benedict xvi

I’m home sick again, even though I went into work to see how it went. After nearly passing out a few times, I asked my brother in Christ, Chris to give me a drive home. On the way home, we heard on the radio that white smoke was eminating from the Vatican – the traditional announcement that a new pope had been elected. I tuned on the TV when I got home to find out the details.

I’ve often said, “You know… all it would take to open up real discussions between Protestants and Catholics that could result in some form of common ground, is a liberal Pope to come along and say, ‘You know what? Turns out that I’m not infallible after all.‘” Once we got that presupposition out of the way, there could be genuine discussion with a potential hope in sight.

Well, we can pretty much guarentee that’s not going to happen during this potificate. I never would have guessed they’d elect Ratzinger. Cardinal Ratzinger is one of the most conservative members of the upper eschalon of the Roman Catholic Church, having been the leader of the “Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.” That’s the new name of that organization, anyway. It’s original name was simply ‘The Inquisition.’ I can only assume that the choice of Joseph Ratzinger is meant to heal the highly un-public (it’s not private, by any stretch) schism that threatens the RC church these days. Traditionalists and liberals have been firing shots at each other fast and furious since Vatican II, and John Paul II did little to heal the wounds between them, being one of the most liberal pontiff in the history of that seat.

Unfortunately, I’m too ill to sit here and discuss this issue at length. Watch carefully, folks. There is no question in my mind that Pope Benedict XVI will make for an interesting pontificate. I suppose the one upside is that, if he is true to his actions during his cardinalship, it should become easier to demonstrate the gaps between Protestant and Catholic theology.

Watching the news though… it amazes me how ignorant even Catholics are of thier own history and tradition. Hopefully Benedict XVI will correct that, allowing opportunities for discussion.