Ross Douthat: The Better Pope

[Janks]

In an op-ed column for the NYTs, Ross Douthat ponders the question of greatness between JPII and Benedict XVI. Here’s the link: nytimes.com/2010/04/12/opinion/12douthat.html

Personally, I’m a little biased. I may have grown up with JPII, but he’s only a fond childhood memory. I guess I matured under Benedict XVI.

What does everyone else think?

 

[jonpd]

Just a rehash of the arguments the Times has previously made, based on incorrect information provided by a trial lawyer with a financial interest in seeking suits against the church. When is the NYT going to come clean and admit it is lying about the church to try to bring it down?

 

[Neil_Anthony]

In an op-ed column for the NYTs, Ross Douthat ponders the question of greatness between JPII and Benedict XVI. Here’s the link: nytimes.com/2010/04/12/opinion/12douthat.html

Personally, I’m a little biased. I may have grown up with JPII, but he’s only a fond childhood memory. I guess I matured under Benedict XVI.

What does everyone else think?

I think Catholics should only say good things about bishops and especially the pope! They’re both great, each in their own way. Thanks be to God for giving us such wonderful shepherds!

 

[L2P2]

I think Catholics should only say good things about bishops and especially the pope! They’re both great, each in their own way. Thanks be to God for giving us such wonderful shepherds!

Even when they, like Cardinal Law, allow known pedophiles to continue to abuse and even flee testimony before secular courts? See this column by Peggy Noonan, Ronald Reagan’s speechwriter:

online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304510004575186451300061536.html?mod=WSJ_hp_mostpop_read

I’m a huge fan of hard-working and honest priests, the 96% of U.S. priests not accused in the pederasty scandal but tarred by association with their criminal brethren. But I don’t see why silence is required with respect to cover up of criminal activity.

 

[SunnaB16]

History will look back on Benedict XVI as one of the Churchs great reformer popes. He gets my "vote". Thanks be to God he wasnt allowed to retire.
His predecessor seemed to be too much of an optimist, and just let things continue to slide. His Master of Ceremonies was pretty woeful. It`s ironic that his replacement has the same surname.

As far as ecumenism goes; i reckon Benedicts efforts have more substance......even if they have less "flair". Its substance that counts.

The idiocy of saying that he hasn`t done enough to sort out the abuse problem! What extra do all of these self-proclaimed “experts” think he should have done? Armchair administrators! Back seat drivers! Hot air!

Anyway, who cares about what some uninformed NYT writer says?
Let em all pose and posture......and see what theyre like on their 83rd birthdays.
***Theyre a pack of fleas, mosquitoes and other assorted annoying insects.*** Benedicts intellect and piety and humility would trounce theirs.

 

[L2P2]

Anyway, who cares about what some uninformed NYT writer says?.

It’s pretty clear from your post that you barely read the Douthat article, if at all. Why post on a thread specifically about an article if you are not going to read it and try to grasp it? This is part of the problem right now. The angry and uniformed are dominating the debate in the news and in the blogosphere.

Douthat, by the way, is a conservative, even though he writes for the Times, for all those posting here without bothering to read what he said. He also writes for the National Review, the magazine founded by Wm. F. Buckley. Buckley was a staunch Roman Catholic who, among other things, argued well into the 1970s that that there should be a qualifying IQ test for voting in U.S. elections. I deeply disagree with this idea, but I often wonder what percentage of participants in Catholic Answers would have met his standards.

 

[DawnInTexas]

They both have their place in God’s Plan.

“Mary’s Pope” laid the foundation for this new Generation.
Our Beloved Benedict is carrying us forward.

They are both just what we need in these times.

Thank You, God!

God Bless.
+Dominus Vobiscum.
Love, Dawn

 

[didymus]

I think more time needs to go by before we can have a true perspective on Pope John Paul II.
I wish the canonisation process had not been so accelerated – not that I think he isn’t in Heaven, but in years to come a better judgment might be formed of his papacy.

 

[PPeterson]

generally it’s good to be a little cautious of people who foster a cult of personality.