Posted on 05/15/2005 8:10:44 AM PDT by SmithL
When Pope John Paul II died early last month, papal pundits were consumed with the idea that the world's cardinals might replace him with an African or Latin American pope -- someone from a part of the world where the Catholic Church finds its greatest growth, and perhaps, its future.
Instead, they elected German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, a longtime Vatican insider, as Pope Benedict XVI.
On Friday, Benedict named an American, San Francisco Archbishop William Levada, as his chief doctrinal watchdog for the 1.1 billion Catholics around the world.
To some observers, the election of a German pope and the appointment of an American archbishop show that Catholic leaders are focusing attention on solving problems they see in churches across Europe and the United States. For years, Cardinal Ratzinger bemoaned the steep decline of the church's influence in Italy, France, Germany -- the historic cradle of Catholicism. And while church attendance in the United States is relatively high and stable, the moral and financial fallout of the clergy sexual abuse scandal continues to haunt American bishops accused of covering up the crimes of pedophile priests.
But Benedict's goals as pope -- and his marching orders for Levada -- go much deeper than shoring up church attendance in Europe or finding a way out of the 20-year-old sex abuse scandal. They seek to counter what the pope recently called "the dictatorship of relativism," which the church casts as the idea that there are no absolute truths, and all the religions and spiritual philosophies are equally good and true.
"Benedict, by choosing Levada, showed a priority to addressing the problems that are emerging in the Western culture," said Rome-based Vatican author Gerard O'Connell. "Levada knows all the problems of pedophile priests, the question of gay rights,...
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
I think you're on the right track. Doctrinal deviations are more of an issue in Europe and America. Survival is more of an issue in Africa and Asia!
From the article:
"Masferrer said Catholic traditionalism and the church's "rigid views" are causing many Mexicans to leave the fold and join evangelical churches.
"Evangelicals are tapping into this disconnect," he said. "There's a growing sense here, especially amongst the poor, that evangelicals' theological attitudes are more flexible and pragmatic."
Is this true? As an American my impression is that Evangelicals are just as conservative as the RC Church, with the possible exceptions of the subjects of divorce and birth control.
Or do I just think this because these are the only two reforms I'd make, were I in charge?
True.
My first thought is, that in order to have survival, you need a strong, solid foundation. That includes doctrinal foundation.
Without a solid (and not relative) foundation in Europe and N. America, Asia, Africa and Latin America won't have much to build on.
/just my .02
Universality vs schism is as old as the Council of Nicea.
Interesting thoughts. Consider the Anglican Communion. The doctrinally-solid churches are in Africa and Asia, because many of them face death every day. They know they need the Lord.
The far-out churches are in Europe and America, because they've become, effectively, atheists. Life is easy, licentiousness is fun, who needs God?
And of the examples you've given, which are growing, and which are getting smaller, the Biblically-relevant Churches or the socially-relevant Churhes?
"It doesn't so much matter where you come from," he told The Chronicle. "If an African or Latin American became pope, they are not just serving those areas. They must have the vision to serve the whole world.''
In Brazil, which claims the largest Catholic population in the world, Auxiliary Bishop Dom Odilo Pedro Scherer, the secretary general of the National Conference of Brazilian Bishops, agreed with Levada.
"I don't know this bishop, but I don't think it is important where he came from," Scherer said. "He must have been named because he is competent."
Coming from a South American Cardinal, that is quite a compliment. For all the 'nay' sayers, the Holy Father made his selection based on his experiences with and observations of Levada. We would do well to respect and pray for them both.
"Evangelicals are tapping into this disconnect," he said. "There's a growing sense here, especially amongst the poor, that evangelicals' theological attitudes are more flexible and pragmatic."
The "pragmatic" may well apply. Everything I've seen and read about the growth of the evangelicals indicates that they flourish because they make a direct connection between the life of faith and the practical realities of life in the world, with an emphasis on such virtues as family togetherness, sobriety and thrift. Of course, the Catholic Church officially supports all those virtues, but the Church has seldom connected with the people in a direct, personal way. The "base communities" idea--small, home-based Christian communities--might have achieved that goal if it had not been focused on political change.
Prayers en route to Vatican City!!
What I've seen here in rural Wisconsin, where we are getting an increasing number of immigrants, is evangelical churches putting up pictures of Our Lady of Guadalupe to entice hispanics. Many of the immigrants I have dealt with don't realize that they joined a non-Catholic church.
Many Catholic parishes have dropped the ball as well, not offering bilingual services and making them welcome, until it's too late.
Apparently, Archbishop Levada has a private devotion to Our Lady of Fatima. I must take notice of that and his support for Our Lady of Fatima Russian Byzantine Catholic centre in San Francisco. (The Russian Byzantine Catholics have no bishop or eparchy of their own, so the little church --which includes all kinds of ethnicities-- is a part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese and run by Byzantine-rite (actually bi-ritual) Jesuits.
Guillherme.
"...evangelical churches putting up pictures of Our Lady of Guadalupe to entice hispanics."
Ah, now that is very strange. Especially since the last time I got into a serious disagreement with a Freeper was over this very manifestation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
That freeper said, well, not to put words in the guys mouth, but that Guadalupe, etc. were manifestations of the Devil, you know.
So, well, interesting.
But as I've said many times to many people, some things are not negotiable. Especially abortion, for me. The Pope could come out tomorrow and say it was OK, and I would still feel the same way I feel today, that it is killing of a 100% human person pure and simple.
But of course, I feel that way because of science, as a Catholic I'm just glad my church is getting the science right.
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