STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

honey · Gucci

RE: RE: We have a POPE!!

bumblebee · Dooney & Bourke

i haven't read up much on the different papal candidates, so i am ignorant of their biographies, but i was thinking this morning about the nazi-youth issue with ratzinger. i came to the conclusion that maybe he has been atoning his whole life for his involvement in a small way with something so evil as a child. it's hard work to ascend all the way to a cardinal, and now that he is the pope, he purposely chose a name that is supposed to evoke humility.

i don't know, i guess i'm trying to give him the benefit of the doubt and taking his "i am a humble servant" speech literally--i would like to believe that he's not in it for the glory and is going to do the best he can for as many people as he can.

ILoveChoo · Hermes

quote:
Originally posted by: cc
" Well I'm a Catholic and I don't like Ratzinger. And my mother has been teaching in Catholic schools for 30 years and she isn't pleased either. Obviously there are lots of Catholics who didn't like all the views of JPII so obviously there are Catholics who don't like the election of a Pope who will be carrying on in the same vein and who has made it clear (in the past) that he isn't interested in allowing for any sort of discussion on certain issues. I'm just disappointed because I really liked some of the other possible successors. "

I agree with this. I am Catholic too and I am just not completely sold on this guy. Something about hm really creeps me out. And I really liked some of the other candidates. I'm sure Benedict will be fine, I was just hoping for someone else.

valenciana · Dooney & Bourke

quote:
Originally posted by: lorelei
I don't really understand what controversy there really is among Catholics, Ratzinger's views are so parallel to Pope John Paul II.

First, I agree with cc, that I am disappointed they picked someone so close to JPII in his views. I never had a great affection for JPII, but I admired him on his own terms. I may not have agreed, but I think he did a good job and furthered a lot of social justice issues. That said, it really really bothered me that there were some issues that not only did his opinions not align with my own, but he pretty much closed the door on even discussing them (ordination of women, for instance). But with Ratzinger, I read something that really summed up my feelings. He has all of the drawbacks of JPII (ultraconservative), and none of his charisma/enthusiasm/kindness to make up for it.

Not to mention, I don't know, he spouts these things and it just seems like it comes from a very intolerant place, not from a devoutly religious one. I mean, beyond the women, homosexuals, birth control and all that, are the really horrifying views. Like that the pedophilia claims were some media ploy to "bring down the Church." Like when he tried to convince the EU that Turkey shouldn't be allowed in because of its Islamic population. And his complete and utter intolerance of other religions, like calling Buddhism "autoerotic spirituality." WTF? (Still trying to find the context of that quote.) Oh yeah, and did you know that yoga, YOGA, is "dangerous" because it puts you too much in touch with your body? Yep.

Plus, I just get a really weird vibe from Ratzinger. He seems pretty self-important and just really rubs me the wrong way.

-- Edited by valenciana at 18:03, 2005-04-20

blink · Coach

I guess it's a problem to some because instead of a step forward toward change and modernism in the Catholic church, the choice of Ratzinger is more like a non-step, or to some even a step back. I hope in time he shows more humility than the media has assigned to him.