POPE BENEDICT WILL LOSE AMERICAN CATHOLICS

from JoeUser Forums
Pope Benedict has already begun asserting his new power over the church in the U.S., and things aren't looking good for American Catholics. Benedict is planning to purge the American church of liberalism. The authoritarian pope has liberal American Catholics concerned. Liberal Catholics are already anticipating the worse.

It is becoming very clear that the Vatican under this pope is decisively conservative and will refuse to entertain thoughts and ideas that contradict traditional Catholic doctrine. While some Catholics are no doubt excited about the crushing of the liberals from the church in America, millions of moderate and liberal Catholics are extremely concerned about the ramifications of Benedict's ultraconservatism. It is becoming increasingly clear that this pope intends to thoroughly purge liberalism from the Catholic Church in America.

As the new pope continues to remove dissidents and purge liberalism from his church, he will increasingly come face to face with his American dilemma. American Catholics are proving to be a real thorn in the side of the Vatican. Adding to the fact that American Catholics are generally more liberal, the recent pedophilia scandals have gone a long way in damaging the reputation of the Catholic Church.

American Catholicism will continue to place this pope in a quandary. It's likely that Benedict will take further measures to bring American Catholics into line. Even with all these problems, Benedict will not be dissuaded from establishing Vatican control over the growing European superpower.
1,556 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
Interesting take on the situation, but don't you think the Cardinals knew this guy and his leanings when they blew the white smoke from the chimney?

The Catholic church is not a democracy, nor is it required to make sure its members are kept happy by its tenents. If the Catholic Church is the home of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, its sole resonsibility is to teach that gospel. The members all have choices to make. They can continue to accept the Pope's word as Gospel and remain members; they can reject the Pope's teachings as Gospel, but for reasons of their own, remain members; or they can reject the Pope's words as Gospel and leave the Catholic Church. In other words, they have to decide whether they have found truth in the Catholic Church, and act accordingly.

I'm not a Catholic, so I don't consider it to be the place where the Gospel of Jesus Christ can be found in modern days. However, truth is not based on perception or acceptance. In our quest to find truth, we can't limit ourselves to what we want to be true, or what with what we agree or disagree politically. Truth would still be true whether everyone, only a few, or even no one believed it.
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
while it wouldnt be outta character, it aint gonna be over til you hear the fat altarboy singin 'ad deum qui laetificat juventutem meam' in response to 'introibo ad altare dei.'

...and said altare ain't facing the congregation.
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Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
I agree with much of what you say. I have covered much the same in my blogs on the pope. I think he will puch US catholics to the very brink by his unreasonable attitude.
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
I think his views were pretty well known as a cardinal and so was his close association with Pope Paul II (and affinity of views on the Church with his predecessor as well). As far as official pronouncements go, I don't think anything's changed for American Catholics - liberal or conservative. Is there some kind of Pope Benedict conspiracy going on against liberal American Catholics going on that you'd like to share in better detail to make your premise more convincing ?
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
I think American Catholics have been moving away from the Vatican for quite some time. If an "American Catholic" church is to form, it won't be the doing of any pope.
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top

This Pope is no more conservative than Pope john Paul II.  The 'Conservatism' of the Church on America was going on long before now, and it continues to a small degree.  But the simple fact that you did not get your facts straight and decided to print an obvious alarmist article will not change the truth.  Should Pope Benedict XVI choose to put his imprint on the church AND live long enough to do it, nothing will change for Catholics in this country.

The Church is not a democracy, nor is it a leaf blowing in the political and cultural winds of the current epoch.