Pope Benedict Dead

[TC Talks]

Looks like the conservative run is over for the Catholics. Francis just buried his political opposition to loosen and redefine the Church's position on many topics...

Now, with the burial of Benedict on Thursday, Francis, never bashful about exercising his power, is for the first time unbound.

“Now, I’m sure he’ll take it over,” said Oswald Gracias, the archbishop of Mumbai, as he walked around St. Peter’s Square before Benedict’s funeral Mass.

Some liberal supporters of Francis, who has often balked in the face of advancing major overhauls, are raising expectations for a late-breaking season of change.

Many bishops and cardinals in the Vatican are convinced “he’s thinking ahead,” said Gerard O’Connell, the Vatican correspondent for America magazine. “What changes now is that the opposition will not have the rallying figure, manipulating Benedict. Francis has a very clear agenda.”

Mr. O’Connell, the author of “The Election of Pope Francis: An Inside Story of the Conclave That Changed History,” envisioned an immediate future of swifter personnel decisions and the placing of more lay Catholics in power. He said there was talk about a new document on morality, sexuality and contraception. He also predicted the revisiting of major issues.

Francis has already allowed debate on key, and previously taboo, topics like being more inclusive to gay people and giving women larger roles in the church. In 2021, he seemed poised to allow married men in far-flung areas like the Amazon to become priests. While an unexpected expression of opposition from Benedict, or those writing in his name, perhaps contributed to Francis pulling back, he left the door open.

Already absolute, Francis’ leadership in the church is increasingly fortified by a hierarchy in his image. By the end of the year, Francis will almost certainly pack the College of Cardinals with handpicked appointees. His chosen prelates will most likely then make up two-thirds of the body, the threshold necessary for electing the next pope.

[A1B1C1D1]

It is strange to call Benedict conservative or Francis liberal. Francis would not allow a blessing for gay couples because a Priest 'can not bless sin'. Francis has called Biden's position on abortion 'incoherent'. Francis shocked Detroit by making Father Coughlin's church a basilica early in his pontificate, and Vinegron's bowing to the media's negative characterization might have cost him a red hat. Saint Ann's later became a basilica as it is very historic but in a less desirable location.

Benedict is highly respected by conservatives mainly because he lifted restrictions on the Latin mass. It is 100% true that these communities do have a very strong conservative following, but who knows if Benedict could have predicted that. Benedict also shocked English Catholics in creating the ordinariate which was a new Catholic church allowing married Priests and the Anglican liturgy. This may have forced the Church of England to be more conservative (recently maintaining the ban on gay marriage, but allowing gay civil unions to be blessed) but again who knows if Benedict could have predicted that.

Francis is a Saintly man, his book 'Joy of the Gospel' is a fantastic read and he is very much a Pastoral Pope. Benedict was brilliant, leaps and bounds smarter than most Catholics and he will be remembered for his work on the new Catholic Catechism that replaced the ancient Baltimore Catechism that was written at a middle school level which was the level of faith the vast majority of Catholics had. A Medical Doctor might have the religious schooling of a twelve year old not that long ago if all he did was go to Church on Sunday.

[A1B1C1D1]

I would add one more thing about the Benedict admirers in the Catholic Church and that is that they tend to support classical education which is weird. The liberal arts are stereotyped... For making people liberal! So really, calling Catholics who praise Benedict and hate the Democrat party conservative is a little weird as well. One would think they would want their children to learn business instead of Latin. Or economics instead of Art History. Or even Wood Shop over theology.