AND? there are 23 more dudes in red hats. Let’s hope they (at least) live in the 21st century. Of course, the things they had to do to get to this position probably means they follow the antiquated Benny ideas. The RCC, like all large organizations, has to have the folks who “kiss up” just the right way to make their way up the ladder. Hope there are a few rebels in the bunch.

“A closed-door meeting of the pope and cardinals on Friday focused on ecumenism. At a Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s, during which Benedict gave the new cardinals their ornate rings of office, he asked them to pray for ‘peace among all the disciples of Christ, as a sign of the peace that Jesus came to bring to the world.’”
Given Il Papa’s disinterest in other ecumenical efforts, I wonder if this was not more like the Hogwarts “Dumbledor’s Army”, getting ready to use their powers to thwart their enemies – in this case anyone who is not like them. I still think he believes the line that all people will bow before Jesus means it is OK to kick the unwilling or even hesitant behind the knees.
Also, I can just image the phone call – “OK, I got good news and bad news. The good news, you are getting elevated. The bad news, you are now Bishop of Baghdad.” Now there is one Cardinal who will HAVE to learn some ecumenicity!
And I can;t help but wonder if Cardinal DiNardo’s elevation is not a shot across the bow of the evangelical churches making inroads in the Hispanic community.

Hmmm… Last I checked, Ratzinger actually wrote a fair bit about ecumenism. But I guess liberals can’t be satisfied with an ecumenism that doesn’t bow to their own narrow definition of the concept, and I guess I should just get used to the fact that they’re going to mock and ridicule anyone who disagrees with them.

That is a very psitive event to say the least Iraq needs all the shots in the arm that it can get after old bushey baby has at them. Sorry to say that I am NOT A BUSH Fan…………He needs to go to CONFESSION. Putting it mildly. And the iraq Christians need a break as the Shites go around bomb happy, the U.S. troops do the same.No one is goings to win this WAR, war and win donot go in the same sentence,as far as I am concerned they have a new Cardnial boy he sure has his work cut for him.Where are all those souls going to live when they come home? I feel for all of them and all the Islam brothers who are suffering now. Because of one man President Bush. For sure he needs to check his own conscience at the door of the Vadican. And do some Megga soul searching instead of micromanaging everyone else’s affairs. He is such a Hypocrite. Don”t even get me started. Anyhow Kudo’s to the new Cardinal of Iraq and many blessings and good luck to all of you. I will keep you in my prayers. God Bless you again. N.w. from Ohio

From what I have seen, Ratzinger believes in ecumenism only as a way to make himself and his organization seem to look better. He does not show any respect for other groups, only his perception of their inferiority. Ecumenism – liberal or other – at least includes some aspect of mutual care and concern. His only approach is to make statemtns that vary on, “So how long until you decide to become like me – uh, us?”
Early Ratzinger had a more open approach. Then somthing happened and lost that sense and took on a darker, more nefarious tone.

I think you’re confusing faithfulness to the central Catholic doctrines like “Outside of the Church there is no salvation” as somehow being a sign of lack of respect for others. It certainly need not be a sign of anything of the sort.
What evidence of this “nefarious” turn do you have? I’m certainly not seeing any signs of it.

Nate W-
Stating that the Pope is simply faithful to central doctrines of the RCC that “Outside the Church there is no salvaion” does not change the fact that the central doctrine demonstrates a lack of resepct for others. Therefor, supporting such a doctrine demonstrates a lack of respect for others.
I respect all people. I have even greater respect for religious leaders. However, I can not condone this Pope’s lack of respect for women, homosexual, and people of other religions.
Peace!

If the Pope didn’t believe our Church was the one true path, why would he bother being Catholic?
The doctrine means that within the RCC is the “fullness of faith,” with the understanding that other faiths have true faith, but not all the truths.
Respect means just that, respect, not saying they are one of many equally full truths. As for respect for women, homosexuals, and other faiths, just read the Cathecism. It shows a full respect for ALL people, regardless of who they are. The only thing it doesn’t respect is sin, but it still respects and loves the sinner.

OK, Nate, I will grant you that Ben/Ratzinger is the proto-typical “company man”. He certainly plays the recurring theme of, Outside us there is no salvation (hope). Can I fault him for it? Sure, because i think it is a false teaching. But htat is a battle more than a Millenia old. So I’ll simply accept that he will not set that aside.
Now, to the nefarious. John R was not called the Pope’s Rotweiller because he has a gleaming set of canines and loping loyalty. He chased down anyone who even whispered a doctrine, dogma, or alternative thought like said Rotweiler would chase an errant rabbit. He was (is) cutting, dismissive, and worked hard to discredit rather than open a dialog or wider conversation. But that is simply doing what guard dogs do. His more nefarious schemes involved manipulating the papal election – which he had been working on for years. It also includes his many attempts to undermine his predecessors forays into ecumenical relationships or proclaiming theologies of justice. He seems very much like one the Borgia popes, using the office for his own purposes and either demanding strict obediance or making sure anyone who does cross him feels his wrath directly or indirectly. He has kept the Rotweilers smile, especially when he is in a setting he finds out of his control or simpl uncomfortable. He has all the guile of a Florida land developer and all the charm of the current US vice president. What confuses me is his motives. I do not think the American theory of “follow the money” works as well here as it does with TVangelists. I am cynical enough to believe he is up to something scary, but optimistic enough to think he will not be able to pull “it” off, or that there will be enough who feel able to oppose him that he will not be successful (not likely with this new round of red hats)
There is so much I do admire about Roman Catholicism that I had hoped they would elect a pastor and not a politician. However, having watched Rat-zinger for years I was not at all surprised when he, with all the mock humility he could conjure, was announced as the winner of the Fisherman’s Shoes Sweepstakes.

JohnQ,
Believing that there is no salvation outside of the Church simply IS core Catholic teaching. It’s also core teaching of Orthodoxy, and of te historic mainstream of Protestantism. It’s pretty much been a core part of Christian doctrine since Cyprian (I think?) articulated the idea in the earliest days of Christian theology. To try to get them to abandon that belief wouldn’t be ecumenism; it would be an attempt to impose your own beliefs on others. It would be an act just as bad as what anyone’s accusing Benedict of doing.
Of course, I also fail to see how what he’s doing is at all offensive. I’m not Catholic, and I’ll probably never be Catholic, and I’m diametrically opposed to the idea that the Catholic hierarchy is represents the one visible Church, but I’m not at all offended by any Catholic believing that all other groups have some important deficiencies. If you’re offended by that, you’re offended to easily, and frankly, you need to be offended more so that mayble you’ll learn to toughen up a little.
Benedict is far more respectable than most liberal ecumenists for this reason: he’s up front about where he stands, while liberals often try to hid behind a facade of total openness and tolerance, when in the end they want to impose no less a degree of hegemony than the Pope or anyone else. It’s just a different kind of hegemony, one that let’s them trick themselves into thinking they’re more welcoming of difference than traditionalists are.

w-
“If the Pope didn’t believe our Church was the one true path, why would he bother being Catholic?”
Umm, because he might think being Catholic is worthwhile, serves a purpose, or he has something to contribute.
I am a Unitarian Universalist as well as an Episcopalian. I do not belong to either because I think the other is incomplete. At this time in my life both serve a purpose for me…and, I contribute (and, I don’t just mean monitarily) to both.
“The doctrine means that within the RCC is the “fullness of faith,” with the understanding that other faiths have true faith, but not all the truths.”
Well, that is an interesting pov….I suppose that means Catholics are the choosen people. Not sure I agree…but, okay.
“Respect means just that, respect, not saying they are one of many equally full truths. As for respect for women, homosexuals, and other faiths, just read the Cathecism. It shows a full respect for ALL people, regardless of who they are. The only thing it doesn’t respect is sin, but it still respects and loves the sinner.”
The Cathecism purports to show respect…however, at the same time demonstrates a lack or respect. Women are of value….but, are not worthy of being clergy, etc. Hoomosexuals deserve fair treatment…but are intrinsicly disordered….can not (at least in theory) be clergy…can not marry.
Does that really seem like respect to you. Somehow that does not really appear to be respect to me.
Peace!

JohnQ
You rremarks intrgue me. The entire notion of Roman Catholics as the Chosen People is espceially amusing. From what I’ve read, being Chosen is not necessarily an easy or wonderful thing. I can think of a few folks who, from time to time, which God had keep perusing the possibilities before settling on those other Chosen People.

“If the Pope didn’t believe our Church was the one true path, why would he bother being Catholic?”
Uh, he was raised that way, he probably thought at one time he could do good and later learned he could live very well and have a lot of power.

Yes, I agree, nnmns, those men who work their way up in the RCC live very well. Certainly don’t have to worry where their next meal will come from or who will do the dishes, or dust the place! Benny is living high on the hog! Better believe he is enjoying it! (and the power to control is great too…after all, he has “connections”.

“The Cathecism purports to show respect…however, at the same time demonstrates a lack or respect. Women are of value….but, are not worthy of being clergy, etc. Hoomosexuals deserve fair treatment…but are intrinsicly disordered….can not (at least in theory) be clergy…can not marry.
Does that really seem like respect to you. Somehow that does not really appear to be respect to me.”
We’ll have to agree to disagree. For me, respect does not require unlimited options, but proper admiration of the individual and their contributions to the world.
Consider the Catholic respect and admiration (NOT worship) of Mary, who was there at the cross when many had run away in fear, who was there at the start of the Church after, although she was not an apostle or preacher. She nurtured the Church in ways no male could. True respect for the feminine in my view.
As to homosexuals, the Church, the Bible, and the Early Fathers all have long held that sodomy is a grave sin. However, it is always reaching out to those with same-sex attraction, welcoming them with love, and praying they will remain free of sin.
As to respect, some (not you) are less than respectful to the Pope with their fun with his name because of their disdain for what he represents.
God bless.

W
I’ll grant you that emissaries of the church certainly are often “reaching out to those with same-sex attraction, welcoming them with love,”. Unfortunetly, they are often as guilty of sodomy as the folks they would pray for. For that hypocracy alone the Roman Catholic heirarchy is becoming the butt of sarcasm, parody, and plain old jokes (and they make it so easy and fun!)
Ben has earned the disdain the old fashioned way – by p*ss*ng people off! No one expects him to turn away from the core of the Church – but he seems to enjoy playing with the fringe so much more.

Along with every church, school, and youth group out there. The difference is the RCC is a bigger target, more vocal in voicing its views, and it is PC to bash the RCC.
And, Jesus said do what they (Pharasees) say, not what they do. We are all sinners. That does not make it right to sin.

W
Just ‘cuz, I left out any comment on your remarks about the RCC & Mary. But I am curious about your take on that. The actual word I have heard and seen used over and again is not “admire” or “admiration”, but adore and adoration. This is very close to worship, and not usually used for any other figure but Jesus. Obvious examples of this are at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC and at Ave Maria University, both quite obvious Mary-focused, or Marionite insititutions. The entire Cult of Mary – rosary beads, Rose windows, Cathedral de Notre Dame, and all – certainly sets many (but I know not all) RCC folks apart from other Christians of every stripe.
You are right, the RCC presents an enormous target. For that I would hope they would rather try to be a target for complements and not a target for criticism (however, I grant also ours is a culture of complaint – prefering to whine rather than make any positive, beneficial statements). I have great expectations from large institutions, and when I see one – also corporations and governments – that abuses an opportunity, I make my comments. If they sting – well there may be reasons for that.