Benedict XVI = weak?

[Ani_Ibi]

Pope Noah I:

Well, you know, it seems like it as of late. It seems as though he apologizes for everything and is getting nothing done.

Well, if the off-the-wall enraged responses from anti-Catholics and heterodox CINOs is any indication, then I would say that B16 is provocative.

Finally the cards are on the table. Finally we are having dialogue.

 

[Church_Militant]

Well, you know, it seems like it as of late. It seems as though he apologizes for everything and is getting nothing done. He just may turn out to be just a care-taker pope. Is he really disciplining anyone? I don’t see Pro-choicers being denied communion, I don’t see him wagging the finger at Islam, and I don’t see him disciplining Bishops for disobedience. Am I wrong? What happened to our beloved Cardinal Ratzinger? I remember my heart leaping for joy at his election, but as of late, he is a disappointment. If I am wrong, someone please correct me.

I disagree with you and I think it’s far too soon to be making statements like you have about him. He’s been pontiff for what? Just over a year?

So, yeah, you’re wrong.

 

[Pope_Noah_I]

I disagree with you and I think it’s far too soon to be making statements like you have about him. He’s been pontiff for what? Just over a year?

So, yeah, you’re wrong.

Uh, he’s been Pope for over two years, and unfortunately, he’s not going to have a long reign. He’s 80 years old, I think that we can begin to make judgments on how he is governing the Church. And in response to your remark at the end, I hope I am.

 

[whatevergirl]

Well, you know, it seems like it as of late. It seems as though he apologizes for everything and is getting nothing done. He just may turn out to be just a care-taker pope. Is he really disciplining anyone? I don’t see Pro-choicers being denied communion, I don’t see him wagging the finger at Islam, and I don’t see him disciplining Bishops for disobedience. Am I wrong? What happened to our beloved Cardinal Ratzinger? I remember my heart leaping for joy at his election, but as of late, he is a disappointment. If I am wrong, someone please correct me.

He is also 80. I hope I have a tenth of his fervor when I am that age.

That being said…I think he has been very strong. Why should he wagging his finger at Islam, by the way??

 

[Church_Militant]

He is also 80. I hope I have a tenth of his fervor when I am that age.

That being said…I think he has been very strong. Why should he wagging his finger at Islam, by the way??

Yeah, I was wondering that myself. What have we to do with their faith aside from dialog and charitable discussion? Conversion being the work of the Holy Spirit.

I suspect that Noah here has some agenda that he wishes His Holiness to take action on and is frustrated that he has not. I don’t think that makes His Holiness weak by any means…in fact I think it is a mark of his great strength, that he has not bowed to the many voices of expectations

Originally Posted by Pope Noah I

Well, you know, it seems like it as of late. It seems as though he apologizes for everything and is getting nothing done.I seem to see him doing a great deal.

He just may turn out to be just a care-taker pope. Is he really disciplining anyone?

Do you need disciplining? Do you have the authority to offer said discipline to anyone within the church?

What I’m saying is this. What makes your agenda the measuring rod of his papacy after only 2 years?

I don’t see Pro-choicers being denied communion,

Gosh…I seem to have just read something about this somewhere not long ago. In fact…even the TV news made a stench about it as if the Pope was trying to manipulate American politics.

What they failed to realize that he is trying to manipulate American Catholic morals, which is part of his function as head of the Catholic Church. The commentator even made a point of the fact that Benedict XVI has intimated that he would not be unhappy with a smaller but more faithful Catholic Church, though I have never read that anywhere.

I don’t see him wagging the finger at Islam

,Again, why bother? We are responsible to spread the Gospel and the Holy Spirit is responsible for the conversion of hearts, bringing fruit from the seed that we sow, both in word and holy example.

and I don’t see him disciplining Bishops for disobedience.

Are you privy to all that His Holiness does? Neither am I so I leave all that to those to whom God has given that task. My own bishop is a great guy, very holy and always brings a powerful Gospel message. Those who need discipline I leave to the Pope.

None of us knows what transpires between His Holiness and any given bishop. Therefore assuming that he has not disciplined some is not likely to prove accurate. Most of us will never know…

Am I wrong?

Again…yes.

What happened to our beloved Cardinal Ratzinger? I remember my heart leaping for joy at his election, but as of late, he is a disappointment.

Well, you have the name, but I don’t recall white smoke attached to it, so perhaps your “disappointment” is the result of your own opinions (which I do not begrudge you at all) as to what you think needs doing. Patience and diligent prayer is my own offering for His Holiness.

Me…I say, “Let the Pope run the church, the Holy Spirit will do His job.”

 

[Pope_Noah_I]

Yeah, I was wondering that myself. What have we to do with their faith aside from dialog and charitable discussion? Conversion being the work of the Holy Spirit.

I suspect that Noah here has some agenda that he wishes His Holiness to take action on and is frustrated that he has not. I don’t think that makes His Holiness weak by any means…in fact I think it is a mark of his great strength, that he has not bowed to the many voices of expectations I seem to see him doing a great deal. Do you need disciplining? Do you have the authority to offer said discipline to anyone within the church?

What I’m saying is this. What makes your agenda the measuring rod of his papacy after only 2 years?Gosh…I seem to have just read something about this somewhere not long ago. In fact…even the TV news made a stench about it as if the Pope was trying to manipulate American politics.

What they failed to realize that he is trying to manipulate American Catholic morals, which is part of his function as head of the Catholic Church. The commentator even made a point of the fact that Benedict XVI has intimated that he would not be unhappy with a smaller but more faithful Catholic Church, though I have never read that anywhere.Again, why bother? We are responsible to spread the Gospel and the Holy Spirit is responsible for the conversion of hearts, bringing fruit from the seed that we sow, both in word and holy example. Are you privy to all that His Holiness does? Neither am I so I leave all that to those to whom God has given that task. My own bishop is a great guy, very holy and always brings a powerful Gospel message. Those who need discipline I leave to the Pope.

None of us knows what transpires between His Holiness and any given bishop. Therefore assuming that he has not disciplined some is not likely to prove accurate. Most of us will never know…
Again…yes.Well, you have the name, but I don’t recall white smoke attached to it, so perhaps your “disappointment” is the result of your own opinions (which I do not begrudge you at all) as to what you think needs doing. Patience and diligent prayer is my own offering for His Holiness.

Me…I say, “Let the Pope run the church, the Holy Spirit will do His job.”

You are right, Sir, except for one thing. I have no agenda. The Holy Father is 80 with years of expierience, I’m 14 with none, how could I possibly know how to do anything better than him?

 

[Church_Militant]

You are right, Sir, except for one thing. I have no agenda. The Holy Father is 80 with years of expierience, I’m 14 with none, how could I possibly know how to do anything better than him?

Well said.

I suggest that you stay tuned for further developments, and remember to pray for His Holiness every day.

 

[Genesis315]

We all like to play armchair Pope, but I don’t think any of us can even begin to imagine the incredible pressure of being Pope. It’s a miracle of God anyone can do it without being personally destroyed by the stress–it takes incredible faith.

 

[ChristianVet]

Pope Benedict XVI is by no means weak. He is a very deep man spiritually and theologically. He was a prolific writer as Cardinal Ratzinger, and I believe he will one day be considered as one of the Church doctors.

True Christianity portrays itself in meekness, not to be confused with weakness. This world is not very familiar with meekness as it goes hand in hand with humility. This world prides itself on assertiveness, even arrogance. This man is not arrogant, he is extremely humble, proving he is indeed a Christian – as a sign of contradiction in a world that worships Pride in all its forms.

God bless and pray for Pope Benedict XVI, surely to become a great Doctor of the Church.

 

[Duffyo7]

Well, you know, it seems like it as of late. It seems as though he apologizes for everything and is getting nothing done. He just may turn out to be just a care-taker pope. Is he really disciplining anyone? I don’t see Pro-choicers being denied communion, I don’t see him wagging the finger at Islam, and I don’t see him disciplining Bishops for disobedience. Am I wrong? What happened to our beloved Cardinal Ratzinger? I remember my heart leaping for joy at his election, but as of late, he is a disappointment. If I am wrong, someone please correct me.

Glad to help. He is the Pope…your not privy to all the answers of his mind, heart and thoughts, nor Gods will…get over it.

 

[Crumpy]

We all like to play armchair Pope, but I don’t think any of us can even begin to imagine the incredible pressure of being Pope. It’s a miracle of God anyone can do it without being personally destroyed by the stress–it takes incredible faith.

I play armchair-pope like I play arm-chair president and arm-chair Jim Leyland Tigers manager – for a minute or less, until I can’t think of the first thing to do.

People who are in other cultures look up to the Pope, and what we viscerally think is not the same as what they might think. We really have to take a global view of what the Pope does.

The situatiion is china is a case in point. It’s more than chess match.

 

[Jaypeeto4]

I think Pope Benedict the Sixteenth, our holy father, is a mixed bag. On the one hand, he is a brilliant theologian and I believe, a deeply committed believer in Jesus Christ. He also seems to be an incredibly kind and gentle individual. That is the mixed bag:
like our dear late holy father JPII, Benedict may just be a bit TOO gentle to the wrong people. I believe his heart is in the right place, but sometimes you have to take a switch to bratty kids if you know what I mean.

God bless,
Jaypeeto4

 

[trogiah]

Well, you know, it seems like it as of late. It seems as though he apologizes for everything and is getting nothing done. He just may turn out to be just a care-taker pope. Is he really disciplining anyone? I don’t see Pro-choicers being denied communion, I don’t see him wagging the finger at Islam, and I don’t see him disciplining Bishops for disobedience. Am I wrong? What happened to our beloved Cardinal Ratzinger? I remember my heart leaping for joy at his election, but as of late, he is a disappointment. If I am wrong, someone please correct me.

Yes he is weak. God seems to be quite ok with weak popes, starting with the first one, Peter. Being weak is an inherent part of being human.

Someone who is comfortable with apologies (where appropriate) is someone who is in touch with the gospel message.

Someone mentioned how maybe the current pope is too humble. That is simply not possible, if humbleness is correctly understood.

There are enough people in the world ready to criticize, attack, and even kill others who don’t do things “right”. I believe the world is well-served by a pope who opts repeatedly for conciliation.

Being older than 14 (but still some short of 80) I have learned that there is no king, president, or even pope that could somehow set the world “right” if they simply were strong enough and forceful enough. It just doesn’t work that way.

peace

Jim

 

[whatevergirl]

Yes he is weak. God seems to be quite ok with weak popes, starting with the first one, Peter.

Someone who is comfortable with apologies (where appropriate) is someone who is in touch with the gospel message.

Someone mentioned how maybe the current pope is too humble. I think that is simply not possible, if humbleness is correctly understood.

There are enough people in the world ready to criticize, attack, and even kill others who don’t do things “right”. I believe the world is well-served by a pope who opts repeatedly for conciliation.

Being older than 14 (but still some short of 80) I have learned that there is no king, president, or even pope that could somehow set the world “right” if they simply were strong enough and forceful enough. It just doesn’t work that way.

peace

Jim

Hi Jim–you thought Peter was weak? Do you think a man dying a martyr…a horribly painful death…one he could have fled from…was weak? Maybe our definitions differ.

 

[trogiah]

Hi Jim–you thought Peter was weak? Do you think a man dying a martyr…a horribly painful death…one he could have fled from…was weak? Maybe our definitions differ.

During his life, Peter misunderstood Jesus message in significant ways and denied knowing him in Jesus’s most pressing hour. I am not saying I would have done any better. Jesus knew Peter would act this way and still saw fit to make him the “Rock”.

Again, my point is, we are all weak. Based on what I can see in the gospel, strength is not the primary quality needed to be pope. What is needed is the strong conviction that Jesus is the Son of the Living God. God will provide the other qualities that are needed.

 

[whatevergirl]

During his life, Peter misunderstood Jesus message in significant ways and denied knowing him in Jesus’s most pressing hour. I am not saying I would have done any better. Jesus knew Peter would act this way and still saw fit to make him the “Rock”.

Again, my point is, we are all weak. Based on what I can see in the gospel, strength is not the primary quality needed to be pope. What is needed is the strong conviction that Jesus is the Son of the Living God. God will provide the other qualities that are needed.

Ok-Thank you for replying.
Didn’t Paul say…we should boast of our weaknesses?? For when we are weak, God is our strength. Something like this.

 

[lak611]

Ok-Thank you for replying.
Didn’t Paul say…we should boast of our weaknesses?? For when we are weak, God is our strength. Something like this.

Here are the verses. From the Douay-Rheims Version:

2Co 12:9 And he said to me: My grace is sufficient for thee: for power is made perfect in infirmity. Gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
2Co 12:10 For which cause I please myself in my infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ. For when I am weak, then am I powerful.

 

[Sam_Morgan]

Does’nt it take an incredible amount of courage to say to the world that even in the colonization of the americas where so many native people were persecuted by the Church and Her apostalates. That those people needed The Church and the end result is the message of Christ was spread to them.
Yet he didn’t apologize for the actions of the Church.

( I am paraphrasing his remarks and they may be out of context but that is what i remember of the article i read. Feel free to correct me.)

 

[jonfan]

Does’nt it take an incredible amount of courage to say to the world that even in the colonization of the americas where so many native people were persecuted by the Church and Her apostalates. That those people needed The Church and the end result is the message of Christ was spread to them.
Yet he didn’t apologize for the actions of the Church.

( I am paraphrasing his remarks and they may be out of context but that is what i remember of the article i read. Feel free to correct me.)

Was it actually the Catholic Church who persecuted the Indians or was it the US government. As I recall in History class the Puritans were the first group of Christians to arrive in America to escape religious persecution from the King of England.

 

[Sam_Morgan]

I was referencing the colonization of Sout America and Central Americas, although the Spanish missionaries were here in North America during the 1500’s I think.