Church in Crisis: Pope Benedict Polarized More Than Unified

Speigel Online ^ | February 11, 2013 – 07:57 PM | A Commentary by Peter Wensierski

[haffast]

Ever since his appointment in April 2005, Benedict XVI has been a divisive figure. The euphoria over the election of a Bavarian pope that first swept Germany has long since receded. With all due respect to the first pope to voluntarily step down in hundreds of years: In the eight years he held office, the pope did more to polarize than to unify Catholics in his country of birth.

Benedict XVI never managed to grow beyond his former self, the conservative professor of theology Joseph Ratzinger. The pope did not build bridges as a Pontifex Maximus should. Here in Germany, his election led to an increasing split within the Church. On the one side were the disappointed advocates of long-overdue reform. On the other were the fundamentalists, the upholders of tradition and self-appointed guardians of the faith who wanted to turn the clock back to before the Second Vatican Council and sought salvation in an authoritarian and hierarchical Church of the past.

Some in Germany are already speaking of a schism within the Conference of Bishops. During his years in office, Pope Benedict boosted the reactionary wing of the Catholic community, with its frequently obscure splinter groups, more than his predecessor did -- be it with his approaches to the ultra-conservative Pius Brothers, his scolding of renegade theologians or his fondness for the Traditional Mass. His efforts to address the abuse scandals that rocked the Catholic Church all over the world were too little, too late. Neither in the United States, Ireland nor Germany did he and his bishops manage to regain the trust subsequently lost.

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[Mrs. Don-o]

I think your "feeling" may have been influenced by secular media portrayal, which has always been either uncomprehending or malicious toward Benedict, and has always cast him in a cold light. Unfortunately, most of us get our info from the secular media, more to our detriment.

If you have the chance, I would like to recommend that you read some of Benedict's writings first-hand. They're not hard to find. His major works are available used for under $10 at (This LINK) and really, it's good stuff.

I find him actually tender, as well as clear and above all truthful, even when he's speaking "Truth to Power" --- and by "power" I mean, he's speaking to powerful hostile audiences, like 90% of the secular press.

"The fact that the Lord can work and act even with insufficient means consoles me, and above all I entrust myself to your prayers."
Pope Benedict XVI

[Revolting cat!]

I’ve just heard someone who knows the history of the Church in and out say in response to a similar MSM report: “The Church has been in crisis for 2,000 years and it survives!”

[Mrs. Don-o]

I don’t think so. Not under a Catholic banner. Only moral relativists -— the very ones has been Benedict warning us about -— could unite all religions in this world, and then only when they have all the true Catholics -— all true Christians -— in prisons or in the grave.

[SuziQ]

He fought against those who were making changes ‘in the Spirit of Vatican II’ that bore no resemblance to anything in the documents.

[Jvette]

Your post reflects my first thoughts when I heard the news about our German Shepard stepping down.

I remember when he was elevated to Pope and everyone thought he would only be in office for a few years at most.

I believe he has done what the Holy Spirit has called him to do.

What a joy and a blessing he has been.

May God’s grace by always upon him.

[SuziQ]

He doesn’t seem devout or caring...cold. What the church needs is someone caring and loving yet strong in the traditions of the church. (Probably no Pope John types are left).

Pope Benedict XVI was exactly what we needed at the time. We had enjoyed years of the happy Pope, who was so warm and effusive, but as he declined in health, the people who wanted to change the Church started their sniping and pushing, thinking they can make headway because they perceive the Pope as weak.

When Cardinal Ratzinger preached the sermon at the funeral of John Paul II, it was exactly what we all needed to hear, and I believe the Cardinals felt the moving of the Holy Spirit in him, so that's why it didn't take long for them to choose him. They'd known him for years as strong in faith and full of love for God; it was a logical step. He was strong and sure, and stood against modernity and those who would change the Church simply because she was standing against the things they wanted to do.

I pray our next Pope is a good mix of the two who preceded him.

[Northern Yankee]

I am with you on the Pope. I thought he was excellent.

He has a brilliant mind, and understands the liturgy better than anyone living.

Have a blessed Lent.