Lost Journals

For those who believe in the traditional values of the Church, the election of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger is a blessing; conversely, those who want Church reformation maybe displeased. Pope Benedict is firmly opposed to birth control, supports the celibacy of the priesthood and is against the ordination of women. He has said that anyone who supports the "grave sins" of abortion and euthanasia should be denied Communion. He has also spoken out against homosexuality and once denounced rock music as "the vehicle of anti-religion." Furthermore, when priests became involved in fighting poverty through social action Ratzinger claimed it smacked of Marxism.

The new pope was chosen by at least a two-thirds majority of 115 cardinals from 52 countries, who cast secret ballots in the Sistine Chapel. The election came on the second day of the voting, presumably on the fourth ballot. It was a surprisingly quick conclusion of a conclave that began with many potential candidates and no clear favorite.

With nicknames like the God's Rottweiler and the Enforcer, he was not the choice of Catholics who were hoping the church would adapt to modern realities.

Ratzinger used his final homily before becoming Pope to rail against the modern philosophy of moral relativism: the idea that no absolute truths exist.

The modern world, he reflected, is fickle, having leapt "from one extreme to the other: from Marxism to liberalism, up to libertinism; from collectivism to radical individualism; from atheism to a vague religious mysticism; from agnosticism to syncretism." In short, he clamed, humankind has traded the worship of God for the worship of oneself and responsibility has been exchanged for selfishness.

In one of his books, Milestones, Ratzinger wrote, "In today’s world the theme of truth has all but disappeared, because truth appears too great for man, and yet everything falls apart if there is no truth."

Ratzinger believes that religious faith is founded on God's revelation and that the truth never changes. As for morality, he believes Christians must play by the rules, not change them to suit themselves.

Christianity has always opposed the secular culture, because it plays by a different set of rules. Jesus preached poverty over wealth, humility over pride, truth over evasion, love over lust, forgiveness over revenge, giving over taking, and sacrifice over non-involvement. The new pope reminds us that God pardons, but that his church expects Christians to keep God's rules.
Father Hans Kung of Germany, who was stripped of his authority by Cardinal Ratzinger to teach at Catholic universities for questioning church teachings, said: “"The election of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as pope is an enormous disappointment for all those who hoped for a reformist and pastoral pope. But we must wait and see, for experience shows that the papacy in the Catholic Church today is such a challenge that it can change anyone: someone who went into the conclave a progressive cardinal can emerge as a conservative pope. Someone who went into the conclave a conservative cardinal can emerge as a progressive pope.” "

The first clue about the new pope's intentions was his choice of name. Cardinal Ratzinger could have called himself John Paul III. It would have been seen as a statement that he intended to continue the work of his mentor. Instead, he opted for Benedict, which comes from the Latin for "blessing.”

Many cardinals would like to see a less centralized Church and a less powerful pope who guides rather than governs. However, they may have to wait a little longer. Pope Benedict XVI looks like a man who will not be afraid to exercise his powers.

Still others point to the pontiff’s age claiming that Benedict XVI will be a transitional pope. However, John XXIII was expected to be little more than a caretaker, because he was 76 when elected; yet, he went on to astonish the Church with the sweeping reforms of the Second Vatican Council.

Ratzinger said, “The church is young. She holds within herself the future of the world and therefore shows each of us the way toward the future.”

Yet, he is alienating the youth - the future - of the Church. If he cannot accept a changing world and thus a changing truth, count me out.

The Catholic Church is guilty of many major blunders: the Crusades, Copernicus, Galileo and the Spanish Inquisition. Now is the time to bring the Church into the modern world; nevertheless, Benedict XVI could be taking us back a step or two.

Today, Benedict XVI stands at the threshold of the papacy. The Church is still wondering where the shepherd will lead his flock.