Critics of ecumenism and interfaith relations often highlight the tendency to downplay theological issues. Who would have thought that Joseph Ratzinger would do the same thing? As John Allen reports, he’s joined the ranks of those who would rather act in unity than talk about substantial differences. In 2008, Benedict penned an introduction to a…
I got an e-mail today from a religious liberty organization which, ironically, commented on the pope’s visit without saying anything about his remarks on religious liberty! Let’s take a look at what he said on this topic, shall we? Remarks at the White House: Historically, not only Catholics, but all believers have found here the…
The Wall Street Journal drops its collective jaw at Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo’s views on immigration and the pope. The pope spoke of America’s heritage of welcoming immigrants, even citing the poem on the base of the Statue of Liberty. He didn’t address the issue of illegal immigration. Yet Tancredo railed against him for daring…
It’s useful to read not just what the pope said to US Catholics and politicians, but to read what they said to him. For example, here’s how Cardinal George outlined the priorities of the USCCB: The episcopal conference has recently identified the strengthening of marriage and of family life as one of five priorities for…
There remains a serious disconnect between Pope Benedict XVI and the US Bishops, especially their bureaucracies, despite the smiles and ring-kissing of the past week. For evidence, consider this story from the Catholic News Service, the official news service of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops: Theology students extol pope’s pastoral gifts but say change…
In the Washington Post, Peter Manseau contrasts the first visit of Pope John Paul II in 1979 with that of Benedict XVI. He contrasts the 400,000 who crammed into Boston Common for a mass with John Paul with the 46,000 who attended Benedict’s mass. That’s a phony comparison. Those huge crowds were possible because of…
Now that Pope Benedict XVI has concluded his first visit to the United States, we can begin to reflect on the themes he addressed. My reflections are rooted in my own perspective as a Seventh-day Adventist pastor who, nonetheless, spent many years as a member and a lay leader within the Catholic Church. As I…
Mass at St. Patrick’s. Address to Young People. I haven’t done any analysis or reflection of his talks. That will come when it’s all over.
Pope Benedict XVI spoke to Christian leaders today. Even within the ecumenical movement, Christians may be reluctant to assert the role of doctrine for fear that it would only exacerbate rather than heal the wounds of division. Yet a clear, convincing testimony to the salvation wrought for us in Christ Jesus has to be based…
Text of his address (he began in French–the English translation of this part is about halfway down the page). Discernment, then, shows that entrusting exclusively to individual States, with their laws and institutions, the final responsibility to meet the aspirations of persons, communities and entire peoples, can sometimes have consequences that exclude the possibility of…
Lots of emotion in Boston (and in Dallas) in the wake of Benedict’s meeting yesterday with survivors of sexual abuse by priests. The 25-minute gathering, in a small chapel at the Embassy Row mansion that is the home of the pope’s US ambassador, came toward the close of the third straight day that the 81-year-old…
There are so many things that reporters could be writing about during the papal visit. The AP’s Eric Gorski decides to create a controversy. But Pope Benedict XVI’s Mass in the nation’s capital Thursday was also different from a typical service in another way: Lay people were not asked to distribute Communion, which was administered…
Pope Benedict had some remarks yesterday for the Jewish community. At this time of your most solemn celebration, I feel particularly close, precisely because of what Nostra Aetate calls Christians to remember always: that the Church “received the revelation of the Old Testament through the people with whom God in His inexpressible mercy concluded the…
Speeches to Catholic educators and to Interfaith representatives (minus Sikhs).
Today, without fanfare and behind closed doors, Pope Benedict XVI met with victims of sexual abuse by priests–something John Paul II never did. Michael Paulson, who reported much of the scandal from Boston, reports on this development in the Boston Globe. Pope Benedict XVI, in a dramatic move likely to alter forever the image of…
David Gibson on Ratzinger’s change of heart on clergy sexual abuse.
The homily preached by Pope Benedict XVI was vintage Joseph Ratzinger, with little discernible admixture of USCCB bureacratspeak (unlike his talk last night to the bishops). I tried listening to his homily while doing some other things, but his accent is thick and requires close attention. Read the text here. He begins by noting that…
Over at Der Spiegel, Alexander Schwabe shows complete lack of comprehension of Catholic teaching, American history, and the writings of Joseph Ratzinger. He writes: During the election campaign, Ratzinger sent a letter to the American bishops, in which he said that all Catholic candidates who were not in favor of a ban on abortion should…
I’m watching the Pope’s address to the US Bishops. It sounds like the speech was written for him by different bureaucrats of the USCCB. Rocco has the text. In effect, he’s saying what the bishops want him to say. Lots of comments about morality, the family (even Sunday observance–which he says should start in the…
Here are the pictures I took of Pope Benedict XVI when I was in Rome in 2005. I had a pretty good seat.
Fr. John Z. has the text and some commentary on the remarks of Pope Benedict XVI at the White House. The pope’s address is a call for renewal among Catholics, and to engagement between Catholics and the political realm. He’s grateful for America’s values, its heritage of religious freedom and involvement of faith in public…
In anticipation of the pope’s visit this week, various pundits (example) are churning out columns saying Pope Benedict XVI doesn’t connect with Catholics in America. Others suggest he’s not really known. Others suggest he turns off young adults. Horse hockey. This pope was probably better known at the time of his election than any other…
John Allen has an interesting column in which he looks at Pope Benedict XVI’s views on America. Here’s just a sampling: Despite protesting in 1996 that he has “little knowledge of America,” in truth Benedict XVI probably came into office with more direct insight into the United States than any other pope in history. For…
Pope Benedict XVI will be having an interfaith meeting at the John Paul II Cultural Center in DC, but don’t expect any dialogue. This won’t be an opportunity for him to hear from Jews, Muslims, Hindus, and others about religion in America, or their relations with Catholics. Nope. Only one person will be talking, as…
Rocco Palmo suggests you check out things Pope Benedict XVI and his close aides have already said to Americans.
Clerical Whispers, blog of an Irish priest, posts some thoughts about the strategy of Pope Benedict XVI. The pope is a highly educated man. He has written multiple books and is respected for his scholarship. He is the spiritual leader of more than 1 billion people. Benedict does nothing—especially when it involves altering church policy…
Osama Bin Laden’s latest message, delivered Thursday, included a warning to Pope Benedict XVI. In that context, how are we to interpret the Pope’s decision to personally baptize a “prominent Muslim journalist” at tonight’s Easter Vigil, other than as a cool, calculated declaration of defiance? Washington Post notes that the Vatican kept it a secret,…
The Vatican has accepted the credentials of the new US ambassador, Mary Ann Glendon (a conflict of interest, in my eyes, since she has represented the Vatican and been the head of a Vatican commission). Pope Benedict’s comments to her upon the presentation of her credentials affirm the common mission of the US and the…
Advent Hope 