Political Games - Where the fuck’s the reset button?

Well, we got ourselves a new pope. Benedict… XVI? Yeh, some number greater than 10. Way to be original.

What are my thoughts on him? Well, I don’t really know him, nor have I had any contact with him… so I just let others speak. Excerpt:

…Chills ran up and down my spine as I watched the protestors and then looked back at Ratzinger. Soon, anger swelled up inside me: This man was the embodiment of all that had oppressed me, all the horrors I had suffered as a child. It was because of his bigotry that my family, my church — everyone around me — had alienated me, and it was because of his bigotry that I was called “faggot” in school. Because of his bigotry I was treated like garbage. He was responsible for the hell I’d endured. He and his kind were the people who forced me to live in shame, in the closet. I became livid…

Suddenly, I jumped up on one of the marble platforms and, looking down, I addressed the entire congregation in the loudest voice I could. My voice rang out as if it were amplified. I pointed at Ratzinger and shouted: “He is no man of God!” The shocked faces of the assembled Catholics turned to the back of the room to look at me as I continued: “He is no man of God — he is the Devil!”

hm… that didn’t seem too positive… let’s see somewhere else! Excerpts from 2nd-to-last comment on page:

He wrote a letter of advice to U.S. bishops on denying communion to politicians who support abortion rights, which some observers viewed as a slam at Democratic presidential candidate John F. Kerry. He publicly cautioned Europe against admitting Turkey to the European Union and wrote a letter to bishops around the world justifying that stand on the grounds that the continent is essentially Christian in nature. In another letter to bishops worldwide, he decried a sort of feminism that makes women “adversaries” of men.

……………….

He once called homosexuality a tendency toward “intrinsic moral evil” and dismissed the uproar over priestly pedophilia in the United States as a “planned campaign” against the church.

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While many theologians strive for a Catholic Church that is more open and in touch with the world around it, the new Pope’s mission has in the past seemed to entailing stamping out dissent, and curbing the “wild excesses” of this more tolerant era.

As prefect of doctrine, Pope Benedict wielded the tools of his office with steely efficiency. By influencing diocese budgets, bishops’ transfers and even excommunications, what an opponent called “symbolic violence”, the then Cardinal clamped down on the more radical contingent of the Church.

He has even claimed the prime position of the Church of Rome over other Christian Churches. Although he has apologised for this, he has never been so contrite about excluding liberation theologians, more progressive priests or those in favour of the ordination of women.

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[Ratzinger wrote]
-Revelation in Christ is complete and cannot be complemented by other religions, even though the divine mystery in itself remains “inexhaustible�;

-Sacred writings of other religions may have elements that “maintain a life-relationship with God,� but only the Old and New Testaments are “inspired texts�;

-Whatever the Holy Spirit brings about in other religions “serves as a preparation for the gospel and can only be understood in reference to Christ�;

-Non-Catholic Christian churches have “defects,� and Protestant communities are not “churches� at all in the proper sense. To the extent non-Catholic communities
lead people to salvation, it is derived “from the very fullness of grace and truth entrusted to the Catholic church�;

-Prayers and rituals of other religions do not have a “divine origin,� and some “superstitions or other errors� represent “an obstacle to salvation�;

-Catholics must be committed to “announcing the necessity of conversion to Jesus Christ.�

Hm, that isn’t too inspiring either… anywhere else to look? Hey, how about his fan club! Best comment on the site?

Is this a joke? This man knows less about God than a pork quantic theory. Use your common sense!

Hm. Well, I doubt he’ll reign for 20 years (hell, he’ll be lucky to make it to 5), so it won’t be that bad… I hope…..

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DFA is holding a contest for you to pick which billboard they will put up in Tom DeLay’s district. Go take a look; a lot of them are really good.

My favorite? eh, I don’t want to influence your vote. I’ll tell you some other time.

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