Top of the popes
The election of a new pope appears to have created some excitement in that whole Catholic world there. Apparently he is a bit of a conservative sort of guy, and this has split reactions within the church. Here are two sample reactions, which differ slightly:
"When I met him I liked his clarity of expression, his rare intelligence, his extraordinary deep knowledge, his extraordinarily deep faith - and at the same time he has a way of talking to you in a simple language." - Stanislas Lalanne, French Bishoppy Dude.
or, alternatively,
"It seems that he is too conservative. Hopefully the Holy Spirit can help him change. We expected a person like John Paul. Somebody who could give the Church alternatives ... open the Church to the world, look more at reality." - Jurandir Arauj, Brazilian Bishoppy Dude.
Now, you may be thinking, the Brazilian dude has a point - a 78 year old conservative German is unlikely to improve the image of the church with today's yoof. I myself am inclined to agree with this.
Nun too happy with that decision.
Now, Mr Arauj is a Catholic bishop. So we can assume he believes in an absolute truth as outlined by Catholic doctrine. Thus, we can also say that he believes that God is almighty, omniscient, etc etc and that God's way is the only way etc etc blah. Now, continuing with our Catholic doctrine theme, whose hand is it that guides the conclave and helps them choose the new pope? Right, God. So if you don't like the choice, you're up against, er, God, and absolute truth, and a couple of other fairly hefty things that a bishop wouldn't really want to be up against.
Oh dear. And yet he sounded so rational and sensible only a paragraph ago.
This is a good illustration of why I find organised religion a little problematic.
And the problem is not with the choice of pope. The problem is with people such as Mr Arauj, who want to elect a dude to tell them what to do, but then want to dictate what he tells them to do.
posted by Timber @ 8:11 pm
2 comments
2 Comments:
In principle I agree. But, like most religious things, he's left himself an excellent fall back position by saying he hopes the Holy Spirit can guide him to an alternative path. He, as a good Catholic, will pray to God that what he believes is right (remember, God gave us all a free will) is the way God will guide the new Pope during his papacy.
You used a bad example to demonstrate your point - Cristina Odone, editor of a Catholic magazine over here has been on the news criticising the decision full stop, without any of the religious fall back points. She, a Catholic, is calling God's decision wrong, and is hence a fool. But this bishop? He believes in a religion. Maybe it's brainwashing in your eyes, and you probably have a point there.
But is history has taught us one thing, it's that arguments over religion, sex and political systems tend to cause Issues. Nobody would deny that the Pope's influence over the world - certainly from JP II forward - holds real sway over the world. While non Catholics may hope for more liberal policies for more pragmatic reasons - AIDS being the prime one - the Brazilian cardinal hopes for the same as it will prove without a doubt that God is wonderful and will judge the lesser of two evils as the better way forward.
And regardless of opinions, I don't feel it fair to argue with his opinion. It is, after all, logical and coherent according to his traditions.
Personally, I don't see anything wrong with his opinion. It may seem to imply that he feels the wrong pope is chosen, but that depends on how we interpret it.
I see it in this way. He has expressed what he finds is the need of the Church. He doesn't see the new Pope, with his image as Church enforcer, as someone who has the personality to meet that need. Also, I give him the benefit of the doubt that he is missing our previous pope, who we have to admit did a great job. It is a case of placing an expectation on the new pope, which while may not be fair, is not wrong either. It is a human reaction from a bishop who is as human as u & me. So maybe there is another perspective to his reaction.
I disagree tho that disliking a choice made by God is going against God. Feeling & action are different things. It is human to feel, in fact it is good to feel. A feeling against something is just an internal struggle, it tells us our sentiments to it. But we can still act despite our feelings. & besides, what is the absolute Truth in the election of Benedict XVI? Is it that God wants the Church to adopt the reputation that our pope had during his cardinal days? Not really. It is only that he has chosen this man to lead the Church, or if one has problems believing the cardinals are guided by the Spirit, at least he is one God has allowed to lead the Church. Bishop Arauj has accepted that, by praying for the Spirit to change him, tho he feels he doesn't fit the mould fully.
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