Now, we have done away with that. And, wouldn't you know? We've raised several generations of good, upstanding, moral, and emotionally mature young men!
That's it? Those are the crises? He rebuked Islam and he lifted the ban from a penitent?
Thanks for posting this NYer, it gives an insight into the thought processes of an "Inside the beltway" writer in a Vatican context. But IMO this article is a lot of froth about nothing.
well it’s not like he caused these scandals. Look at the bishops in the lands where they are taking place. And so what if he pisses off the muslims. good for him.
How much filth there is in the Church, and even among those who, in the priesthood, ought to belong entirely to him! How much pride, how much self-complacency! What little respect we pay to the Sacrament of Reconciliation, where he waits for us, ready to raise us up whenever we fall!
It is well worth reflecting on the WAY OF THE CROSS AT THE COLOSSEUM - GOOD FRIDAY 2005.
On this Friday in Lent, I would encourage all Catholics to remember Pope Benedict XVI in their prayers and personal sacrifices. We know the source of this attack. Fr. Amorth has correctly assessed the situation.
It never ceases to amaze me how many people insist on debating and discussing things that can't be known - at least can't be known at this time. I guess it's easier to speculate on things than to elucidate.
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As part of his primary duty, he has an obligation to vigorously act root out abusers and perverts among the clergy.
Is that their complaint about the Pope's brother? With the breathless lead up to that revelation, you'd have thought he'd been caught in bed with a live girl or a dead boy.
Seriously, the man was a choir director, and sometimes, in the past, that's how teachers, choir directors, Scout leaders, heck MOTHERS, got the attention of a misbehaving, or fresh-mouthed child.
I'm not minimizing the fact that there has been abuse of children or young people, by priests, brothers, nuns, or others connected to the Church, but claiming that any of it is causing a 'crisis' in Benedict XVI's papacy is ludicrous. All of the abuse mentioned took place years before he ever became Pope. In fact, it was he who sent the message to the American Bishops many years ago that they'd better start getting a grip on wayward priests, and that they should screen seminarians much more closely for homosexual tendencies. He understood, even if the American Bishops didn't want to admit it, that much of the problem was actually homosexuality and not pedophilia.
It is not surprising that there are attacks on this Pope. He is absolutely unapologetic in pronouncing what he sees as problems in the world caused by our choosing sin, instead of God's ways. He drove the left nuts long before he became Pope, because he has been outspoken for years. That's how he earned the nickname 'God's Rottweiler'. ;o)
It is hard to say for sure, but I would not be surprised if history judges Benedict’s papacy mroe favorably than JPII’s in many ways.
I agree with the others who say he is ticking off the right people.
I will tell you something, too, that I've gleaned from my experience in 30 years as a lawyer. Folks who come forward years and years after the fact to make allegations which cannot be defended against because everybody else is dead -- are NOT telling the truth. The idea that shame prevented them from coming forward might have been true in the 50s and 60s when many kids were taught that priests could do no wrong, but in the post-VCII climate of general lack of reverence towards priests, plus the open discussion of sex and molestation EVERYWHERE, that excuse hasn't washed for at least a quarter century.
Some of them are mentally unstable people who imagine themselves into believing it, or are attracted by all the media attention given to accusations against the Church. Some are talked into it by lawyers. Some hate the Church and are deliberately lying to hurt her. And some are just greedy, venal persons who jump on a bandwagon in the hopes of getting some money. Years ago, the law firm I worked for represented MARTA, the Atlanta bus company. The company staged a "sting" -- they set up an apparent bus wreck on Peachtree Street with an unoccupied bus -- police, wrecker, car crossways in front of it. It made the papers. Within two weeks they had over ONE HUNDRED PEOPLE who claimed to have been on that bus and have been injured. You can't make this stuff up.
Douay-Rhiems analysis of Matthew 16:18
“And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
“The gates of hell, &c. That is, the powers of darkness, and whatever Satan can do, either by himself or his agents. For as the Church is here likened to a house, or fortress, the gates of which, i.e. the whole strength, and all the efforts it can make, will never be able to prevail over the city or Church of Christ. By this promise we are fully assured, that neither idolatry, heresy, nor any pernicious error whatsoever shall at any time prevail over the Church of Christ. (Challoner)”
The battle occurring right now is between the forces of light and the forces of darkness.
And fear ye not them that kill the body, and are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him that can destroy both soul and body in hell....
The fact the Pope Benedict is being attacked means he is following Christ.This modern world wants to crucify and attack those who TRULY follow Christ
As many missteps and fits and starts as Benedict has had, this is going to go down as a papacy that saw quite a purge.
There has not been a time when the Church was not in crisis.
This too shall pass and the Church will stand.
It's obvious that lots of people want to take down the Pope. Not buying into the panic will make opposing their exaggerations much easier.