The fact that Joseph Ratzinger was a theological consultant during Vatican II does not make him a liberal. The fact that as Pope Benedict XVI he has reinstated the Tridentine Mass doesn’t make him a conservative. These terms are better left to analyzing politicians rather than popes.
Let’s ask ourselves some questions:
- Was Vatican II a sin? If not, what is wrong with having been a theological consultant at Vatican II?
- Has Pope Benedict taught anything contrary to the faith, either as Cardinal Ratzinger or pope?
- Is he a liberal because he will not concede power and autonomy to SSPX? SSPX is a public society of the clergy. There are no priestly societies or religious order or religious congregations that are autonomous from the Pope. Ultimately, he is the Superior General of every society, order and congregation in the Church. They are bound to him by obedience. In fact, he has the authority to disband any institute according to Canon Law. He has not disbanded the SSPX. This shows that he is not only a man of faith, but also a man of hope. This characterization is neither liberal nor conservative, it is Christian.
- Aren’t liberal and conservative relative terms? To the SSPX he may be liberal because he pushes for ecumenism. To many women his is conservative because he condemns abortion and artificial birth control. Therefore, do these terms really define the man?
- Someone mentioned that they saw a picture of him and Karl Rahner wearing a shirt and tie. Does anyone remember that he is a German theologian and that in Germany and many other countries in Europe, university professors all wear shirts and ties? The shirt with the Roman Collar is an Anglican creation that American clergy adopted at the Council of Baltimore and that priests in other countries are slowly adopting. The traditional garb for a priest in Europe was either a cassock, habit or a suit. In Germany it was a shirt and tie. In Spain it was a suit with a black crew neck shirt. In the Eastern Church it’s still a black robe with hat or veil. Big deal!
- Did anything he contributed to Vatican II contradict Revelation? In fact what he contributed to the Council was the systematic organization of the theology in the documents.
- Didn’t Joseph Ratzinger get two doctorate degrees, one on Augustine and the other on Bonaventure? What is unorthodox about either of these two great minds?
- Has anyone noticed that his writings use Augustinian systematic and Bonventurian theology? What is unorthodox about Augustine and Bonaventure? Does every pope have to be a Thomist?
- Is recognizing the virtues of other faiths a sin? Is this an endorsement of other faiths? Would we want a pope who disregards the good in other faiths, just to make a point that they are not in communion with the Church? How would that make him a man of greater integrity and a true shepherd of all people? Isn’t his job to be the shepherd of all mankind, not just Catholics?
- Is he supposed to grant faculties to absolve from sin perform marriages and preach to priests who are in communion with Bishop Felley instead of the Bishop of Rome? Bishop Felley is not the Pontiff.
- Isn’t it dangerous to go to confession to a priest who has no power to absolve? What do we expect Benedict to do, to grant them this power before they comply with their promise of obedience to the Bishop of Rome? Regardless whether or not the Bishop of Rome is wrong on some things, a promise is a promise. Unless the Bishop of Rome orders you to sin, a priest has to fulfil his promise to obey. Believing that something may lead to sin is not sufficient reason to disobey. It is a choice made on speculation, not on fact. Sin is a personal choice.
These are points that Benedict sustains. None of them are either liberal or conservative. They are consistent with Catholic faith and law.
PW, we can’t just cast him aside becasue he was at the Council, no matter what we feel about the Council. That wouldn’t be fair. He is the Pope and he has done nothing wrong.
JR