I seldom link to Mark Steyn’s work simply because I assume all my readers also check out his outstanding prose. This is one I felt obliged to tag:
I’ll bet Pope Benedict XVI is glad that his conclave doesn’t include either Cardinal Biden or Cardinal Voinovich, or his church would be pontiff-less indefinitely while they ”investigated” last-minute rumors that he’d been off-hand to some guy in seminary 55 years ago. I had no strong views about the new pope one way or another, but I’d have voted for him just for the pleasure of seeing him drive the U.S. media bananas
“Drive the US media bananas”?
Perhaps his selection will drive many people bananas. At the very least, those people who view the Church as if it were some kind of a Sunday country club. It is a faith, not something you can change or update the rules to suit your current whim or to meet some sort of current PC guideline.
I think too many people are so used to local protestant sects where they do change the rules with each new pastor. This kind of thinking might give them the wrong slant on what Catholicism is. Catholics do not consider articles of faith to be unhandy rules; we view these religious precepts as long standing tradition going back to the time of Constantine.
I think most Catholics are very happy to see a new Pope who will continue in the tradition of the late John Paul; many believe there needs to be a strong hand at the wheel, a strong moral voice speaking out on issues that confound us these days. A few of these issues are abortion, euthanasia, children out of wedlock, gays and lesbians, and all the liberal agenda that seeks the hedonistic, “if it feels good, do it”, lifestyle.
Catholics routinely pray for the wisdom of our Pontiff, we pray that he is a man of high moral conviction, and that he has the courage to stick to his guns when it would be easier to go along to get along. There is a lot wrong with the world that a little “Ole Time Religion” would cure.
Comment by John — April 25, 2005 @ 11:15 am
There are certain basics in any religion which are at its core. When people want to change those, they are really saying they do not believe the core beliefs of that religion. Therefore, they are NOT a part of that religion and forfeit their membership. They abandon the standards which are part of that religion–that faith.
Outside of core beliefs, there are many procedural issues which could be changed. Those are not in question.
Humans actually respond to standards. Some want to change them because they may be embarrassed by their personal inability to adhere to them, not because the standards are unattainable. But Catholicism grew during John Paul II’s tenure in part because people wanted something solid and unchanging in their lives–their faith.
Comment by Bunker — April 25, 2005 @ 11:42 am
I wish I could express my thoughts as clearly as you do, but I think you understand me in this case. A true Catholic will not be phased by a new Pope who upholds the faith, we expect that from our Pontiff.
It’s what we believe.
Comment by john — April 25, 2005 @ 9:49 pm