Something nice about the Pope...

[MrsKreamer]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm...d=2357&e=3&u=/nm/20050420/us_nm/pope_usa_dc_4
U.S. National - Reuters
Reuters
US Cardinals Warn Against Snap Judgments on Pope

1 hour, 5 minutes ago

Add to My Yahoo! U.S. National - Reuters

By Phil Stewart

ROME (Reuters) - U.S. cardinals criticized on Wednesday snap judgments on Pope Benedict XVI, saying some media coverage had been "skewed" toward a mistaken caricature of the new Church leader as an iron-fisted conservative.



"I think we just have to be very careful about caricaturizing the Holy Father, and very simply putting labels on this man of the Church," Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles told reporters in Rome.

"I've already seen some headlines in our country doing that, and I think that's a mistake."

The election of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger in one of the swiftest papal conclaves for a century stunned Vatican watchers who saw the stern defender of Catholic orthodoxy as too old, too cold and too divisive to succeed warmly regarded John Paul.

For liberal Catholics in the United States, hoping for a more progressive pope on issues like birth control and the role of women in the Church, Tuesday's election came as a shock.

"There is no reason to expect any change of course for the church when it comes to matters like birth control, priestly celibacy or homosexuality," said the New York Times, noting Ratzinger had been the Vatican's top doctrinal expert for 23 years.

But U.S. cardinals, speaking to journalists in Rome, praised the German-born Ratzinger, listing attributes including humility, intellect, kindness and likeability.

They also said he was very open to dialogue.

"I think that the vision that some have of the Holy Father as someone who is not a person of dialogue is really a skewed vision," said Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, 74, of Washington.

Cardinal Adam Maida from Detroit said while Ratzinger might not be perfect, he would successfully lead the world's 1.1 billion Catholics.

"I believe that Cardinal Ratzinger, who with all his gifts and talents, and even some of his shortcomings, will somehow be able to reach others because it will be the grace of God that ultimately touches the hearts and minds of people," he said.

 

[Mommyof2]

Thanks for posting that =) It's good to see that some people are giving the guy a chance. May God bless him.

Christine

 

[MrsKreamer]

 

[DawnCt1]

I am not Catholic but it is obvious to me that he isn't going to find something new in the Bible that hasn't been discovered yet. Why the media is apoplectic over the fact that this pope is going to support Catholicism is beyond me.

 

[HomeSweetDisney]

Thanks for sharing that Steph

 

[MrsKreamer]

I am not Catholic but it is obvious to me that he isn't going to find something new in the Bible that hasn't been discovered yet. Why the media is apoplectic over the fact that this pope is going to support Catholicism is beyond me.

Some people want the Church to roll over and change its doctrine. Since Benedict XVI is very conservative and was the recent keeper of the doctrine(I don't know the official term ) they don't forsee any change. I am glad he is pope, while I wouldn't mind seeing women priests, which may happen in my lifetime, the other stuff I would rather stay the same.

 

[snappy]

Thanks for posting this. It is refreshing to hear something positive for a change. I think some people are negative just for the shock value.


The people looking for the perfect pope will always be disappointed. The man just got elected yesterday, give him a chance.

 

[Disney Doll]

The problem is that the American Catholic Church wants many of these progressive changes, and I believe that the American Catholic Church makes up a relatively small percentage of the entire population of the RC Church worldwide. The Pope leads the worldwide Catholic Church and, quite frankly, should not lightly change anything based on the views of the secular world.

 

[RoyalCanadian]

I am willing to give the Holy Father the benefit of the doubt and trust the words he spoke in his recent homilies are truthful words that come from his heart.

• 
  [*]theological dialogue is necessary.
  [*]the current Successor of Peter...is disposed to do all in his power to promote the fundamental cause of ecumenism.

Personally, I think things look good for the future of the Vatican's ecumenical relations under Pope Benedict XVI.

 

[goofygirl]

I agree to give the man a chance. I think it was so annoying that people wanted to be so down on him within 24 hours of his election. He has a tough act to follow as it is without so many getting on his case.

I thought his homily to JP II was awesome. During the funeral, I thought to myself : "He is a standout. I have a feeling he's the next pope." I made it a point to remember the name Ratzinger.

And so I will pay close attention to him from now on.

 

[Jamesbyr]

Where did I hear that he was a member of Hitler Youth when he was younger?

 

[Dan Murphy]

Where did I hear that he was a member of Hitler Youth when he was younger?

Probably on the news. If not there, possible somebody called you on the telephone with that info.

 

[Shellie722]

Yes, it was reported that he was a member of the Hitler youth but it was also noted that it was by force, not choice and he actually ran away and went AWOL and was held in an American POW camp. At that time in Germany many were forced into Nazi service against their will so I don't believe this is something that should be held against him. As I recall he has spoken out and appologized for the arocities comitted by his homeland durring that horrible time.

 

[beattyfamily]

Thanks for posting something positive. Let's hope this thread can stay that way.

I also saw the American Cardinals in a press conference defending our new Pope and asking us to give him a chance and not be so quick to judge.

God Bless Pope Benedict!!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Great thread, MrsKreamer. I think, as the 2/3's or greater majority vote getter, I presume he has some great qualities we will see in action in the coming months and years. Long live the Pope.

 

[Laura]

My husband’s best friend was married last weekend in a Catholic ceremony. DH was best man and he said that as they waited with the deacon before the ceremony, there was discussion of who would be the new pope. The name Joseph Ratzinger was mentioned, since many labeled him as a frontrunner. The deacon said that a family friend of his had a son who went to Rome for theological study. The parents went to visit their son and were touring a Vatican courtyard when they ran into then-Cardinal Ratzinger. They asked him to be in a photo with them and he, misunderstanding, just assumed that they wanted him to take their picture for them with their camera, so he did. The deacon--and I--thought that was a nice example of his humility: the fact that he didn’t think they wanted his picture, powerful and important cardinal though he was.

Now, I’m sure I won’t agree with many of the new pope’s views and he’s not the pope I would have chosen (if I had a choice), but I’m not going to assume things about his personality because he’s conservative. We’ll just have to wait and see.

 

[snappy]

My husband’s best friend was married last weekend in a Catholic ceremony. DH was best man and he said that as they waited with the deacon before the ceremony, there was discussion of who would be the new pope. The name Joseph Ratzinger was mentioned, since many labeled him as a frontrunner. The deacon said that a family friend of his had a son who went to Rome for theological study. The parents went to visit their son and were touring a Vatican courtyard when they ran into then-Cardinal Ratzinger. They asked him to be in a photo with them and he, misunderstanding, just assumed that they wanted him to take their picture for them with their camera, so he did. The deacon--and I--thought that was a nice example of his humility: the fact that he didn’t think they wanted his picture, powerful and important cardinal though he was.

What a great story. I am also hearing wonderful stories about him on TV from various clergy that know him. These stories paint a very different picture than what the one some of the media outlets are pushing. So many were hoping for some one with very liberal views and I think some news media outlets are catering to that. Very interesting but not too surprising.
I want to watch the coverage to see him and get to know him but I am filtering out alot of the commentary because of bias.

 

[HomeSweetDisney]

My husband’s best friend was married last weekend in a Catholic ceremony. DH was best man and he said that as they waited with the deacon before the ceremony, there was discussion of who would be the new pope. The name Joseph Ratzinger was mentioned, since many labeled him as a frontrunner. The deacon said that a family friend of his had a son who went to Rome for theological study. The parents went to visit their son and were touring a Vatican courtyard when they ran into then-Cardinal Ratzinger. They asked him to be in a photo with them and he, misunderstanding, just assumed that they wanted him to take their picture for them with their camera, so he did. The deacon--and I--thought that was a nice example of his humility: the fact that he didn’t think they wanted his picture, powerful and important cardinal though he was.

That's a very nice story. Thanks for sharing

 

[goofygirl]

Nice story, Laura!

Did you know you can email the pope? If you want to drop him a line, go to the vactican website !

http://www.vatican.va/phome_en.htm

Should we send him a link to the DIS, lol?

 

[marymrg]

Thank you to Pope John Paull II for all of your years of service and for allowing us to see your suffering.

May God Bless Pope Benedict XVI and give him grace in a position that truly has the weight of the world on his shoulders.


I found a great article this morning that sums up my feelings of the last few weeks. http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/pnoonan/?id=110006584