Benedict examined American society, saying he detected anger and alienation, increasing violence and a "growing forgetfulness of God."
Seriously, now that Hillary is an agent of our Lord, smiter of irreverent pastors and defender of the armed faithful, let's hear what she has to say about the Pope, since he pretty much just called Americans bitter. (H/t to ABlog commenter Nigel.)
Washington is abuzz this week over the impending visit of Pope Benedict the Sixteenth Century. George Bush can't get enough of him. The Bushes are hosting a dinner in Benedict's honor on Wednesday night. One problem: The guest of honor isn't coming:
The historic visit to Washington this week by Pope Benedict XVI is a big event for millions of Americans, including President Bush and first lady Laura Bush.
The first couple will greet the pontiff as he arrives at Andrews Air Force Base on Tuesday afternoon, followed by a ceremony and private meeting at the White House the next day. Then comes a final event Wednesday night in the East Room, when the Bushes will host a dinner in honor of His Holiness.
Only one thing will be missing: the pope.
"I'm sorry, the pope doesn't attend a dinner in his honor?" one reporter asked White House spokesman Scott Stanzel during a briefing last week.
"No," Stanzel replied.
"How does that work?"
"He doesn't come into the building."
"But then it's not a dinner for the pope, is it?"
"It's in honor of his visit," Stanzel explained. "There will be leaders from the Catholic community from all over the country who are in town for that visit."
White House aides attribute the pontiff's absence from the dinner to a busy schedule during his first visit to the United States. Wednesday also happens to be Pope Benedict's 81st birthday.
Making the list of the Easter Eve baptism for adults by the Pope is surely an honor for those chosen. However, anything that is done by the Pope relating to his church and Islam will be viewed under a microscope considering his past comments. Surely the Pope and his advisers knew exactly what they were doing (including the negative fallout in the Muslim world) when they chose a high profile Muslim convert to baptize at the Vatican yesterday. The church can chose the people they like, of course, but sheesh, why do they have to always thumb their nose at others like this? How is this helping to bridge the gap between the Catholic church and Islam? When the church wonders why their numbers are falling in Europe and the US, they can think about actions such as this.
A settlement betwee 144 childhood sexual abuse victims and the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego has resulted in Papa Ratzi's boys having to pay out $198 mil. It was already in Chapter 11 over the heinous scandal, but as part of the settlement, the diocese gets to ask for its bankruptcy cast to be dismissed. (San Diego Union-Tribune):
Another important part of the agreement was the diocese's promise to release church documents about priest abuse, said Irwin M. Zalkin, an attorney for 33 victims in the case. He said that without that concession, the victims would not have agreed to settle their claims.
..."This has been a journey for some people, in some cases, 30, 40 years, who have suffered an immense harm that is difficult for anyone to comprehend," Zalkin said. "This is their day. This is their time. This is their vindication. This is their moment of truth.
...Among them was Michael Bang, a 46-year-old Atlanta resident who says he was abused by a priest in San Diego from 1971 to 1979..."It'll never be fair. My life has been up and down, up and down," he said. "It's unconscionable. I mean this is supposed to be the church of God. They're supposed to be people that are looking out for the welfare and the goodness of the children of the church. And all they're worried about is the bottom line."
The article notes that Bishop Robert Brom asked the victims for forgiveness, repeatedly apologizing. One might ask why it took the threat of going to court (and surely a bigger payout) to get someone to admit and apologize. Since 1950, the church has paid out up to $2.1 billion on cases like this. That's a lot of tithing (and insurance).
There has been a a steady stream of high-profile bankruptcies and payouts since the raping, molesting Roman Catholic priest scandal broke big in Boston in 2002. Is this part of God's plan for the church, as it wastes hot air condemning gays, and persists in an abstinence-only message as HIV/AIDS ravages poor countries around the globe? Via the AP:
* Archdiocese of Los Angeles, 2007, agrees to pay $660 million to about 500 people. * Diocese of Orange, Calif., 2004, $100 million for 90 abuse claims. * Diocese of Covington, Ky., 2006, up to $84 million for more than 350 people. * Archdiocese of Boston, 2003, $84 million for 552 claims. * Diocese of Oakland, Calif., 2005, $56 million to 56 people. * Archdiocese of Portland, Ore., 2007, agrees to pay about $52 million to 175 victims to emerge from bankruptcy protection. The diocese sets aside another $20 million for any future claims. * Diocese of Spokane, Wash., 2007, agrees to pay $48 million for about 150 claims to emerge from bankruptcy protection. * Diocese of Sacramento, Calif., 2005, pays $35 million to 33 people. * Archdiocese of Louisville, Ky., 2003, $25.7 million to 243 victims. * Diocese of Tucson, Ariz., 2005, agrees to fund a settlement trust worth about $22 million for more than 50 victims to emerge from bankruptcy protection.
Okay, where to even begin with this statement from the Prada wearing pope, Benedict the 16th Century, who is leading his church back in time:
In issuing a statement Tuesday from the Vatican to clarify church policy on other Christian faiths, Pope Benedict XVI referred to the Protestant congregations as defective and not true churches.
The statement said, in part, "These separated churches and communities, though we believe they suffer from defects, are deprived neither of significance nor importance in the mystery of salvation. In fact the Spirit of Christ has not refrained from using them as instruments of salvation, whose value derives that fullness of grace and truth which has been entrusted to the Catholic Church."
Now if Benedict is worried about those who suffer from defects, there's plenty to choose from within his own church. Plenty. The pope should check out one of his biggest defenders in America, the bigoted, homophobe William Donohoe:
In a speech to Latin American and Caribbean bishops at the end of a visit to Brazil, the Pope said the Church had not imposed itself on the indigenous peoples of the Americas.
They had welcomed the arrival of European priests at the time of the conquest as they were "silently longing" for Christianity, he said.
Millions of tribal Indians are believed to have died as a result of European colonization backed by the Church since Columbus landed in the Americas in 1492, through slaughter, disease or enslavement.
No fan of Benedict the 16th Century, the Prada wearing pope, but he had harsh words for Bush's war in Iraq:
"Nothing positive comes from Iraq, torn apart by continual slaughter as the civil population flees," the Pope said.
The Pope also lamented the "growing unrest and instability" in Afghanistan, which is bracing for a bloody spring offensive after a resurgent Taliban staged the most intensive year of fighting since they were ousted in 2001.
He condemned terrorism and the use of religion to justify a "thousand faces of violence."
By criticizing Bush's war, Benedict does risk an attack from William Donohue -- South Park becomes reality.
Sheesh, has he never visited the Vatican Museums? Humble, is not exactly what comes to mind. Where does he think the riches in the Vatican Museums come from and if he's so troubled by the excessive material goods, he can start selling it off or giving it away.
Rich countries bent on power and profit have mercilessly "plundered and sacked" Africa and other poor regions and exported to them the "cynicism of a world without God," Pope Benedict writes in his first book.
The Pope also condemns drug trafficking and sexual tourism, saying they are signs of a world brimming with "people who are empty" yet living among abundant material goods.
Of course, drug trafficking and sexual tourism are terrible. I don't disagree with his "rich countries plundered Africa" or his remarks about wiping out local cultural and spiritual traditions, though he might step back and take a closer look at the history of the church and its active participation in that process. There is plenty of blame and shame to go around.
He also ought to take a look in the mirror at his red Prada pumps.
