Ratzinger has Opus Dei links and is the main "enforcer of Church doctrine"

[Nothing Without Hope]

This is a repost with a changed title.
Here is the original thread on this LA Times paper.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=226&topic_id=1664&mesg_id=1664
Thread title: LA Times: Controversial Opus Dei Has Stake in Papal Vote

(snip)

But recently, several Italian newspapers breathlessly reported that the two Opus Dei cardinals were throwing their support behind the candidacy of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, a German-born traditionalist who has served as chief enforcer of church doctrine for two decades.

(snip)

Some more of this article at the link - the LA Times really chose THAT topic on the mark! I fear that this will be a disastrous choice, given the reputation of this man. And it happened FAST - JP2's cardinals agreed on a successor that puts doctrine first and, like JP2 himself, was strongly tied to Opus Dei.

edited to add, as per comments: THE enforcer. And he has been the head of the renamed Church organization that used be known as THE INQUISITION.

[Kellanved]

1. not "a", "the"

Until now was the head of the Inquisition.

[Nothing Without Hope]

4. Yes, that's what I thought I remembered reading

Friends, this is a disaster. I feel a door has closed. The character of this man is well known and he has ALREADY been in power for a long time.

Edited to add: I changed the "a" to "the" as you suggest, since it is certainly appropriate.
And I added what I had not been certain enough of to post before - that he has been head of the renamed Inquisition.

[Democrats_win]

5. Yahoo says his church is "the modern successor to the Inquisition."

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=578&u=/nm/20050419/ts_nm/pope_ratzinger_dc_3

"Ratzinger's stern leadership of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, the modern successor to the Inquisition, delighted conservative Catholics but upset moderates and other Christians whose churches he described as deficient."

[Larkspur]

2. Ratzinger will purge the Church of dissidents to the point that the

Church will go extinct. In his delusions of gradeur, he'll end up purging himself.

[arewenotdemo]

15. we can only hope

[sui generis]

3. he was Prefect of

the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, which is what the Inquisition became, with "Prefect" being another title for Inquisitor.

He should have taken the name "Torquemada II" instead of Benedict; it would be more appropriate.

[Rambis]

6. I love the fact that...

Most of what I know of the Catholic church comes from two sources, Mel Brooks and Python.

[rkc3]

7. Mel Brooks and Monty Python aren't really funny unless you grew

up Catholic - then you have uncontrollable bowel movements laughing at the silliness of your own religion.

[Rambis]

9. Great, now I can't "really" laugh at Brooks & Python?

Damn fish eaters:) Just kidding for Christ sakes! oops I sinned, God damnit, oops did it again, ah fuck it! DOUGH!

[rkc3]

10. I know lots of poor protestants who laugh out loud at both, but its like

how you never really laughed at marriage jokes until you get in the line to give up half your shit - then it really starts to make sense.

[ReadTomPaine]

8. Whatever he does, expect the power of the Church to grow, not wane.

These days, power doesn't lie in the hands of the people, so don't expect 'men of the people' to be chosen by those seeking it.

[Nothing Without Hope]

11. I'm not so sure. He may drive people to the point they turn away from

the Church. He will be powerful in the 3rd world, but it remains to be seen what he does in the US. He has expressed doubts that the pedophile priest scandals were more than a media campaign, for examplle, and he made comments implying politicians who support reproductive righs should not take communion. He ordered a US nun to stop ministering to gays and lesbians. And so much more. He is so narrow and dogmatic, he is going to lose credibility for the papal office in the developed world, I believe.

[ReadTomPaine]

12. You are assuming it's the teeming masses he's interested in..

However, that's not where power is currently concentrating politically or otherwise in our times. I think he'll strengthen the church in the method of Opus Dei, behind closed doors with conservative world leaders, involving the church in politics more deeply that we've seen in our lifetimes. That will bring both power and control of the people the old fashioned way, no need for consensus. Bulls are strong, but with a ring through the nose they go where they are led.

RTP

[Nothing Without Hope]

13. Unfortunately, I think you've got the situation described all too well. nt

[Nikki Stone 1]

14. Me, too.

And that's exactly what I am worried about.