As a fallen away Catholic who believes very much in dogmas that are diametrically opposed to Catholicism, I can't work up either any teary treacly plaudits for this Pope or much condemnation.
I think when it comes to modernity, the pontiff hasn't a clue. I think his policies and practices, as others have written, have led to reprehensible practices and outcomes. The molestation scandal was centuries in the making and was revealed only because the church was exposed to the looking glass of modern society.
Consequently, birth rates in the Third World continue to reflect the struggle between the modernity of birth control and the dogmatic requirements of Catholicism. One expects that the successor Pope, coming from the College of Cardinals stacked by the present pontiff, will continue these policies that are seen as unshakable and never-changing.
The thing is, no one is necessarily forced to be a Catholic. It's interesting, I think, that among the Italians who are grieving in St. Peter's Square, I have to wonder how many of them are practicing birth control in direct defiance of Catholic doctrine. Right now, MSNBC is showing thousands grieving in Mexico City and Brazil, so many of them young people. I thought the same for those crowds as well.
Isn't it interesting on some level that so many are grieving the passing of a man whose lecturing on critical areas of the faith they ignore and violate?
A Polish citizen just quoted on MSNBC saying he doesn't believe in priests and churches but he believes in the Pope and is grieving his passing.
It's puzzling. One could say this Pope has transcended Catholicism and is the beneficiary of a cult of personality.
What I can't stand about all of this is the coverage in the media has also transcended any real discussion of the "news" value of the event and broached rank advocacy of religious dogma, especially Joe Scarborough's coverage on MSNBC last night. When he brings together Bill Donohue of the ultra-right Catholic League and Pat Buchanan, both to trash any criticism of the Pope and propagate the most conservative religious apologia, then the coverage crosses the line.
Article comments
1 - bhw
Good point about the pope and modernity. So many people criticize radical Islam for wanting to maintain the status quo from centuries ago. Well, the Catholic Church, particularly under this pope, isn't very different, and should be put under the same cultural microscope.
2 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
i ain't got much time for a man excommunicating socialists and communist families. Nor a fella hollering about the evils of contraception whilst millions sit on the streets. Nor, indeed, a man who proffesses himself celibate telling others what to do with their organs.
sorry, pope.
3 - Eric Olsen
very interesting, thanks Keith - I was astonished to hear ABC radio news this morning already talking about his canonization. I thought you had to perform miracles
4 - bhw
I believe this pope himself has relaxed the canonization standards to a certain degree.
5 - Iyayi Oriabure
I agree that the status of the Pope's health is being turned into an unnecessary media circus. However, he has had such an impact on the world in the last 25 years that it's inevitable that his passing would be treated in this manner. And, Keith, you've acknowledged this fact. And while some people feel that issues such as child abuse within the Church should have been dealt with like Watergate and Monica-gate, given the huge appetite of Americans for scandal tv, the Pope did manage to get across the message that not all Priests are bad people. Those who did those things are just a small minority. Such things should not be allowed to detract from the fact that this has been perhaps one of the most positively influential Pontiffs in the history of the Church.