Is the Church Ready for an American Pope?

[ByzCathCantor]

There are no married bishops.

Indeed, this is even true in the Eastern Catholic Churches with married priesthood.

I also believe that if someone who is not a bishop is elect Pope, then he must first be consecrated and enthroned as a bishop before being enthroned as Pontiff.

 

[Scott_Lafrance]

Indeed, this is even true in the Eastern Catholic Churches with married priesthood.

I also believe that if someone who is not a bishop is elect Pope, then he must first be consecrated and enthroned as a bishop before being enthroned as Pontiff.

Well, that would make sense since the Pope is the Bishop of Rome.

 

[ByzCathCantor]

Well, that would make sense since the Pope is the Bishop of Rome.

Yes, but without a specific cite at the ready, I erred on the side of caution in making the comment …

 

[AHapka]

Yup, but if a married man is selected, he and his wife must first agree to abide by a lifelong commitment to continence (not just chastity).

But…a celibate priesthood is a discipline. In the unlikely event of such an occurance, I would think that the Pope could grant himself a dispensation from that discipline.

Of course, this is getting pretty hypothetical…but it’s an interesting discussion nonetheless

 

[Pfaffenhoffen]

The same discussion was done after John Paul II: one Indian, one Chinese, a black, said some, no, from Russia or Brasil, why not Australia?, from an Arab country to evangelize them, from England to mend Reformation, from America, a Super-Pope or a MacPope, and then we had the most boring cardinal of all, Ratzinger, the keeper of Faith, the German Shepherd, who is a success.

We Catholics are incorrigible: any elected Pope is condemned to be loved by us.

 

[unafraid]

Pope Benedict XI may not be as mobile as he once was, but the alacrity of his mind was recently on display when he gave an extemporaneous thirty-eight minute “pep-talk” to the priests of Rome, in which he advised them on the proper ways to stand up against what he described as being, “the dictatorship of the media”. He is still a brilliant man.

However, to engage in pure speculation, Cardinal Arinze seems to be a man with a destiny, and if he does become our next pontif, the Church will be in good hands (I believe).

 

[Geist]

The same discussion was done after John Paul II: one Indian, one Chinese, a black, said some, no, from Russia or Brasil, why not Australia?, from an Arab country to evangelize them, from England to mend Reformation, from America, a Super-Pope or a MacPope, and then we had the most boring cardinal of all, Ratzinger, the keeper of Faith, the German Shepherd, who is a success.

We Catholics are incorrigible: any elected Pope is condemned to be loved by us.

Even as an atheist I had more respect for Pope Benedict XVI than John Paul II.

The former strikes me as someone utterly sincere in his beliefs (I could picture him manning ramparts during the Crusades even in his current old age ), the latter struck me as overtly conciliatory and political.

 

[bookgirl]

Seriously, our bishops just stood up together for the Church more publicly than they have in thirty years, all of this led by Dolan. He’s doing awesome, and we need him, so as cool and novel as it would be to have an American pope, let’s let him get his work done here first, and not send him over just yet.

 

[Pfaffenhoffen]

Even as an atheist I had more respect for Pope Benedict XVI than John Paul II.

The former strikes me as someone utterly sincere in his beliefs (I could picture him manning ramparts during the Crusades even in his current old age ), the latter struck me as overtly conciliatory and political.

I could not follow you whom you had more respect for? Crusades: are you against or for?

 

[Tigg]

Seriously, our bishops just stood up together for the Church more publicly than they have in thirty years, all of this led by Dolan. He’s doing awesome, and we need him, so as cool and novel as it would be to have an American pope, let’s let him get his work done here first, and not send him over just yet.

Well, I know Cardinal Dolan did just make a plea to Catholics to become more political!

If you have any recent statements from him that have specifically preached church doctrine against contraceptives I would like to read them. The only thing I’ve noted so far are the constitutional issues against the HHS mandate.

 

[bookgirl]

Well, I know Cardinal Dolan did just make a plea to Catholics to become more political!

If you have any recent statements from him that have specifically preached church doctrine against contraceptives I would like to read them. The only thing I’ve noted so far are the constitutional issues against the HHS mandate.

I’m kind of confused as to your point here?

 

[Tigg]

I’m kind of confused as to your point here?

You mentioned Dolan’s name in your post and since the good Cardinal is the one out front these days, I’m waiting to hear him reinforce church teaching on the most urgent of issues as it relates to the political landscape today. Seems to me that if we are speculating on a future pope that we should take his spiritual strength and courage and his pedagogical skill into consideration. The bishops are our teachers regarding moral matters. I’m only saying that all I’ve heard from any of the American hierarchy (regarding the mandate) is the political side; the civil argument and the debate over first amendment rights.

How about a little catechesis on the side?

 

[bookgirl]

You mentioned Dolan’s name in your post and since the good Cardinal is the one out front these days, I’m waiting to hear him reinforce church teaching on the most urgent of issues as it relates to the political landscape today. Seems to me that if we are speculating on a future pope that we should take his spiritual strength and courage and his pedagogical skill into consideration. The bishops are our teachers regarding moral matters. I’m only saying that all I’ve heard from any of the American hierarchy (regarding the HHS mandate) is the political side; the civil argument and the debate over first amendment rights.

How about a little catechesis on the side?

Regarding the HHS mandate, the civil argument and first amendment rights are at the forefront. While I don’t think it would be wrong to make sure those who don’t understand Church teaching are better informed about it, he’s in a very tricky situation where the media and those politically against him are very much trying to make it seem like the forefront of this issue is contraception itself. I would think, on the catechization front, it would be his job to make sure his priests are doing their job.

 

[Geist]

I could not follow you whom you had more respect for? Crusades: are you against or for?

Crusades? For.

 

[Tigg]

Regarding the HHS mandate, the civil argument and first amendment rights are at the forefront. While I don’t think it would be wrong to make sure those who don’t understand Church teaching are better informed about it, he’s in a very tricky situation where the media and those politically against him are very much trying to make it seem like the forefront of this issue is contraception itself. I would think, on the catechization front, it would be his job to make sure his priests are doing their job.

We are in for some very tough times ahead and in order to prepare Catholics for the fight, I wish I would have heard the words, “Catholics need to become more spiritual” instead of “Catholics need to become more active in politics.” Without obedience to God in the matter of contraceptives, God cannot bless us and without HIM on our side, it’s certain we 'll lose this battle.

The mission of the Church is to save souls; it is primary and I would really hope that a candidate for the papacy would put spiritual concerns at the forefront.

As an authoritative teacher of the faith, the Bishop sets revealed truth at the heart of his pastoral action.” Central to the bishop’s munus docendi (teaching office) is “to proclaim always and everywhere the moral principles of the social order.” (#120) Apostolorum Successores

 

[unafraid]

We are in for some very tough times ahead and in order to prepare Catholics for the fight, I wish I would have heard the words, “Catholics need to become more spiritual” instead of “Catholics need to become more active in politics.” Without obedience to God in the matter of contraceptives, God cannot bless us and without HIM on our side, it’s certain we 'll lose this battle.

The mission of the Church is to save souls; it is primary and I would really hope that a candidate for the papacy would put spiritual concerns at the forefront.

I strongly agree that at this particular time, when healing is needed on so many different levels, that someone filled with holiness, humility, and deep and serene spirituality, would be the ideal person to sit upon the throne of St. Peter. The world has too many polititians as it is, in my view.

May the Holy Spirit grant us a pontif whose great, and obvious, faith will inspire the entire world. May God give us a Pope who is also a saint.

Until that time, let us give thanks for the wonderful Pope that we are currently blessed to have.

 

[Tigg]

I strongly agree that at this particular time, when healing is needed on so many different levels, that someone filled with holiness, humility, and deep and serene spirituality, would be the ideal person to sit upon the throne of St. Peter. The world has too many polititians as it is, in my view.

May the Holy Spirit grant us a pontif whose great, and obvious, faith will inspire the entire world. May God give us a Pope who is also a saint.

Until that time, let us give thanks for the wonderful Pope that we are currently blessed to have.

And please, Mother of God, protect our precious Benedict from harm.

 

[Dakota_Roberts]

^ This. Yikes!

Actually, since the continent of Africa is now sending missionary priests to places which seem to need re-evangelization, such as big Western nations, it would be very refreshing to see a cardinal from Africa raised to the Chair of St. Peter.

How about Argentina?

There are no married bishops.

discipline or doctrine?

The same discussion was done after John Paul II: one Indian, one Chinese, a black, said some, no, from Russia or Brasil, why not Australia?, from an Arab country to evangelize them, from England to mend Reformation, from America, a Super-Pope or a MacPope, and then we had the most boring cardinal of all, Ratzinger, the keeper of Faith, the German Shepherd, who is a success.

We Catholics are incorrigible: any elected Pope is condemned to be loved by us.

Pope Benedict XVI could be a bit more conservative