An Italian novelist writes in the New York Times would like the next Pope to be an Italian. His argument boils down to (a) an Italian wouldn’t be so uptight about all the sex stuff; (b) Italians aren’t so uptight about Communists; look at how they embrace the brutal dictator Castro—at least he’s not a right-winger; (c) Rome is in Italy, therefore the Church is an Italian institution, i.e. it’s in their DNA. Enough said.
Pazzi’s attitude seems to be that of the typical cultural Catholic, who looks on the Church as like some kind of museum piece, and not the living, breathing body of Christ. Most especially, he looks on the Church as an Italian institution. Sorry Pazzi, but the Church is not just Italy, it is universal. And if a Pope of another nationality convicts Italians of their dissolute lifestyle, so much the better.
First of all, I thought it was 33 days. He says: “How otherwise to explain the harsh condemnations of the new catechisms of Central and South America, where the Catholic Church was allied with the Marxists against the abuses of dictatorships and capitalist oligarchies? ” Duh… Perhaps the theology didn’t stand the test of truth!
He continues: “What if,” then, the new pope were to be Italian? We would surely have in bioethical and sexual matters a more modern and less conservative attitude, more sympathetic to the sufferings of the multitudes in Africa who are scourged by AIDS.” Not true because no one can say that without knowing who the new pope would be. Cardinal Scola certainly wouldn’t be relaxing any bioethical and sexual matters.
Again he continues: “To these victims John Paul has obstinately refused contraception, for reasons of principle that risk becoming complicity in what could truly be a mass extermination.” Thank God the man acts for reasons of principle and principles which are consistent with Catholic teaching and the Catholic view of the problem.
“It was this refusal in particular that influenced the Nobel judges in Oslo in denying him the peace prize.” Who told this guy the reasons that they didn’t give him the Nobel Prize. I am sure that JP II values the prize of approval of JC more than the Nobel guys in Oslo.
Perhaps you mean ‘lack’ of faith and morals.
Pazzi says: “What if,” then, the new pope were to be Italian? We would surely have in bioethical and sexual matters a more modern and less conservative attitude, more sympathetic to the sufferings of the multitudes in Africa who are scourged by AIDS.” He suggests that more modern and less conservative is a relaxed attitude in comparison to present day. If anything, one should never hope to have less in any field concerning ethical behavior. And he goes on, “…more sympathetic to the sufferings etc.” so he would have our lives be ruled by the emotion and the crisis of the day. Best, Giulio