The Usual Suspects...(CAIR, Georgetown prof, liberal rabbi, 'splain how B16 went wrong. Hoot)

Ignatius (Press) Insight Scoop ^ | September 20, 2006 | Carl Olson

[Mrs. Don-o]

Funny, isn't it, how certain experts and leaders of other religions are so eager to explain to Pope Benedict XVI how to really be a pope?

A shining example is this piece in today's Baltimore Sun. [Quotes from:] (America magazine's Thomas Reese)...(St. John's U history professor Frank Coppa)...(CAIR's communications director, Ibrahim Hooper)(a Dr. Gillis, chairman of Georgetown "theology" department)(Rabbi Jack Bemporad, Center for Interreligious Understanding)

To summarize so far:

• Benedict doesn't realize he is pope...Whether this is due to excessive stupidity or humility is not clear.

• Benedict doesn't have "street smarts."

• He's not political enough, and is too "theologically oriented." That simply won't do.

• He's not John Paul II. And we know that everyone — and I mean everyone — loved everything that John Paul II ever said or did. I dare you to find proof to the contrary.

• He's not an expert on the history of religions. (This, from the chairman of the "theology" department at Georgetown. Take it or leave it.)

• His work as head of the CDF was so narrow, he's having difficulty understanding what it means to be pope. As for the fact that he has been a priest for over fifty years, was a theological expert at Vatican II, ... and one of John Paul II's trusted advisors... Well, that's nice, but he's going to have to stop focusing on Christian theology and ideas. Who does he think he is, the pope?!

Finally...

There have been other missteps in Ratzinger's past, Coppa said. He "had some explaining to do" after publication of the declaration Dominus Iesusthe path to salvation was through Jesus Christ.

Ah ha! Benedict's just too Catholic and too hung up on the whole Jesus is Lord thing...

[Mrs. Don-o]

I've posted a bunch of B16 articles on the News/Activism forum, but I put this one in the Religion forum because it's kinda intramural (Ignatius Press people responding to the Usual Suspect Church people, etc...)

It's a really a hoot, though, and worth reading in the original. I was also tickled by the first entry in the comment box:

"I'm eagerly awaiting all the Historico-Critico apparachiks at Notre Dame et al, such as Richard McBrien to launch into a tirade about how the Koran is not literally true, about how Islam should allow women to be muftis and about how Mohammed was not literally assumed into heaven and all that angel Gabriel stuff was metaphorical and not literal..."

[AliVeritas]

I second that. Ping me when we see the talk on Islam.
Unbelievable.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Sorry for the typo in the next-to-last line of the article, which should have read:

"...after publication of the declaration Dominus Iesus, which argued that the path to salvation was through Jesus Christ."

[ELS]

Thanks. I needed a good laugh.

[marshmallow]

Pygmies and spiritual midgets pleading with cyclops to be eaten last.

Their politcally correct posturing counts for nothing with the insatiable Islamic beast.

[siunevada]

Benedict doesn't have "street smarts," which is to say, I'm guessing, that he never was the editor of America magazine.

Fr. Reese got cred? Must be the Arab 'street' we hear of in the media.

[NYer]

One catholic prelate (sorry, his name eludes me) faults the recent change in hierarchy at the Vatican (i.e. the pope's own fault). This priest claims he served as a proof reader of the late pontiff's speeches to prevent errors of this nature from occuring. He also attested that JPII's Vatican was filled with many theologians familiar with Islam.

In reading through his comments, why no one fails to give Benedict XVI credit for his intended goal - establishing a dialogue. Everywhere we turn today, people cater to the Muslim demands. No one wants to broach the dialogue .... no one, until now.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

"He's not an expert on the history of religions." (This, from the chairman of the "theology" department at Georgetown. Take it or leave it.)

Whereas they are such great experts at "the history of religions" at Georgetown that they have forgotten how to be Catholic or what was involved in that.

[maryz]

Yeah, where is media favorite Richard McBrien anyway? Now that he's mentioned, I realize he hasn't been around. Hope he's not ill! ;-)

Good post -- thanks!

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

Aren't ALL of these sources liberals...who were already biased against Pope Benedict when he was just Cardinal Ratzinger?

[Jaded]

Many people see kissing the Koran as catering to the Muslims. The Holy Father closed the cafeteria and they are still in a snit.

The Lord God answered our prayers with Benedict XVI.

[incredulous joe]

I suppsoe Lancelot Link wsa unavailable to contribute his weighty presence to these pious observations.

[Nihil Obstat]

There have been other missteps in his past, Coppa said. As prefect, the future pope "had some explaining to do" after publication of the declaration Dominus Iesus, which argued that the path to salvation was through Jesus Christ.

That is classic. How much does St. John's cost a year?

[OKIEDOC]

The unholy past of the Muslim cleric demanding the Pope's execution Lsd, casual sex, alcohol, this is the unholy past of the Muslim cleric Anjem Choudary who is demanding the Pope's execution following his comments against the prophet Mohammed Full Story: http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23367406-details/The+unholy+past+of+the+Muslim+cleric+demanding+the+Pope%27s+execution/article.do MESSAGE: AND THEY SAY THAT THESE GUYS ARE THE MUSLIM MINORITY, I THINK THE MAJORITY.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Thanks for posting this enlightening link. I wonder how many of these fanatical Muslim clerics are working off a state of extreme self-disgust over their own past moral lapses.

[Grampa Dave]

[Mrs. Don-o]

Perfect!