Posted on 04/19/2005 5:13:20 PM PDT by Alex Marko
BOSTON (Reuters) - Liberal U.S. Catholics on Tuesday expressed dismay at the choice of a conservative new pope and doubted he will heal an institution racked by disillusionment and tarnished by a sex abuse scandal among the clergy.
The election of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as Pope Benedict XVI rankled those who advocate married priests, a bigger role for women within the church and softening its policy on homosexuality, birth control, euthanasia and abortion.
Since taking over the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith as the Roman Catholic Church's chief ideologue, Ratzinger has denounced homosexuality and even branded other Christian churches as deficient.
"Gay and lesbian Catholics are going to be very hurt by this election because Cardinal Ratzinger was the lightning rod for so much of the anger they felt under the previous pope," said Francis DeBernardo, executive director of the New Ways Ministry, a national ministry for lesbian and gay Catholics.
Under the Pope John Paul II, American Catholics' attendance at weekly Mass declined as many were put off by what they saw as increasingly conservative Vatican doctrine.
The sense of alienation deepened with a well-publicized scandal over pedophile priests, which erupted in 2002 in the Archdiocese of Boston as court documents showed bishops shuttled pedophile priests from parish to parish.
Victims of sexual abuse by members of the clergy reacted skeptically to word that Ratzinger was the new pope.
"Ratzinger is a polarizing figure to many, who seems to prefer combativeness to compromise and compassion," Mary Grant of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests said in a statement. "It's ... crucial that the new pope follow the words and views of John Paul II who said 'there is no place in the priesthood for anyone who would harm the young."'
MORE OF THE SAME
Catholics for a Free Choice, a progressive group based in Washington, laid out an action plan for the new pontiff to pursue in his first 100 days with the goal of healing fractures within the church.
It urged the new pope to appoint a commission to review church policy on condoms, to establish a pontifical academy on women's rights in the church, and to welcome back those marginalized over the last quarter-century -- including gays and lesbians.
But those familiar with Ratzinger said to expect more of the same, and they doubted he would tailor his views to adapt to the liberal forces evident in the U.S. church.
"This is the guy who's been in charge of stifling dissent in the church," said lawyer Carmen Durso, who represented dozens of plaintiffs in clergy abuse lawsuits against the Boston archdiocese.
"This says to me that the Vatican ... is not prepared to move into the 21st Century, which it desperately needs to do," said Durso, who was raised Catholic but no longer practices.
Christine Schenk, a nun from Cleveland, Ohio, who favors opening the priesthood to married men, said she was disappointed and puzzled by Ratzinger's selection, but she saw glimmers of hope.
Schenk explained that Ratzinger had never ruled out the idea of married priests, and that the church is facing a deepening shortage of priests -- so he may be forced to act.
In a 2004 document, Ratzinger denounced "radical feminism" as undermining the family and natural differences between men and women.
Asked if there was anything in his background that gave her hope that Ratzinger would build a stronger partnership with women in the church, Quinn said: "We always hope for miracles".
I was in the most conservative Catholic seminary in the country from 1969-1976, and celibacy was never mentioned. Anywhere. Any time.
You are exactly right Sara. We don't worry about what Liberal Catholics 'want'. They just want the church to change to suit them, in other words - pay no attention to the Commandments!
Good for you. I converted in 2000.
The Third World Catholics are disappointed because they wished for a Black Pope in Nigeria, and a Hispanic Pope in South America. They will support this Pope.
You have to know that it is scandal for a priest to act in these ways. A lot of times we feel that if we leave that will solve the problem...but the nature of sacrifice for his soul and the other souls he is responsible for is to challenge him with love (sometimes this takes a couple days to cool off with prayer). You are not the only one that feels that way...remember that. Remember to pray for all priests daily and if you see anything...think of what Christ would see in what is happening, then you will know what to do. If they don't respond, go to their vicar, superior or priest administration in your archdiocese.
Been there...don't give up, offer it up.
Praying for you and all of us.
And most of it occured furing the ten years of "enthusiasm" that following Vatican II. The spirit that filled them was not necessarily holy. Reminding me of the antinomian behavior of the anabaptists during the Protestant Reformation.
You mean facists.
She is still waiting for the Church to come to her and say, "We were wrong and YOU were right."
WELCOME!
Neil asks him, "Do you think an American could ever be Pope?"
To which the bishop replied, "If God has chosen him, nationality will not be a problem."
God has chosen, and this bishop is happy. And who could not be happy?
Only those who are not happy with God--there, I have accused the "secular humanists" of the Left.
And I say, anything which makes them unhappy must be good.
CINO
You can "do" both. Never heard of bisexuals? AC/DC, watever?
<< I heard a while ago that US Catholics are only 6% of the total of world Catholics. >>
Which makes those whose howls of entitlement are some of some of those quoted in this piece, all the more pathetic!
Thank God His Holiness is the successor of Peter and the Pope of all Catholics and not the sucker-up to those of America's Catholics-in-name only -- who want to indulge in every kind of evil -- and be "Catholic," too.
Perhaps not the most diplomatic, but dead on. The Episcopal Church has already done all the things the "liberals" want, and it's dying. That's what would happen to the Catholic Church, if it followed their advice.
Pastors--shepards--sometimes have to run the flock through sheepdip.
Yeah, well they can bite me.
Good words Phil. I wish I had written a more explicit letter to Sara than I did. This Pope was the Cardinal who spoke out and talked about a Catholic politician who should not be given Communion because of his beliefs.
Wonder how happy Kerry is now??
I am more worried by the fact that so many Catholics don't believe in the Real Presence. That had to do with bad teaching, not bad behavior.
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