Posted on 04/21/2005 4:14:45 AM PDT by billorites
POPE BENEDICT XVI, we are told, is seen as a "hard-line enforcer," "the doctrinal enforcer," "an unrelenting conservative," "too old, too cold and too divisive" and "likely to deepen the fissures that exist in the church." And that's just what "objective" journalists "reported" yesterday.
That the leader of the Roman Catholic Church should be addressed in these political terms is causing consternation among cardinals, who understand that the Pope leads a church, not a nation.
What the media are calling "conservative" is really Roman Catholic.
"I think we just have to be very careful about caricaturising the Holy Father, and very simply putting labels on this man of the church," said Cardinal Roger Mahoney of Los Angeles.
Complaining that the Pope should bend to popular will and embrace ideas that directly contradict church doctrine makes as much sense as complaining that the National Organization for Women is not led by Eminem. No institution should be expected to choose a leader that does not believe in its mission and uphold its principles.
We are further amused by the worry that Pope Benedict XVI might be "divisive." Divisive like Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson, perhaps? The day after Benedict's election, Amazon.com's list of its 25 best-selling books contained nine by or about the new Pope. Catholics worldwide are celebrating him. Meanwhile, Robinson actually is splitting his church, and the media hand-wringers don't seem to care.
The media may not understand the Pope's duties, but the Pope does. He said in his first official statement:
"The church today must revive within herself an awareness of the task to present the world again with the voice of the One Who said: 'I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.' In undertaking his ministry, the new Pope knows that his task is to bring the light of Christ to shine before the men and women of today: not his own light but that of Christ."
Let us judge this Pope by how well he guides the Catholic Church according to its own precepts, not according to ours.
Yep, darnit! Another one of those "Catholic" Popes! LMAO!!
The media is so out of control they think the world needs to conform to their twisted view of the way things ought to be.
It's amazing how many people (Catholic and non-Catholic) think they know best about how the church should be run. It seems that there are too many Americans who want the Pope to be a Catholic in the tradition of Ted Kennedy.
The arrogance on display in the MSM is stunning. Does anyone really think that the Catholic Church should listen to what Katie Couric thinks it should be? Or John Kerry, for that matter.
Wonder if they thought JP2 was Catholic?
Seriously, liberals have never liked conservatives.
No surprise here. Nothing new.
Is the Pope Catholic?
Funny stuff!
Is the Pope Catholic?
LOL!
It's great news for liberals that the pope is so conservative. It'll only lead to dwindling support for Catholicism. The unfortunate truth is that religion follows society, not the other way round
Non-Catholics are not entitled to an opinion. Period. Of course, Catholics' opinions don't count since the Enclave oinions were the only ones that mattered.
The affrontery and arrogance not of just the MSM but of Americans in general (and others worldwide) is insulting.
"I always thought "Is the Pope Catholic?" a rhetorical question."
Oh sure, first you tell me the Pope is Catholic.
Whats next??
Ya' gonna tell me a bear sh*ts in the woods????
Picked that up off the Andrew Sullivan site: http://www.andrewsullivan.com
The Pope's views on what's right and what's wrong morally are not just Catholic's views, they are views held by millions of Christians of many different denominations.
The Pope can and will be a powerful voice for all thinking Christians and that's what's deviling the libs.
"What do you mean I'm Catholic?"
Its amazing how having a new pope ,can have such an effect on so many.
You can follow almost any statement by the MSM about the Pope with, "Unless you actually believe in God."
This doesn't explain the growth of Christianity in the first place.
Once the MSM and the other Lefties realize that the Pope is Catholic, leads other Catholics who follow the Catholic religion and believe in the Catholic faith, it is going to get interesting.
Unpleasant maybe, but interesting.
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