Time: Arch-conservative 'panzerkardinal' may be next pope

[quaoar]

Just what the Catholic Church does not need.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101050110-1013211,00.html?promoid=rss_top

Rome's Next Choice?
Arch-conservative Cardinal Ratzinger emerges as a possible successor to Pope John Paul II
By JEFF ISRAELY

Sunday, Jan. 02, 2005
Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, the chief architect of Pope John Paul II's traditionalist moral policy, has long been a bugaboo for liberal Catholics. But they had stopped worrying that the German might one day ascend to St. Peter's throne. His hard-line views and blunt approach had earned him the epithet of panzerkardinal and too many enemies. Well, their worrying may now resume. Sources in Rome tell TIME that Ratzinger has re-emerged as the top papal candidate within the Vatican hierarchy, joining other front runners such as Dionigi Tettamanzi of Milan and Claudio Hummes of Sao Paolo. "The Ratzinger solution is definitely on," said a well-placed Vatican insider.

There are no immediate signs that John Paul's health has taken a turn for the worse, and he has publicly ruled out becoming the first Pope in eight centuries to retire voluntarily. But as his long papacy grows ever longer, some feel the next conclave will seek a shorter-term "transitional" figure. Ratzinger, 77, may fill that bill. His doctrinaire ways have been tempered of late by a deft and more pragmatic approach to issues such as rising Western secularism and Islamic fundamentalism. During the recent U.S. controversy about giving Communion to pro-choice candidates, Ratzinger authored a careful letter to American bishops reasserting the Vatican's antiabortion stance without dragging the Holy See into election-year theatrics. "There was a stigma," said the Vatican official of Ratzinger. "He rises above that now."

Moreover, John Paul's very public health woes may prompt the Cardinals to push his successor to impose a mechanism to avoid another pontificate slowed by illness. Ratzinger, who has sought ways to adapt church governance for modern times, might be willing to agree to an age limit and pass on the job after a few years.

[buddysmellgood]

1. They hell bent an destroying the church.

[DireStrike]

2. Interesting choice of words, nt.

[SharonAnn]

3. Actually, I think it's a good idea. It will hasten the end of this type

of "conservative, right-wing" theology in the Catholic Church. let's just see it in all its naked malevolence.

As a former Catholic who went from Latin Mass to English Mass in high school and felt that Pope John XXIII was bringing the Catholic Church closer to Christ's teachings, I've been so disappointed and even offended by the behavior and "teachings" of subsequent popes.

I had to leave the Church years ago, after several attempts to find a way to stay, because I just cannot support or participate in something that is so wrong.

[Warpy]

7. Pretty much

The present Pope is able to project the image of a sweet old man.

Ratzinger doesn't have such a sympathetic demeanor.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. Will there be a new Inquisition?

Nobody EVER expects the Spanish Inquisition.

[CatholicEdHead]

6. Already going on

Ask all Catholics who were threatened with no communion to excommunication if they voted for Kerry. It was nasty last year.

Ratingzer is 77, so it is doubtful he would be chosen because of his age by the group of Cardnials when John Paul II passes on.

It will continue to be a shift to the right becuase the College of Cardnials has been recently packed with many right wingers.

[Davis_X_Machina]

5. No chance...

...all the growth in the Church is in the Third World.

There won't even be a 'transitional Pope' from Europe -- the next one will be an African, or more likely, a Latin American.

Ratzinger screwed the pooch by allowing his name to be floated. You run for pope by not running.

[quaoar]

8. Nah. It's gotta be a winger

JPII has been stacking the deck with conservatives for years.