Ratzinger and Levada

[4_Legs_Good]

Feh! Puh! Puh!!!

Am I going to get in trouble here for continuing to call him Ratzinger? Seriously, I want to know because I simply cannot take him seriously as pope, but I don't want to sow any discord here, as it's one of the only forums where anti-Catholic sentiment doesn't fester. Still disagreement among Catholics? Is that okay, or does it tend to make things too sticky? Maybe I could refer to him as "the pope" if I held my nose every time I typed it (with my elbows?).

Anyway, apparently Ratzinger plans to elevate Bishop Levada to cardinal along with the Doctrine of the Faithful business. He is the archbishop for the S.F. Archdiocese, and a serious conservative, if I remember everything correctly. I know he was very stuffy at my confirmation 17 years ago or so, and he was a big disappointment as our local auxilliary bishop, Patrick Ziemman (who has since left the priesthood under not so wonderful allegations, but who, for my $ is one of the best people I've ever met) couldn't make it. Anyone live in SF who knows more about Levada than my passing knowledge

This guy, Ratzinger, has yet to do anything I agree with, and it's making Sunday mornings easier than ever!

david

Edit: apparently he's not a cardinal yet. Oops!

[DemBones DemBones]

1. The reason anti-Catholic sentiment doesn't fester here is that

we have group guidelines that require respect. You can make criticisms of the new Holy Father (no one in the group cheered at his election), and we don't all agree here with each other or with the Church, but please read the guidelines and stay within them. The rules have to apply to unhappy Catholics as well as everyone else. ;-)

Personally, I'm giving Benedict XVI a fair chance. I think John Paul II wanted Joseph Ratzinger to succeed him as pope and so I think Benedict's papacy will be much like John Paul's.

As for Archbishop Levada, I read that when the SF Board of Supervisors said Catholic Charities had to pay for benefits for domestic partners, Levada decided that Catholic Charities would pay benefits for anyone who lived with an amployee, without getting into the relationships at all (and certainly not condoning relationships the Church does not approve.) I thought that was a smart move.

[4_Legs_Good]

2. Thanks DemBones!

I wasn't a big JPII fan either, so that he would be happy with Ratzinger doesn't make it any easier to take.

Still, I'll pray that Ratzinger comes around and that someday I can call him "pope" with a straight face.

:)

david

[DemBones DemBones]

3. Really and truly, if you like your priest and your parish alright, how

much influence does the pope have on your life as a Catholic? Occasionally the priest will refer to something the pope has said in a homily but mostly we pray for the pope every week, along with the bishops, the clergy, and all the faithful -- and everyone else besides!

I'm glad the pope IS a Catholic and not such a modernist that he's going to radically change the Church. It will likely be centuries before the Church recovers from the radical changes of Vatican II as it is. (I'm not saying Vatican II was bad, just that huge changes were made too quickly, causing a lot of emotional damage to many people, and a drop in Church attendance in the US and Europe. )

[4_Legs_Good]

4. Well, the pope doesn't affect me much other than my knowledge

that I am assisting an institution that I heartily disagree with on many, many issues. I feel like I'm contributing to evil done in the world purely by choice and I'm giving it credibility by my participation. Anyway, that's why I'm hoping (or was hoping) for a mover/shaker pope who would radically change the nature of the Church such that it didn't contradict what I believe is the true message of Christianity, and what the Church should be working for.

As far as my parish goes, I do like it *barely* enough. My parish priest is good and moderately progressive (though he does quote the pope (JPII at least) a lot - usually in good ways, though I could also do with "the new evangelization"). We had 3 fairly good, progressive permanent deacons too, but they've all left in the last year or so. Further our Priest has only one year left before he goes too, and then I'm terrified as to what will happen. Mahoney isn't horrible, but he's not great either. The other parish in our town is utterly conservative and I feel like I have to take a shower every time I attend Mass there - which is very rarely. The next nearest parish is an hour away.

Anyway, I think you and I simply disagree on the pace of change that needs to occur, which is why I feel I'm being left behind with the Church moving in its current direction. We shall see, though. Being Catholic has always been central to my life, and it will require a lot to make me leave. Hopefully I can survive Ratzinger to see a new progressive pontificate emerge in the next few years...

:)

Thanks as always for your thoughtful posts!!!

david