Ratzinger New Pope, Same Old-Same Old

In what to me is a reinforcement of my feelings about the Catholic Church, Joseph Ratzinger was elected Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, taking the name Benedict XVI. Ratzinger has been JPII's henchman and enforcer of reactionary Catholic doctrine for the entirety of JP's reign; a reign that includes the pedophile scandals, the vilification of gays and lesbians, and the shrinking of the priesthood as less and less men choose to go into the church, because of antiquated ideas about women in the priesthood and priestly celibacy. One can only hope that this reign includes an epiphany on the Pope's part regarding his ugly treatment of gays, lesbians in particular, and women and children.

Some words by this "holy" man:

‘It is deplorable that homosexual persons have been and are the object of violent malice in speech or in action. Such treatment deserves condemnation from the church’s pastors wherever it occurs. It reveals a kind of disregard for others which endangers the most fundamental principles of a healthy society. The intrinsic dignity of each person must always be respected in word, in action and in law.

‘But the proper reaction to crimes committed against homosexual persons should not be to claim that the homosexual condition is not disordered. When such a claim is made and when homosexual activity is consequently condoned, or when civil legislation is introduced to protect behavior to which no one has any conceivable right, neither the church nor society at large should be surprised when other distorted notions and practices gain ground, and irrational and violent reactions increase (No. 10).

8. "What is at all costs to be avoided is the unfounded and demeaning assumption that the sexual behavior of homosexual persons is always and totally compulsive and therefore inculpable. What is essential is that the fundamental liberty which characterizes the human person and gives him his dignity be recognized as belonging to the homosexual person as well’ (No. 11).

So what Ratzinger is saying is that if we are attacked, abused, and discriminated against, that we should not be surprised. Why should we? We are homos after all. Need I say more?