Originally posted by ToeI know.
Shav, I was refering to the use of the definite article rather than the indefinite: he is one of the the right-wing old school, not the only. Not by a long shot: non-right wing cardinals are notable by their rarity.
I was basically thinking about a discussion I had with my mum yesterday. In that Ratty was "THE" right wing cardinal with the most chance of becoming pope.
Originally posted by shavixmirAny real chance this will cause people to distance themselves from the Catholic church? Maybe hurt recruiting also, so to speak?
I know.
I was basically thinking about a discussion I had with my mum yesterday. In that Ratty was "THE" right wing cardinal with the most chance of becoming pope.
Originally posted by squaccermanThat's what I was thinking. Let's hope they really picked a far right nut job that'll turn people away. The most homophobic, antagonistic, loud mouthed, closed minded pope they could find. But I doubt they did that. I guess we'll see. All of this will pass soon enough anyway once the media decides it's not selling enough ad space.
We can but hope.
Originally posted by wibI think that it will damage the Church in the Western world; Ratzinger is an arch-conservative aligned with right-wing positions in Western countries. I think the choice further shows that the RCC is simply uninterested in what younger people think so I feel it will make it less likely that they will convert or not leave or join seminaries. And as the fundamentalist cults have the hard core right wing covered, I think the Church is screwing itself in the long run.
Any real chance this will cause people to distance themselves from the Catholic church? Maybe hurt recruiting also, so to speak?
Originally posted by no1marauderOn the other hand, just look how right-wing the neo-conservatives are in the born again Christian churches. Look how well they're doing!
I think that it will damage the Church in the Western world; Ratzinger is an arch-conservative aligned with right-wing positions in Western countries. I think the choice further shows that the RCC is simply uninterested in what younger people think so I feel it will make it less likely that they will convert or not leave or join seminaries. And ...[text shortened]... ts have the hard core right wing covered, I think the Church is screwing itself in the long run.
The majority of religious people are in the countries were the protestantish churches are growing. Maybe the Cardinals think they can compete on the bible bashing level in the Americas.
Originally posted by no1marauderSo you're thinking is the hard core conservative well is tapped out in the West? The church should come to the middle on some issues in order to grow.
I think that it will damage the Church in the Western world; Ratzinger is an arch-conservative aligned with right-wing positions in Western countries. I think the choice further shows that the RCC is simply uninterested in what younger people think so I feel it will make it less likely that they will convert or not leave or join seminaries. And ...[text shortened]... ts have the hard core right wing covered, I think the Church is screwing itself in the long run.
Well that's what I thought. I'm surprised at this choice of pope. Of course I've only been reading about him online for about 30 minutes so I'm sure there's more to the man that that. But still, he sounds far right from all of the info I've been reading. I think it's a mistake.
Originally posted by ToeJPII wasn't a notable exception because he was 58/9 when he was elected...hardly an "old guy"
therein lies your answer, or at least a bit of it. Old guys don't hang on that long (JPII being a notable exception to the rule), and thus ideally the particular perspective of a single pope don't skew the predominant ideology of the cardinals too far in any particular direction. A bit like the UK political system is meant to work, but hasn't for 30 years now.
fred
Well, the majority of the faithful are in South America now, anyway. As far as Bible-bashing goes, I doubt most people in those countries could ever be desperate enough to fall for that old bag of magic beans. I think Stephen Daedalus put it rather well in the Portrait, replying to the question of whether he were converting to protestantism, he answered: "I said I have lost my faith, not my self-respect.”
Habemus Papam!!!
Alè!
Originally posted by no1marauderMaybe they reason that the best defense is to be offensive .
I think that it will damage the Church in the Western world; Ratzinger is an arch-conservative aligned with right-wing positions in Western countries. I think the choice further shows that the RCC is simply uninterested in what younger people think so I feel it will make it less likely that they will convert or not leave or join seminaries. And ...[text shortened]... ts have the hard core right wing covered, I think the Church is screwing itself in the long run.
Originally posted by shavixmirApparently he was in the Hitler Youth, too.
Cardinal Ratzinger was born into a traditional Bavarian farming family in 1927, although his father was a policeman.
His studies at the seminary were interrupted during the war when he was drafted into an anti-aircraft unit in Munich.
Doesn't seem to have disadvantaged his career...