Papal Leaks .:. grubbykid.com

Papal Leaks

I thought that the Cardinals swore an oath to secrecy, apparently not since the Post has a long article on the electoral proceedings behind the election of Pope Benedict XVI. I guess it really does matter what the definition of "is" is.

The issue I wan't to draw readers to, is some remarks from the new Pope concerning culture and society. Specifically his remarks about "relativism:"

On Monday morning, the cardinals attended the traditional Mass for the election of a pope at St. Peter's, where Ratzinger gave a stinging homily against the West's creeping "dictatorship of relativism." Those who hold firmly to belief in God and moral absolutes, he said, are accused of fundamentalism, while the only socially acceptable attitude seems to be that everything is relative and nothing is clearly right or wrong.

Now, I agree with Big Media Matt that the Conventional Wisdom is that the Pope is quite a learned theologian. So it is somewhat distressing that he would continue the mindless line about relativism, when he really is saying (and should just come out and say it) that any other religion besides Catholicism is relativistic. Additionally, this trope about relativism is quite asinine since no one can positively point out where and how specifically we have become more relativistic.

Am I to believe that understanding and accepting different cultures, religions, and ways of life somehow is not what the Gospel of Jesus professed during his short life? Am I not to believe that God works in mysterious ways, revealing Himself to His servants in different forms from a burning bush to an Angel? If that is relativism, count me in - I have the faith that God uses different ways to care for his flock.

I have been slowly reading the Pope's writings (pdf) since his election, and all points seem to lead back to Catholicism as the one "true" religion. As neither a Catholic nor theologian, but rather a non-religious Christian (faith is different), I find this both offensive and non-congruent with the teachings of Christ. Additionally, the fact that Catholic Theologians can say with a straight face that they have the single conduit to redemption is appalling. Especially when it is apparent that Catholicism itself is a result of chance and good debating skills:

Why do you think the religion that Constantine chose, the current form of Christianity—which you call the proto-orthodox—won out?

To some extent they won because they were better debaters. Each of these groups was fighting all the other groups on various fronts, but the proto-orthodox seemed to have been better organized than the other groups and seemed to have been more intent on establishing a worldwide network of similar people. And so they ended up taking over the churches in the major areas where there were lots of Christians, such as Rome, and eventually in Alexandria, Egypt, and Jerusalem...

Perhaps it is my Lutheran background, as well as the cultural background from the Midwest, which forces me to just let people live their lives. I'm willing to give the Pope the benefit of a doubt, but I will be highly interested in seeing where he leads the Catholic Church.

Later... I just want to make it clear, I think there is a give-and-take when discussing theological issues and tenants of faith. But I have read too many over-the-top Catholic theologians write off every other flavor of Christianity (Matt mentions Edward Oakes) as not "true" to Christ. Rank-and-file Catholics I have no immediate problem with - everyone struggles and deals individually with their faith in highly personal manner. The schism of the Church which started during the Reformation has slowly healed, but still Catholics at the highest echelon's response is a non-starter. The solution Pope Benedict XIV in particular has advocated to heal the schism is for everyone to become Catholic.Not exactly a healthy outreach to the world.

Papal Leaks

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