Posted on 04/02/2005 8:17:39 PM PST by sinkspur
Who Will Be the Next Pope? These 20 candidates have possibilties By John L. Allen Jr. Rome
Prognostication is a notoriously hazardous business, and the trash heaps of church history are littered with the carcasses of journalists who have tried to predict the next pope. Almost no one, for example, correctly anticipated that the archbishop of Kraków, Karol Wojtyla, would emerge from the second conclave of 1978 as Pope John Paul II.
In that spirit, the intent here is not to "predict" who will become the next pope, which is a futile exercise. Instead, the aim is to identify cardinals whose backgrounds, accomplishments, and personalities guarantee they will at least get a serious look as possible papal material. Doing so will illustrate the criteria cardinals typically employ in trying to size up who among their peers might be able to step into the "Shoes of the Fisherman."
Will the next pope be one of these 20 men? Perhaps. But all are certainly under consideration, and that by itself makes them worth a look.
(Excerpt) Read more at nationalcatholicreporter.org ...
The cardinal is a conservative on virtually all church matters. In 1990, as bishop of Tehuac, he closed a seminary that he charged was teaching "Marxist" theology. He is also close to the Legionaries of Christ, one of the new right-wing movements in the life of the church that sprung up after the Second Vatican Council.
>>That's a pre-Vatican II concept, and is simply not part of current Catholicism.
Untrue, IMO. Here is my opinion on this. Please enlighten me if I'm incorrect.
For example, throughout history Catholics who married twice were denied sacraments, but rarely, if at all, excommunicated. Vatican II never changed this practice...
This action, which occurs today, is "tantamount to kicking people out of the church" as you put it.
And Vatican II does not prevent kicking people out of the Church either. There is no "pre/post" Vatican II delination here. It's why Bishop Bruskewicz's excommunications were upheld by Rome....
The reason you don't think it's not part of "current catholicsm" is that we have a bunch of leaders who take a pastoral approach to things. You saw what that did with the sexual molestation scandal -- hideous results...
Kicking people out of the Church is an integral part of Catholicsim -- VII didn't change it. It meets the spirit and letter of VII. But the reasn for doing so is to save the soul of someone, not to simply damn them to hell.
It's used to bring people in line -- a work of mercy..
Finally, don't try the old "Vatican II" trick. Vatican II is a great work and I'm not a "pre-vII" person... But so many things are claimed about VII which simply are not true..
I am not Catholic, but the Cuban would be interesting.. especially if he is anti-Castro (like Pope John Paul II against communism in Poland).
If there were a qualified Saudi...
It has no bearing..
My understanding however, is that it fits the mold of being infallible...
For tomorrow. You and I differ on the approach. And, I think most of the papabile would also differ with you.
Half of the candidates support heavy redistribution of wealth. THat to me is immoral , against human freedom and dignity.
Will he support the spread of democracy?
He was against the War in Iraq, but so was John Paul II.
Capitalism cannot exist without morals.
It's rare that a pope is non-Italian. The possibility that there will be two consecutive non-Italian popes seems out of the question.
If he is Pope,I'm changing religions.
I mean, is there anyone here who thinks John Kerry was really a Catholic?
I would love to see him be named "Pope Nicholas."
Good posting.
I read the capsules for each possible candidate. They all seem acceptable to me.
One question though. I didn't see an American on the list.
Is this because (a) no American is qualified enough or (b) there's no way in hell an American will ascend to the throne of St Peter?
Opinions anyone?
1) Dionigi Tettamanzi, Italy
2) Claudio Hummes, Brazil
3) Dario Castrillón Hoyos, Colombia
One of the above will be the next Pope.
I disagree. Arinze DOES like to knowck heads. Since getting his new job, he's caused quite a sensation in Amercian academia. The fact he's smooooth PLUS very conservative PLUS diplomatic PLUS strict... He could be excellent!
mark for later. it's late.
Pope John Paul II did more to purge Catholicism of socialism than any man alive. The liberals are still hating him for his suppression of liberation theology.
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