[starfish923]

I am delighted for Benedict XVI, the PanzerPope.

Let the German haters vent forth. They will.

Europe, Germany included, needed another pope. The third world countries, growing in Catholics, can wait their turn. They don't need it, imho, as much as the first world Christian countries do.

God bless PanzerKardinal Joseph Rat("Councillor" in German)zinger, Benedict (Blessed) XVI. Benedict XV did much to bring togther Christians after WW I.
It's a good name.

I hope he stays healthy for many, many years.

[jocon307]

Well I am partly of German Catholic descent and I must say I am very proud. I hope he's a big a right winger as they say, but my fondest wishes are probably only dreams. But since the lefties are all screaming blue murder, I can only be happy about this.

[donbosco74]

ping

[Cronos]

It's precisely that stance, others say, that proves Ratzinger is bad news for a church that is rapidly losing parishioners in North America and now risks further alienating young people who don't view pre-marital sex or birth control as sinful.

Rot. youngsters are not looking for wishy-washy groups that say do what you like. That's killed off the ECUSA. But look at the Anglicans in Africa -- they have not compromised and are still going strong. Look at the Orthodox, they haven't compromised either and are still going strong. Ditto for Eastern-rite Catholics. With the PanzerKardinal in charge, I see many Europeans coming back to the conservative fold, I see Asians, Africans and Latin Americans growing in the faith. I would have preferrerd a third world pope, that's true, but Ratzinger's a good choice in my opinion

[Salvation]

Canadian Catholicis will come around. We just need to pray for them.

[NYer]

"It makes no difference to me if he's German or not, but a more progressive pope would have been a much better idea," said Brundl, who's grown disillusioned with her church due to its refusal to ordain women and to condone the use of condoms in the over-populated Third World, where millions are sick with AIDS and starving.

These 'lapsed' catholics simply don't get it. The pope's job is to conserve the deposit of faith. Even the worst popes in the church's history NEVER erred on doctrine. JPII infallibly declared that the issue of women's ordination was dead.

If these people are so at odds with the teachings of the Catholic Church, the door is wide open and they may leave. There are 30,000+ other christian churches that embrace those teachings they seek to impose on Christ's Church.

Catholic Ping
Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list

[NYer]

"It makes no difference to me if he's German or not, but a more progressive pope would have been a much better idea," said Brundl, who's grown disillusioned with her church due to its refusal to ordain women and to condone the use of condoms in the over-populated Third World, where millions are sick with AIDS and starving.

These 'lapsed' catholics simply don't get it. The pope's job is to conserve the deposit of faith. Even the worst popes in the church's history NEVER erred on doctrine. JPII infallibly declared that the issue of women's ordination was dead.

If these people are so at odds with the teachings of the Catholic Church, the door is wide open and they may leave. There are 30,000+ other christian churches that embrace those teachings they seek to impose on Christ's Church.

Catholic Ping
Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list

[reformjoy]

Oh great!

If Hitler had a daughter,
it would be Hillary...

And now..the pope is a Hitler Youth!!!

*The Beast Lives*

[FatherofFive]

"It's such a strong signal, almost a defiant signal, of more of the same"

2,000 years of same old, same old. That's the way it is going to stay.

[franky]

###"I had really hoped they might have picked a Third World pope, someone who would have been more in touch with the pressing issues in the world."###

She will have her wishes granted when Cardinal Arinze moves onto Pope Benedict XVI's old job.

Her skirts will surely be flapping in the breeze when the Holy Spirit blows some sense into her. Come Holy Spirit Come.