Rabbi Lerner: The New Pope is a Disaster for the World and for the Jews

[Larkspur]

http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0420-28.htm

Since the days in which he served in the Nazi army in Germany to his role as the leader of the forces that suppressed the liberatory aspects of Vatican II and purged or silenced the Church of its most creative leadership (including German Catholic theologians Eugene Drewermann and Hans Kung, Brazilian theologian Leonardo Boff, and several prominent American Catholic thinkers), to the present moment in which he is recognized as the leader most identified with the forces of reaction and suppression of dissent within the Church, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger has distinguished himself as a man who can be counted on to side with the most anti-humane and repressive forces, in opposition to those who seek to give primacy to a world of peace and justice, " said Rabbi Lerner.

Although normally Jews would welcome any choice of leadership by our sister religion, we have particular reason to comment on this choice.

"Jews have a powerful stake and commitment in ending global poverty and oppression. We fully well understand that in a world filled with pain and cruelty, the resulting anger is often channeled in racist, sexist and homophobic directions. Both as a matter of principle, based on our commitment to a prophetic vision, and as a matter of self-interest, Jews have disproportionately supported liberal and progressive social change movements seeking to end war and poverty.

So it was with great distress that we watched as Cardinal Ratzinger led the Vatican in the past twenty-five years on a path that opposed providing birth control information to the poor of the world, thereby ensuring that AIDS would spread and kill millions in Africa.
<SNIP>

[Karenina]

1. It's time to read Wilhelm Reich

Had his writings been widely read and understood imho, the Holocaust would not have occurred. Start with "Little Man." Should you find it as soothing as Maalox, p/u "The Function of Orgasm." Fire up a doobie or brew some Chamomile Tea (if you like honey wit dat, you better stock up quick cuz yo gubmint policies be killin all the damn bees and when THEY GO.... :nuke: anudda one jes like da udda ones, forgive my digression).

As a footnote I would recommend the piece currently on the Homepage by Gregory R. Pratt:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/articles/05/04/20_tyranny.html

He's 15 and "gets it," da chile done did he old Tante's heart so good today she be doin' cartwheels, get me dem pom-poms...

GO-O-O-O GREGOR!!!! Lemme say,
AAAAA, OHHHHH, YAAAAAY OOOOOO

Thank you, Sweetiekins!!! :hug:

[Mend]

4. bush is certainly fits his description of the little phallic

narcissist, prancing around showing everyone his pee-pee.

[Emillereid]

2. This Rabbi Lerner sounds so enlightened and intelligent -- actually he

comes across as way more 'christian' than the sex/woman/gay phobic fundies of both the catholic and the protestant ilk.

[pie]

7. Ain't he great, tho?

I love that guy.

[bpilgrim]

3. so it's not just all in our heads, eh?

thanks for sharing :toast:

peace

[Boo Boo]

6. Nope.

The guy really is an asshole.

[Boo Boo]

5. Great piece by Rabbi Lerner

on Bush's Pope. This is one of several articles I've read by the Rabbi. He is such a sane and Liberal voice. Absolutely love the guy.

Don't forget the Blumenthal article:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x120742

I'm taking a serious dislike to Herr Ratzinger.

[piece sine]

8. and he, dear friend,

most likely has a serious dislike of Boo Boo. Unlike JPII, this new guy goes after his ememies and, like a Cobra, he seldom misses.

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[HamdenRice]

10. As an African American I am insulted by your anti-semitism

The logic of your post is blatantly racist/anti-semitic. You are lumping Rabbi Michael Lerner with Likudnics, just because he's Jewish. People do not get their politics from the ethnicity of their birth. As a long time colleague and collaborator with Cornel West and founder of Tikkun, he has made his positions in favor of a non-racist Israel clear for decades.

Rabbi Lerner does believe that Israel has a right to exist, but he is firmly critical of Sharon's policies. You can't lump them -- likudnics, Peace Now, Labor, etc -- as just "the Jews".

Ironically Rabbi Lerner is blasted by likudnic zionists as a "self-hating Jew" for his criticism of Israeli policy, and then gets blasted by bigots of the left simply for being Jewish.

[Moderator]

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