministry, a national ministry for lesbian and gay Catholics.
Under the Pope John Paul II, American Catholics' attendance at weekly Mass declined as many were put off by what they saw as increasingly conservative Vatican doctrine.
The sense of alienation deepened with a well-publicized scandal over pedophile priests, which erupted in 2002 in the Archdiocese of Boston as court documents showed bishops shuttled pedophile priests from parish to parish.
Victims of sexual abuse by members of the clergy reacted skeptically to word that Ratzinger was the new pope.
"Ratzinger is a polarizing figure to many, who seems to prefer combativeness to compromise and compassion," Mary Grant of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests said in a statement. "It's ... crucial that the new pope follow the words and views of John Paul II who said 'there is no place in the priesthood for anyone who would harm the young."'
MORE OF THE SAME
Catholics for a Free Choice, a progressive group based in Washington, laid out an action plan for the new pontiff to pursue in his first 100 days with the goal of healing fractures within the church.
It urged the new pope to appoint a commission to review church policy on condoms, to establish a pontifical academy on women's rights in the church, and to welcome back those marginalized over the last quarter-century -- including gays and lesbians.
But those familiar with Ratzinger said to expect more of the same, and they doubted he would tailor his views to adapt to the liberal forces evident in the U.S. church.
"This is the guy who's been in charge of stifling dissent in the church," said lawyer Carmen Durso, who represented dozens of plaintiffs in clergy abuse lawsuits against the Boston archdiocese.
"This says to me that the Vatican ... is not prepared to move into the 21st Century, which it desperately needs to do," said Durso, who was raised Catholic but no longer practices.
Christine Schenk, a nun from Cleveland, Ohio, who favors opening the priesthood to married men, said she was disappointed and puzzled by Ratzinger's selection, but she saw glimmers of hope.
Schenk explained that Ratzinger had never ruled out the idea of married priests, and that the church is facing a deepening shortage of priests -- so he may be forced to act.
In a 2004 document, Ratzinger denounced "radical feminism" as undermining the family and natural differences between men and women.
Asked if there was anything in his background that gave her hope that Ratzinger would build a stronger partnership with women in the church, Quinn said: "We always hope for miracles".
Bless you, Miss Marple. I assure you that you will still be able to follow your "namesake's" investigations! My prayers, for your decision and for the future!
Reuters is so hilariously biased. "Progressive" is such a nice, non-threatening, moderate word. Compared to Catholic doctrine as I understand it, they would be better described as a "radically leftist Catholic group."
Oh my gosh... I am so excited for you.
Jane, if there is anything I can help you with, please don't hesitate to ask.
Welcome!
That's always been his most important job. It is the job of the law enforcement officials to put the abusers in jail. They should have done that years ago. Unfortunately, because of political considerations in some instances, and personal considerations of the parents in others, the priests were allowed to stay free.
The Church erred in allowing the men to stay in their ministries for as long as they did; they were WAY too pastoral in my opinion, but Ratzinger was absolutely right in his statement that the media blew the story out of all proportion to the number of abusers and victims, almost never mentioning that their numbers covered over 50 years. There are other groups and institutions that had similar or worse problems, but the media made it seem like the Church was the ONLY group doing it.
I believe the Church in the US has been changing in it's approach to this problem; some Dioceses had made changes even before the news broke in Boston. Pope Benedict XVI may not make any speeches on the subject, but I believe he's been working behind the scenes making sure it doesn't happen again.
At the moment our diocease, The Diocease of La Crosse, has a 5 year program.
Nyuk nyuk nyuk...that's how we know it's the right one.
"neener neener neener" is Latin for
"You have been crushed under the Roman heel
You have been crushed under the Roman heel
You have been crushed under the Roman heel"
Just had an IM exchange with my 30 y/o daughter (husband and 2 daughters of her own) and found her very resistant to the "liberal" intrusions.
When my husband converted in the mid-90s in California, it took less than a year. I think it's the same here in Arizona, so it depends on the diocese, I guess. Plus, he was already a Christian so he wasn't "starting from scratch," so to speak.
Never heard of most of these groups, what are they? A wacko with a newsletter and a telephone?
How much of a MINORITY are these people? As far as the homosexuals are concerned they have to be a tiny minority of and even tinier minority.
We all know the MSM would be parading the "dispointment". The MSM totally telegraphed the stories for the next few days when they did that ABSURD poll.
Aww, are the poor babies offended?
What is this "progressive" Catholics business by the way? Much of what these "progressives" want to introduce into the Catholic Church is nothing short of barbarism. Going back to the days of barbarism is not "progress" in my book.
I've met these folks in my time, and they still haven't told me why it is that none of this Priest abuse business happened until we started listening to "progressive" theologians. All they do is get all mad and say you want to bring back the Inquisition.
Kudos to the Cardinals for standing up for our faith and putting in Benedict XVI. Stand firm, and walk tall.
It's our Church, and they can cry if they want to.
And this Pope will do it.
YOU SAID IT !!! Long time practicing Catholic who became extremely disallusioned with the area churches and their liberal trend... Kept going and going and finding myself falling away.. Have gone further out and out, but unfortunately, it is the same all around. Seriously hoping to find a good conservative church soon
Wolf blitzer was sure whining today ...
Not good enough. He should publicly apologize.
Was he?
I avoided him.
Too many others had me giggling all day.
Another angel gets his wings!
I walked into St. Bridget's in Mesa, Az. and was SHOCKED!! There was a he/she talking from the pulpit about BUSING! and when I questioned the priest (strongly) he RAN AWAY!! He;s gone now.
OH, Miss Marple, that's wonderful!
This is truly a joyous day!
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