Jonah Goldberg makes an excellent point: But my guess is that won’t be happening any time soon, and not just because Ratzinger’s the new pope. Some believe there is a radical left wing in the Catholic Church that seeks to unravel the teachings of John Paul II, but this is an exaggeration of the Western – particularly, the American – press. The notion that you could find any cardinal eager to change church policy on abortion, for example, is simply... Read more
Benedict XVI’s first homily as pope is a good opportunity for those who are certain the world is ending to take heart. He specified some of the top priorities of his papacy: the promotion of the unity of Christians and a commitment to ecumenism, the continued dialogue with other religions and the fulfillment of the reforms of the Second Vatican Council. Speaking in Latin, as is customary, in the brightly frescoed Sistine Chapel, where he was elected only a day... Read more
Now that today has been, basically, all-Benedict-all-the-time, I thought I would end with a round up of links from Christian bloggers and non-Christian bloggers, although I will not link to kos or Democratic Underground. You know how to get there if you want to. I’m feeling generous right now so let’s start of with Sock Monkey who is just fit to be tied and ready to bolt to the Anglicans. Jane is NOT happy, as she makes clear in her... Read more
It seems a shame, really. The man hadn’t been pope for two hours when the lefty blogs went (literally) profane and disgraceful (and – of course – adolescent) and the press was hardlining their memes and caricatures of him. Benedict XVI, it seems, is a relentless and remorseless hard-ass who takes-no-prisoners and wields a clumsy and undiplomatic sword, cutting a path of hard-hearted destruction no matter where he goes, and he will be a disaster for the church, and oppressor... Read more
Very impressive round up on all things Benedict and breaking. Yeeeeehah! Meanwhile, Dirty Harry is CONVINCED Ratzinger was the right choice, mostly on the basis of how fast and hard the left are howling. Professor Bainbridge is watching Andrew Sullivan’s head explode, as well. I must say, they really, really HATE him, and they’re not even trying to hide it. No honeymoon for Benedict XVI. I just heard someone on CNN call him a “Catholic NEOCON.” You KNOW how much... Read more
Yesterday, Cardinal Ratzinger closed his very Christ-centered homily thusly: We live out our ministry in this way, as a gift of Christ to humanity! But at this time, above all, we pray with insistence to the Lord, so that after the great gift of Pope John Paul II, he again gives us a pastor according to his own heart, a pastor who guides us to knowledge in Christ, to his love and to true joy. Amen. Today, Pope Benedict XVI... Read more
From John Allen’s 1999 profile. Ratzinger is also, by most accounts, genuinely pious. Those who have traveled with him tell stories of watching him steal away to pray the breviary. The liturgy is an abiding concern for him. Ratzinger raised eyebrows when he said in 1997 that the way Paul VI imposed the new Mass after Vatican II created a “tragic breach” in the tradition. “I am convinced that the crisis in the church that we are experiencing today is... Read more
All caged from NRO: BENEDICT [Peter Robinson] “Benedict,” of course, comes from the Latin words for (loosely) “speaking well” and “speaking good to others.” The new Holy Father, announcing that he cherishes words. ALASDAIR MCINTYRE [K. J. Lopez] said we needed a new St. Benedict. Maybe the new pope read After Virtue. I’ll have to look into the Benedict line, and read more about it. An NRO reader sends this along, helpfully: Per your reader who asked about the significance... Read more
On the feastday of St. Leo IX, a German pope, another German pope. I like the name. The press is unhappy – Benedict indicates a more conservative bent, and folks in the press are speaking through their teeth as they bemoan the fact that the progressive agenda will not be moved on. John Allen is suggesting that Ratzinger took the name Benedict to indicate that his reign would not be a long one. I respect Allen enormously, but I think... Read more
After 1000 years, another German pope. And the next World Youth Day will be held in 116 days. In GERMANY. That Holy Spirit! What a prankster! :-) Read more
The Anchoress
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In