He may have publicly scolded "liberation" theologians, but he just as publicly reproached American Catholics, who want to love this pope without accepting his uncompromising opposition to the three issues that separate him from them: birth control, male celibate priesthood and homosexuality. If a schism occurs, it will be over these issues.
Just last week, my mother, citing the mainstream news media, assured me that the next pope will change the very policies mentioned - birth control, male celibate priesthood and homosexuality. I'm sure there are many catholics who, like her, have been hoodwinked by the liberal movement and view this pope as out of step with reality.
Thank God this pope has built up the College of Cardinals with a large number of conservative bishops. Good Morning America went inside the Vatican earlier this week. The following report is most telling, insofar as how the Vatican views America.
The 109 Cardinals from around the world are eligible to vote in a papal election. There are already names being tossed around as possible successors.
From Latin America, with half the world's Catholics, there is buzz about Cardinal Claudio Hummes of Brazil, Cardinal Oscar Andrés Rodríguez Maradiaga of Honduras and Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina.
From Africa, another possibility is Nigeria's Cardinal Francis Arinze, who now works in the Vatican.Another candidate from India is Cardinal Ivan Dias.
From Europe, there are several candidates outside Italy, but if the cardinals go back to an Italian pope the favorites now are Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi of Milan, Cardinal Camillo Ruini of Rome and Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, in the Vatican. One place no one is looking is America.
"If an American got elected, people in the Third World would immediately conclude that either Wall Street bought the election or the CIA fixed the election," said Tom Reese, who wrote Inside the Vatican. "We don't need that in the Catholic Church."
Sorry, Dr. Steve ... you'll have to wait a bit longer to become Pope Piel I
LOL!!!