The System-bound Papacy

Sam, who maintains his delightful blog under the title of “The Adventures of a Redneck Fist Pig” left a comment on my 11 February post: “Any comments for us about the Pope?  Do you think it is a good thing for Gays? or will the new Pope be as non-understanding as this one was?.  Maybe he couldn't handle all the queer priests around him. Maybe he is afraid of being found out. Just how big do you think the Pope's closet is?”  At 86 Ratzinger has, in my opinion done the right thing.  I have always had the impression that Ratzinger was a rather progressive man, but, particularly as Pope, he was hidebound by the system.  His decision to step down certainly is not a conservative approach and represents a courageous step, in fact one which will change the Church for ever.  

 Incidentally, the reason that he was having the meeting with the Cardinals was to put foreward the canonization of 800 martyrs, killed in 1480 for refusing to convert to the Muslim religion.  We see there a Benedict who was not afraid to face controversial issues or send a message in the context of modern MuslimCatholic tensions.  I do not think any Pope is going to be able to do much for gay issues.  We all know what is written into the Catechism: that homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered, contrary to nature and can in no way be approved, but that people afflicted with the homosexual condition must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity, they must not be discriminated against, they are called to chastity.  Now, it would take more than a Pope, single-handed, to lift that lot out of the Catechism.  People tend to think that the Pope has an absolute authority, but he does not.  In many ways the Pope's relationship with the rest of the Church is more like that of a constitutional monarch with her people.  It needs a wave of different opinion at all levels in the Church, especially among the bishops, to plead for a positive and approving attitude to homosexual activities and life-styles.  Meantime, those of us who think that what is said in the Catechism just does not add up have to go on trying to tell people to take no notice of it or interpet it creatively.  You cannot expect a Pope to tell people publically to take no notice of the Catechism, even if he sees its contradictions and lack of logic, and that it is not based in a contemporary understanding of sexuality.  I do not know anything about the Pope’s private sexual life.  I believe he has a right to one, but that it is none of my business.