Pope Score Card
All,
It's become obvious from your collective silence that, perhaps, the relative greatness of David Bowie and any tangential discussion on the matter is a bit too dodgey for this site. So, I figured we could talk about something more light and playful, like the Pope and the future of Catholicism.
Ok, my devotion to Catholicism doesn't exactly rival Mikey's, or Ramey's, or even the unflinching dedication of Johnny Wazsczak (fucking Polish names). However, Ratzinger was vehemently opposed to "liberation theology" (re: El Salvador, Nicaragua circa: Reagan years) which, for anyone who's watched "Salvador" (James Woods, Jim Belushi) or "Under Fire", realizes that stance isn't exactly a feather in the cap. Then, thanks to the fact finders at the BBC, he decides to publicly deny communion to any pro-choice politicians. I'm sorry folks, the hypocrisy is a bit staggering on this front. Yes, he hates faggots too, but that's boiler plate material for the head of the R.C.C. But renouncing the socio-political role of the church in Central America, particularly in the 1980's, and then weighing in on the 2004 elections here in the States is pretty chickenshit in my playbook.
The little stint in the Hitler Youth and the Wehrmacht doesn't impress potential employers either. Keeping this in mind I'd like to look toward a high point in film making by pointing to a little ditty starring Gregory Peck called "Boys from Brazil". If you've ever caught the flick then I think we can all agree that the tenets of fascism now have some pretty deep roots in the Vatican. Wild eyed conspiracy theories aside I am with Serazio on this front: the churched missed the boat by not putting a South/Central American on the Papal Throne.
-Aden
It's become obvious from your collective silence that, perhaps, the relative greatness of David Bowie and any tangential discussion on the matter is a bit too dodgey for this site. So, I figured we could talk about something more light and playful, like the Pope and the future of Catholicism.
Ok, my devotion to Catholicism doesn't exactly rival Mikey's, or Ramey's, or even the unflinching dedication of Johnny Wazsczak (fucking Polish names). However, Ratzinger was vehemently opposed to "liberation theology" (re: El Salvador, Nicaragua circa: Reagan years) which, for anyone who's watched "Salvador" (James Woods, Jim Belushi) or "Under Fire", realizes that stance isn't exactly a feather in the cap. Then, thanks to the fact finders at the BBC, he decides to publicly deny communion to any pro-choice politicians. I'm sorry folks, the hypocrisy is a bit staggering on this front. Yes, he hates faggots too, but that's boiler plate material for the head of the R.C.C. But renouncing the socio-political role of the church in Central America, particularly in the 1980's, and then weighing in on the 2004 elections here in the States is pretty chickenshit in my playbook.
The little stint in the Hitler Youth and the Wehrmacht doesn't impress potential employers either. Keeping this in mind I'd like to look toward a high point in film making by pointing to a little ditty starring Gregory Peck called "Boys from Brazil". If you've ever caught the flick then I think we can all agree that the tenets of fascism now have some pretty deep roots in the Vatican. Wild eyed conspiracy theories aside I am with Serazio on this front: the churched missed the boat by not putting a South/Central American on the Papal Throne.
-Aden
posted by Aden at 9:26 AM
3 Comments:
It absolutely blows my mind that the papal conclave didn't elect a cardinal from either Latin America or Africa. I mean, these are the only two geographic regions where the church still enjoys widespread influence and an influx of new converts. I don't think the choice of a pope was ever going to be a "reformist" cardinal, as the Vatican is fast scrambling to reassert influence in true spheres of influence (see American Catholics). In my mind, the church would've gained a lot more ground with liberal and conservative Catholics had they elected a non-Euro cardinal. I mean, it makes sense on two fronts - one, it totally appeases the giant contingency of African and Latin American Catholics, not to mention, the Catholics seeking diversity (i.e., liberals). Two, the dogma carried by these non-Euros is many times a lot more conservative than their Euro/American counterparts, thus appeasing the hardcore constituencies. And yeah, Ratzinger's involvement in all things shady is worrisome. Any guesses as to why he chose Benedict as his pope name?
Until the Catholic church accepts the fact that it is no longer the premier authority in its traditional homeland, it'll never regain the influence it has lost over the years. Then again, I'm a Methodist who attends an Episcopalian church, so I really have no say in matters of the Catholic church.
As a non-practicing Lutheran, I could really give a shit less about the Pope. That being said, I think there are a few reasons they chose this Ratzinger guy, Ratzinger, wasn't that the name of the guy who played Cliff on Cheers...how cool would that be, Cliff as the pope, I think he was Catholic...you know Irish guy from Boston, annoying know it all...anyway I digress. The Catholic church is still an old timey, white run organization that many would think is trying to be contemporary, yet the fact remains, they still are not ready for a non-white Pope. Also, they do not need to appease the Africans or the Latinos, they are already Catholic and there is not much more out there for them, and being the most extreme Catholics, they will pretty much go along with whatever the Vatican does. Oh yeah, Pope Benedict is 78 and has a history of health problems, so chances are he won't be around long. Maybe they chose him just to get someone in there...like the guy before JPII, who died like a month after being elected Pope.
Anyway thanks for listening to the incoherent ramblings of a sleep deprived, oversexed, underpaid, stressed out, yet still uncaring member of your national defense forces...
This is a bizarre little string of posts that's going to require my Cracker Jack de-coder ring to figure out just who the fuck is saying what? I've got some guesses, but for the love of God trying to guess who wrote what based on the style and quality of prose is getting stale.
-Aden
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