Can we talk about the new Pope's theology?

[theboss]

I mean, isn't that a little more important than 50 threads about what he did as a teenager in a collapsing dictatorship?

So let's discuss the next 5 to 10 years.

Anyway, here's what we know. Unless something truly bizarre happens, reformists are not only going to be ignored, but are likely going to face reprisals.

There will probably be no changes in the Priesthood.

Women are not going to gain any power.

American Catholics are likely to feel more and more isolated from Rome.

JP II's consolidation of power in Rome may get even more extreme.

The church's focus may change from the West to Latin America, Africa, and Asia.

[Zenlitened]

1. Here's a taste...

Seems pretty toxic, to me.

On Monday, Ratzinger, who was the powerful dean of the College of Cardinals, used his homily at the Mass dedicated to electing the next pope to warn the faithful about tendencies that he considered dangers to the faith: sects, ideologies like Marxism, liberalism, atheism, agnosticism and relativism - the ideology that there are no absolute truths.

http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20050416121309990001

[Democrats_win]

3. Liberalism? Perhaps Benedict XVI is the anti-Christ.

[theboss]

4. The really scary thing is his views on voting

He was pushing that idea that voting for a Pro-Choice candidate was grounds for ex-Communication. This is where it could get ugly.

I mean, does voting for a "liberal" count too?

[cobaindrain]

2. forget about mending fences with the Jewish people....

...because we were just set back 50 years on that one.

It should've been Daneels

[soothsayer]

5. He doesn't like gays.

[Lexingtonian]

6. well, there might be a Nixon In China kind of deal

I wouldn't be surprised if the RCC softens line, ever so slightly. The present overall situation is so much a matter of incrementally heightened emphasis on willpower (to deny the Modern reality forming in the First World) on the part of the Church hierarchy that it's dangerous. One major calamity or crisis and the thing snaps, with millions of Catholics turning into truly Catholics-in-name-only all at once.

But yes, I can't see any changes in major Church policies occurring. There will be a bunch of minor necessary corrections, properly PR gamed as concessions to the laity, involving stuff JP II was too ill to deal with.

The focus shift to the Third World and the retreat of the Faithful behind church/monastery walls in the First until Modernity (they imagine) implodes are fundamentally inevitable. To do otherwise means destruction of what the Church, as an authority structure designed to meet its ancient charge to Christianize the population of the world, is.

[customerserviceguy]

7. I'm longing for next week

when we can go back to ignoring the papacy, like we did a month ago. It's no more or less relevant today than it was then...

[Zenlitened]

8. Unfortunately, as long as the vatican has a seat at the UN...

... and an army of lawyers and lobbyists battling gay and lesbian civil rights... it's all too relevant.