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A Further Perspective
Blowing Smoke
Coverage of the conclave shows journalists want a liberal pope who will pander to the world.
The motivations behind the media’s coverage of the papal conclave vary. For some outlets, it is just the “ecclesiastical Oscars,” as the New York Times puts it. Like the British monarchy, the papacy is good for ratings and its long and colorful history makes coverage easy. But the more serious motivation is ideological: the liberal media wants a liberal pope.
Desiring a Church that is at once lax and “reformed,” journalists have eagerly floated the names of candidates who are primarily known for their fecklessness and dysfunctional dioceses. Prelates who can’t even keep heretics and frauds out of their own chanceries are confidently described as the cure for corruption in Rome. What “managerial expertise” and “firm governance” could they possibly bring to the curia if controlling their local Catholic college is too much for them?
Bishops who preside over seminaries that look like ghost towns are said to be “dynamic” communicators. What exactly are they communicating? Despite their Twitter accounts and six-figure-salaried “communication specialists” to monitor their “social media,” they have never had less to say. Some of them, harboring a religious relativism, don’t even think the faith should be communicated. So who cares if they are on Facebook?
The truth is that the media, which is pushing all of this prattle, wants more corruption, not less, more miscommunications, not greater clarity. Their ideal Vatican would operate like a left-wing, trendy, vaguely “spiritual” denomination that mirrors the low morals of the world and voices the bogus pieties of political correctness.
Entrust the direction of the faith to those who believe in it and practice it the least. That is the media’s constant advice to a “troubled” church. “Most U.S. Catholics favor changes to modernize church,” read a Washington Post headline this week, as if that is an important consideration for the cardinals at the conclave.
For the media, the wisdom of Catholics grows in proportion to their infidelity. The failures of American Catholicism are somehow in the media’s eyes a great advertisement for the ostensible American candidates in the race and offer a lesson in what the next pope should do. According to the media, he will need to “listen” to these good folks in the pews. But, wait, they are not in the pews. They left a long time ago, not because of doctrinal conservatism, but because of liberal Catholicism, for which lapsing is the logical terminus.
The self-appointed reformers of the Vatican seem to understand that the next pope can’t formally change official teaching. But they do hope that he ignores it, or, as they euphemistically put it, changes the “style” of the papacy, which just means pandering to the world.
Boston Cardinal Sean O’Malley seems to meet with their approval as a potential pope they could push around. He wears sandals, talks about chic causes, attended Teddy Kennedy’s funeral, and employs the brother of a chief Obama aide. What could possibly go wrong? They wouldn’t mind Cardinal Dolan of New York that much either, seeing him basically as a charming and harmless fellow with whom they could chat on the Today Show couch or at an Al Smith roast.
Looking abroad, they like, among other candidates, Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, an “intellectual who quotes Amy Winehouse,” as the Associated Press put it. They could also live with Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn, who “overruled one of his priests and allowed a gay Catholic to serve on a parish council,” noted the Washington Post. They seem to have cooled a bit on the idea of an African pope, maybe since Cardinal Turkson of Ghana told Christine Amanpour of CNN that the abuse scandal didn’t hit there because homosexuality is not “countenanced” by African society. That’s not their idea of hope and change.
The key to the chattering class is that the pope be politically liberal and “non-confrontational,” qualities they discern in O’Malley. They see in him a community organizing pope to go along with a community organizing president.
For them, the papacy is not a rock but a rug, on which these “ecclesiastical Oscars” can be rolled out. Compatibility with a worldly elite, however, was not one of the qualities Jesus Christ had in mind for Peter, whose fate was to be crucified upside down by them.
Photo: UPI
About the Author
George Neumayr, a contributing editor to The American Spectator, is co-author, with Phyllis Schlafly, of the new book, No Higher Power: Obama’s War on Religious Freedom.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (58) | Leave a comment
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Jack in Wi| 3.13.13 @ 6:27AM
Cardinal Dolan is no liberal. He is the best prolife speaker I ever heard. Pope John Paul went to Cuba and met with Castro. He also met with the Clintons on numerous occassions. Pope Benedict met with the Castros and they both went to his Mass. He also met with Obama and his wife. He has met with the Iranians and the king of Saudi Arabia. You can't convert the sinners without talking to them. A prowar neocon heritic like George hasn't got much useful to say.
C.B.| 3.13.13 @ 6:57AM
..." a anti-war Jew bashing heritic like Jack hasn't got much useful to say"...
There. Fixed it for you.
Jack in Wi| 3.13.13 @ 7:26AM
Jack tells the Truth. " For the Truth will set you free. " You can't be pro endless immoral war and call yourself a Christian. Nor can you preach hatred of billions of Muslims. I believe in peace and univeral brotherhood. You don't.
Jeff R| 3.13.13 @ 7:35AM
Baloney. C.B. is right about you.
C.B.| 3.13.13 @ 7:36AM
But you CAN preach hatred of Jews, right? Your belief in "peace and universal brotherhood" includes them doesn't it Jack?
Alan| 3.13.13 @ 8:52AM
Jack in Wi| 3.13.13 @ 7:26AM
"I believe in peace and univeral brotherhood"
Unless of of course, your an "indivigual" Jew.
Jack in Wi.| 9.10.11 @ 10:04AM
"Whatever good indivigual Jews have done in the world pails in comparission to the bad of the last 200 years. Atheism, communism, Socialism, Nuclear Weapons, expansionist Zionism, and nuclear blackmail"
Jack in Wi| 3.13.13 @ 12:37PM
Alan: It is the truth. Not one of the groups I mantioned are religious traditional Jews. God tells the Jews in the book of Leviticus. " To love your neighbor as yourself. In the the books of Exodus and Leviticus God tells you to." Treat the the aliens and strangers among you as yourselves." Repent. Return to God the Torah and the Commandments. I love the Jews.
Alan| 3.13.13 @ 12:44PM
Jack in Wi| 3.13.13 @ 12:37PM
"I love the Jews"
Jack in Wi.| 9.10.11 @ 10:04AM
"Whatever good indivigual Jews have done in the world pails in comparission to the bad of the last 200 years. Atheism, communism, Socialism, Nuclear Weapons, expansionist Zionism, and nuclear blackmail"
Jack in Wi| 3.13.13 @ 2:24PM
Alan: Every word I wrote is true. You can't deny it. I love the Jews. Shalom.
Alan| 3.13.13 @ 3:43PM
Jack in Wi| 3.13.13 @ 12:37PM
"I love the Jews"
Jack in Wi.| 9.10.11 @ 10:04AM
"Whatever good indivigual Jews have done in the world pails in comparission to the bad of the last 200 years. Atheism, communism, Socialism, Nuclear Weapons, expansionist Zionism, and nuclear blackmail"
Maxwell| 3.13.13 @ 7:51AM
Yesterday on the Drudge Report there was a link to a article that stated some of the buses on the left coast had posters on their sides with the slogan to kill the kikes was a good thing. I wear the t-shirt that states I learned all I need to know about Muslims on 9-11 on one side with the other side stating I am an infidel.
I too believe in a piece, which is just what my law firm of Baer, Brown, Wilson & Springfield has been saying for over a century.
C.B., thank you for the 'fix'.
C. Vernon Crisler | 3.13.13 @ 10:36AM
Jack always takes refuge in preposterous piety after spewing hate at Jews and McGovernism at the rest of us.
Al Adab| 3.13.13 @ 12:23PM
Simply do not cast your pearls before swine.
JP| 3.13.13 @ 9:53AM
Cdl Dolan oversees a diocese filled with Catholics. New York also has about as many abortions as it does live births; its aging populace speaks of a society that uses artificial birth control. And despite its professed social liberalism, New York is a city where hyper-capitalism has been made into an art form.
Cdl Dolan has only been bishop there for a short time; however, it is easy to assume that he is no Cdl Conner.
Moe Blotz| 3.13.13 @ 10:51AM
Pope John Paul never went to Cuba, he did not live long enough to leave the Vatican and perform his Papal duties.
Moe Blotz| 3.13.13 @ 5:32PM
Pope John Paul II is the more famous and even met with his would-be assassin.
Crassus| 3.13.13 @ 3:48PM
NEOCON HERETIC! NEOCON HERETIC! NEOCON HERETIC!
homme nike air max BW | 3.13.13 @ 6:37AM
Entrust the direction of the faith to those www.shoxinfr.com/nike-air-max-91-c-26.html who believe in it and practice it the least. That is the media’s constant advice to a “troubled” church.
Appleby| 3.13.13 @ 7:03AM
Canada is cheering for their French Canadian Cardinal ... who presides over a country where abortion is not only "free", but has no limits whatsoever. In fact, Canada is the only country in the world that has absolutely no limits on abotion, and that incidentally invites crowds from countries where sex-selection ultrasounds for the purpose of abortion are illegal, to spend a few days in Canada and kill their baby girls. Not so fast, Oulette...
Jeff R| 3.13.13 @ 8:50AM
The Cardinal can't be held accountable for Canada's sins (unless he's aiding and abetting them). Yet I have no idea what he's doing to combat Canada's abortion travesty.
Jeff R| 3.13.13 @ 7:34AM
Amen, George. As a Roman Catholic, I hope the good lord leads the Cardinals to select a man who is loyal to church teachings and determined to advance them in the face of Western decadence.
Nancy in NC| 3.13.13 @ 8:13AM
I find it telling when the only time the media even mentions the church is when it's time to choose a pope or there is some scandal.
Joellen| 3.13.13 @ 8:29AM
Both Dolan and O'Malley would be "secular" choices not the choice of the "Holy Spirit".
Dolan attended an openly active homosexual parish and never once addressed the sin of homosexuality. You can watch the video on an old ChurchMilitant.tv video.
Dolan invited obama to the AlSmith dinner (another union liberal); and though many of us pleaded with him to rescind this invition during this crucial election - he didn't.
I dont need to hear JESUS ate with sinners - we all know the real meaning of why he did just that.
What Dolan did was to continue to perpetuate confusion with low-information CINO voters.
O'Malley presided over ted kennedy's opulant funeral. Ted Kennedy who openly advocated everything that the TRUE CATHOLIC Church stands against. Now, what occured with teddy and GOD in the end - not for me to know, but for the Cardinal to openly praise this man with such a furneral, again, mass confusion for the low information CINOs.
There must be a Man out there that the HOLY SPIRIT will direct to take the lead - pray the Cardinals heed to the HOLY SPIRIT's will only.
Jeff R| 3.13.13 @ 8:47AM
Nicely put, Joellen
Al Adab| 3.13.13 @ 9:24AM
For The Left all values and morals are relative, that is they are subject to the popular will or the current fad or fashion of the day. This is why they cannot abide an institution like the Church (or constitutional forms) which stands for timeless Truth and lasting values.
There do exist, whether we like it or not, absolute truths and men and nations would be well served to seek them, follow them and live accordingly.
Jack in Wi| 3.13.13 @ 2:32PM
I love the Jews and all mankind. Repent of your hate. I preach the turth. Israel as presently constituted is against everything a Christian should believe. A Christian should believe in unversal brotherhood. There are no more Jews or Gentiles. Shalom.
Alan| 3.13.13 @ 3:44PM
Jack in Wi| 3.13.13 @ 12:37PM
"I love the Jews"
Jack in Wi.| 9.10.11 @ 10:04AM
"Whatever good indivigual Jews have done in the world pails in comparission to the bad of the last 200 years. Atheism, communism, Socialism, Nuclear Weapons, expansionist Zionism, and nuclear blackmail"
crankitup| 3.13.13 @ 8:50AM
I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in Me, even if he dies, will live, and anyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.
John 11:25-26. Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church, not Popes or Bishops.
dominic1955| 3.13.13 @ 10:12AM
Yep, and that's why we call the Pope the Vicar of Christ-because Christ is the head of the Church. Now, read some John 6.
C. Vernon Crisler | 3.13.13 @ 10:34AM
All Christians are vicars of Christ -- though some are more vicarish than others.
Jack in Wi| 3.13.13 @ 2:36PM
Christ is the head of the Church. The Pope is his general manager on earth. Habemous Papam. Long live the new Pope.
Bill8472| 3.13.13 @ 9:22AM
Isn't the idea of an "intellectual who quotes Amy Winehouse" kind of a contradiction in terms?
Seriously, it's very hard to find common ground with people whose deepest beliefs vary from yours in central and critical ways, but it's not impossible, at least not in Christianity, and we must continue to accentuate those areas we share and agree to disagree in the areas where we come into conflict. It is not our job to save each other; each of us makes that decision however he or she sees fit.
markenoff| 3.13.13 @ 9:46AM
Let's make the media happy. Obama for pope!
7-08| 3.13.13 @ 1:00PM
He will never take the step down from Christ.
JP| 3.13.13 @ 10:00AM
In Europe, most of the arch-diocese are litterally dieing off. Traditional cities like Mainz, Cologne, Milan, Bourdeaux, Louvaine, Naples, Prague, and Vienna used to provide Electors. But anymore, one wonders how long some of these dioceses will be allowed to have arch-bishops - their Catholic populations have dwindled. In 1970 there were 70 million Catholics in Europe. Today, there are only 25 million.
dominic1955| 3.13.13 @ 10:24AM
That is because the heads of those great, ancient dioceses in the '60s whored the faith to the world. In a time of great moral and spirtual crisis in Europe (the horrors of WWI and II, Communism, the sexual revolution, etc.) they thought it was a good idea to offer balloons and cotton candy. Now, we are paying for that profoundly stupid generation.
The media in this country is populated by fools. How do I get into that gig, getting paid for publishing sophmorisms and propaganda? It is insane.
As to the next pope, suprise, suprise-he will be a Catholic. Liberals, don't hold your breath, the papers that produce the white smoke will not have the name of your favorite transgendered clergywomyn who is shacking up with their partner on them...
Mr. O'Ciernan| 3.13.13 @ 12:12PM
Of course, the next pope shouldn't compromise his principles to gain celebrity status. Yet, there's nothing wrong by winning people over through spiritual teachings. Pope John Paul II won people over through by serving as the spiritual inspiration for a peaceful end to communism in eastern Europe. My point is that popularity is not inherently a vice.
Moreover, the Church should not compromise teachings simply because people demand it. Nevertheless, there are occasions when Church doctrine is irreconciliable with scientific knowledge. For example, the Church historically denied the existence of biological evolution until 1996 when John Paul II stated it is compatible with faith. The scientific knowledge of evolutionary genetics contributed to modern advancements in medicine and agriculture, resulting in the worthy goals of healing the sick and feeding more people. Modern scientific discoveries don't have to violate Catholic principles, as they can help society apply them.
Hopefully, the new pope resists the cult of celebrity that the author warns about and stays firm to important principles of the Catholic faith. I also hope that he resists the false choice between living under a rock and abandoning faith.
Who Knows?| 3.13.13 @ 12:53PM
Come on---we all know there is only one pope.
Pope Limbaugh.
Guimo| 3.13.13 @ 1:32PM
What's a "CINO"?
Dave Williams| 3.13.13 @ 1:40PM
Conservative In Name Only....and for my money, they are even more dangerous than the outright lefty authoritarians like King Zero.
Joellen| 3.13.13 @ 4:12PM
Wrong Mr. Williams.
CINO - Catholic in Name only.
Al Adab| 3.13.13 @ 2:09PM
Habemus Papem.
Drunken Sailor| 3.13.13 @ 3:29PM
Congratulations! And a first for the America's. Interesting.
Al Adab| 3.13.13 @ 3:32PM
From the new world. Perhaps, this selection just stopped a war.
Joellen| 3.13.13 @ 4:13PM
Deep thinking Sailor and Al Adab - just keep praying.
CJW| 3.13.13 @ 4:29PM
Pope Francis lived in a simple room in downtown Buenos Aires, cooked his own meals, carried his own luggage, and lived a simple life.
What a contrast. Just imagine if King O did not spend one million of our money to play golf with Tiger, or Queen Michelle did not spend our money vacationing in Spain, Martha's Vineyard, Aspen, Hawaii, dinner in Manhattan, etc. Or KingO spending 7 million to vacation in Hawaii for Christmas.
Mr. Wright| 3.13.13 @ 5:24PM
But he works so hard being disengaged and media
savvy. It must be exhausting for the dear leader to
plan all the different ways to screw us out of our democracy.
Joellen| 3.13.13 @ 6:10PM
CJW, truly Pope Francis exemplifies CHRIST.
May he be obedient and re-build the church according to CHRIST and no other.
Al Adab| 3.13.13 @ 4:38PM
I shall Joellen, I shall; for all the believers.
Drunken Sailor| 3.13.13 @ 4:37PM
How so?
Drunken Sailor| 3.13.13 @ 4:38PM
Meant for Al about stopping a war.
Al Adab| 3.13.13 @ 4:39PM
President of Argentina making war sounds over the Falkland islands. Think she might get a message, call of e-mail from the Argentine Pope?
Crassus| 3.13.13 @ 3:53PM
Racism has taken over the Catholic Church. They didn't name Obama as the new Pope. They picked some white guy from Argentina.
Drunken Sailor| 3.13.13 @ 4:39PM
Channeling your inner Chris Mathews?
Michele San Pietro| 3.13.13 @ 6:30PM
You are completely off base, the Catholic church has always been against racism. At most, it may have been racist against non-Italians, since Popes were Italians during centuries and, albeit I am an Italian, I'm glad the series was broken with Pope John Paul II, and a generation of foreign Popes was opened.
Crassus| 3.13.13 @ 6:43PM
The above post was sarcasm, Michele. As the Drunken Sailor says I was channeling my inner Chris Matthews. Please don't take it seriously.
Mark30339| 3.13.13 @ 11:00PM
Today has proved to be a great and unifying day for Catholics world-wide. Yet George Neumayr's post celebrates division and enmity -- perhaps one should pray that George be healed of his self-loathing and that he refrain from projecting it on others. The tone and timing of this post are so incredibly bad that I am inclined to offer George the same advice a golf pro would give me: take 6 months off from playing this game, and then consider giving up the enterprise completely.
nike air max pas cher | 3.14.13 @ 4:54AM
Desiring a Church that is at once lax and “reformed,” journalists have eagerly floated the names of candidates who are primarily known for their fecklessness and dysfunctional dioceses. Prelates who can’t even keep heretics and frauds out of their own chanceries are confidently described www.shoxinfr.com/nike-shox-nz-c-5.html as the cure for corruption in Rome. What “managerial expertise” and “firm governance” could they possibly bring to the curia if controlling their local Catholic college is too much for them?