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David Bisset
Skotlando, United Kingdom
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Wednesday, April 20, 2005
Ratzinger becomes Pope
The unthinkable has happened: an ultra-reactionary has become Pope.
The Conclave with indecent haste has elected a man whose hatred of liberalism is proverbial. This is the result of an electoral system confined to men chosen by Pope John Paul for their obedience and ingrained conservatism.
Ratzinger's election has horrendous implications for the Church in Europe and for Ecumenism.
Once the new Pope was a prominent participant of the Second Vatican Council; he quickly went through a sea-change, and theologically bolstered the late Pope's horror of change.
Yes, change is frightening - even dangerous; but the Holy Spirit is God's instrument of revolution. The ironical factor concerning such matters as contraception and priestly celibacy is that they bear no relationship to the great doctrines of the Faith. The role of women does; and the refusal to address the ordination of women is based upon a theology which is so primitive that it scarcely merits consideration.
It looks as if the Roman Catholic Church is going to be shaken to its foundations. This is no bad thing. The Church has been shaken before: the Almighty shakes every individual for their own good, and also shakes every institution which fails to treat God's world seriously.
We are not so subservient as we once were. If the election of Joseph Ratzinger as Pope Benedict appalls us, there is no need for supine silence!
The Conclave with indecent haste has elected a man whose hatred of liberalism is proverbial. This is the result of an electoral system confined to men chosen by Pope John Paul for their obedience and ingrained conservatism.
Ratzinger's election has horrendous implications for the Church in Europe and for Ecumenism.
Once the new Pope was a prominent participant of the Second Vatican Council; he quickly went through a sea-change, and theologically bolstered the late Pope's horror of change.
Yes, change is frightening - even dangerous; but the Holy Spirit is God's instrument of revolution. The ironical factor concerning such matters as contraception and priestly celibacy is that they bear no relationship to the great doctrines of the Faith. The role of women does; and the refusal to address the ordination of women is based upon a theology which is so primitive that it scarcely merits consideration.
It looks as if the Roman Catholic Church is going to be shaken to its foundations. This is no bad thing. The Church has been shaken before: the Almighty shakes every individual for their own good, and also shakes every institution which fails to treat God's world seriously.
We are not so subservient as we once were. If the election of Joseph Ratzinger as Pope Benedict appalls us, there is no need for supine silence!
Monday, April 18, 2005
Conclave begins
For those who wish to see the wider implementation of the collegiality which the Second Vatican Council strongly advocated there is some comfort in the fact that the Cardinals who will elect a new Pope are at least a College for electoral purposes. However, the much wider concept of a continuing role for bishops, priests and the laity never found much favour with John Paul.
The papacy is not an hereditary monarchy, nor is a Pope allowed to choose his successor; these at least are small mercies!
However, the fact that practically all the cardinals were chosen by an ultra-conservative Pope does seem to point towards continuity of policy, and the ignoring of the collegiate principle, which would radicalize the Church and reinvigorate ecumenism.
Loyal Catholics make the point that it is the Holy Spirit, not the cardinals, who makes the choice. An elementary knowledge of church history makes one somewhat sceptical concerning this assertion.
However, the unexpected can happen. Good Pope John turned out to be a veritable revolutionary!
Could someone emerge who continues his revolution? That revolution, of course, advocated collegiality (in the broadest sense). The late Pope had many virtues; but he was a determined centralist: an attitude which may have owed something to Polish the Church's struggle in his native land. It is ironical, of course, that communism was also centralist.
The significance of this election goes far beyond the Roman Church. May the Spirit indeed guide the cardinals!
The papacy is not an hereditary monarchy, nor is a Pope allowed to choose his successor; these at least are small mercies!
However, the fact that practically all the cardinals were chosen by an ultra-conservative Pope does seem to point towards continuity of policy, and the ignoring of the collegiate principle, which would radicalize the Church and reinvigorate ecumenism.
Loyal Catholics make the point that it is the Holy Spirit, not the cardinals, who makes the choice. An elementary knowledge of church history makes one somewhat sceptical concerning this assertion.
However, the unexpected can happen. Good Pope John turned out to be a veritable revolutionary!
Could someone emerge who continues his revolution? That revolution, of course, advocated collegiality (in the broadest sense). The late Pope had many virtues; but he was a determined centralist: an attitude which may have owed something to Polish the Church's struggle in his native land. It is ironical, of course, that communism was also centralist.
The significance of this election goes far beyond the Roman Church. May the Spirit indeed guide the cardinals!
Sunday, April 03, 2005
John Paul 2: an extraordinary Pope
The Pope was a complex and paradoxical man.
He undoubtedly was one of the most important men of the 20th Century; and his influence was world-wide.
It hardly seems appropriate to attempt an analysis so soon after his death; I shall express my opinion in due course.
He undoubtedly was one of the most important men of the 20th Century; and his influence was world-wide.
It hardly seems appropriate to attempt an analysis so soon after his death; I shall express my opinion in due course.
