Helpless in the Vatican -- The Failed Papacy of Benedict XVI

[will_in_chicago]

Some publications are taken more seriously than others. Der Spiegel is one of Germany's and the world's most prominent publications. It is running an article on the papacy of Benedict XVI and its failures. The article is long, but details how the current pope's past words do not line up with the image that the Vatican is trying to portray.

The article begins with then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger condemning some unspecified wrong in the church. However, the current pope is now facing calls for his resignation due to the horrific pedophilia scandals in many countries.

Here is an excerpt from the article:

Helpless in the Vatican -- The Failed Papacy of Benedict XVI

The pope's reluctance to take a firm stance on sexual abuse by priests is expanding into a crisis for the Catholic Church and fueling outrage over his papacy. Some Catholics are now even calling on Benedict, who has committed a series of gaffes since becoming pope in 2005, to resign. By SPIEGEL staff.

"Lord!" the man begins. It is night, and the torches cast flickering shadows on the ancient walls. "Your Church often seems like a boat about to sink, a boat taking in water on every side." It is a somber statement, particularly coming from a senior member of the Catholic Church.

The priest continues, speaking of weeds in the fields of the Lord, and of how much "filth there is in the Church," the result of priests' betrayal of God. "The soiled garments and face of your Church throw us into confusion. Yet it is we ourselves who have soiled them! It is we who betray you time and time again." He beseeches God, saying: "Have mercy on your Church; even within her, Adam continues to fall again and again."

These were prophetic words. They reflected a bitterness and lack of illusions that could only have been expressed by an experienced cardinal who had exhaustively studied the files outlining the "filth in the Church."

[mth44sc]

1. I'm reminded of their failed attempt

a few years ago to have all records of any abuse allegation shipped out of the US to Rome ASAP... These folk are not serious.

[ZeitgeistObserver]

2. Yes, but,

'When you believe, absolutely, that God is on your side, and those who criticize you are inspired by the devil, your capacity to rationalize is nearly unlimited.'

[will_in_chicago]

3. Remember the words of Abraham Lincoln

As I recall, Lincoln said during the Civil War that he could not join a prayer that presumed that God was on the side of the Union. However, he said that he would join one where he prayed that the Union would be on God's side. There seems to be a big difference between the attitude of President Lincoln and the current Pope regarding their respective institutions.

[ZeitgeistObserver]

7. Somehow I don't think the Pope much cares

about Lincoln, or anything he said.

[Democrats_win]

4. OMG, the pope has become George W. Bush!

As we saw with Bush, the sickness of rationalizing things that are wrong has extremely bad consequences.

[FarCenter]

5. He's just the last in a long line of Popes

The abuses have been going on since at least the papacy of John XXIII. Paul VI, John Paul I, and John Paul II would have also known and covered up the crimes.

The problem is systemic with the Catholic heirarchy.

"The fish rots from the head", and there have been a number of heads.

[will_in_chicago]

8. Corruption

There is a history of corruption in many institutions, and it is hard to root out. However, as all institutions depend on the faith of its supporters, rooting out corruption becomes crucial. Past a certain point, people can stop believing in an institution and it can die. (See the Soviet Union for a prime example of this.)

[TlalocW]

6. I'm sure John Paul II was just as bad

But he was much beloved and had a grandfatherly image that protected him.

Ratzinger though LOOKS like a pedophile. I don't normally judge people on their appearance, but he looks like he's just rotten to the core.

TlalocW