Taking over the Church when he was close to eighty, Benedict seemed surprised by events and by the controversy his actions could provoke. For seven years, he has been unable to hit the right note. Perhaps, with his resignation, he has finally done so.
Here, Alexander Stille considers the possibility of a new path for the papacy: http:// nyr.kr/Z6rRka (Photograph by Franco Origlia/Getty.)
How do you think Benedict XVI’s decision to step down will impact the institution of the Church?
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I think in 2005 the Church was faced with a choice. Accept change and modern progress or hold the line. And in 2005 they chose neither. Instead they took steps backward in an attempt to win over Catholics and get back to fundamentals. Which is absurd to the point of comical. They wanted to bring people back and usher in throngs of converts by reverting to outdated modes of operation and abandoned lines of thought. They believed people wanted the church they knew, or imagined they knew, from years and years ago. Which is not a church I want anything to do with.
And they didn’t do anything to really change perception about the sexual abuse scandals. They did nothing substantial to remove the thought that those guys are a bunch of child fuckers. In fact, at crossroads after crossroads as allegations came to light, they did the bare minimum and barely accepted any responsibility. They slunk back into their secrets and shadows and protected their own.
So now, they face the same problem they had in 2005. Accept that it is the 21st century or become an even bigger joke.
My bets are the new pope will be another white (or whiteish) European and will hold the line on imagining that it is still pre Vatican II or if it is a non European or someone with a tan that person will be so ultra conservative and non progressive our heads will spin.
via Tumblr http://thenelsontwins.tumblr.com/post/42930558353
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