"He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness"

Nobody's perfect, but the brilliant and visionary Papa Ratzi's heart and soul are in the right place, and that covers for a multitude of sins (see below for our secular objections to recent pronouncements of the Holy Father on non-faith-related topics). Above a screenshot from a live EWTN broadcast of Pope Benedict XVI on Divine Mercy Sunday this morning in St. Peter's Square.

"It may even be that it indicated that Benedict has given up hope that Islam will reform; that he now wants to take on Islam in Europe in the same way that his predecessor took on Communism," writes Nigel Farndale in "What happened to 'God's rottweiler'" in the UKs Sunday Telegraph. That has been our take on the Holy Father's vision from Day One, the main reason -- besides his love of cats and Mozart and the left's initial apoplexy when he ascended the Throne of Peter -- why we believe Benedetto is the right man at the right time and place to fend off the forces of darkness -- always just beyond the campfire -- that threaten to extinguish the light of truth and freedom in our day. Farndale continues:

As a highly distinguished academic he read philosophy as well as theology, and it is this that informs his belief that true religion is the exploration of metaphysics by the power of reason -- and that the absence of reason is what is fundamentally wrong with Islam.

There were those who dismissed his comments on Islam as a diplomatic blunder. Others think that, given his formidable intellect and his considerable knowledge of the Koran, he must have anticipated what reaction he would get. His lecture, moreover, represented a deliberate departure from the Vatican's previous policies on dialogue with Islam, away from promoting harmony at all costs towards more reciprocity. It may even be that it indicated that Benedict has given up hope that Islam will reform; that he now wants to take on Islam in Europe in the same way that his predecessor took on Communism.

Papa Ratzi doesn't know everything, of course, as two recent forays into fields beyond his areas of expertise reveal. Too bad the best and brightest among us never seem to know when to stop pontificating and listen to those who know more about the subject at hand:

1. Re Darwin's theory of evolution -- which the Holy Father seems to embrace as part of God's plan, much to the dismay of the proselytizers of Intelligent Design -- Papa Ratzi nevertheless revealed his ignorance of the scientific method:

Benedict added that the immense time span that evolution covers made it impossible to conduct experiments in a controlled environment to finally verify or disprove the theory. “We cannot haul 10,000 generations into the laboratory,” he said.

"Is the pope really this dense?" asks The Carpetbagger Report rhetorically. "Doesn’t he know that the theory of evolution is supported not by laboratory experiments but by millions of years of fossil and DNA evidence?" The scientific method isn't about proving but trying to disprove theses, Your Grace. Sigh.

2. Then there was the Holy Father's apparent moral-equivalency argument re capitalism vs. Marxism the other day. The Anchoress wisely advises we read the whole thing whenever reporters with agendas -- are there any other kind? -- like the devil quoting scripture start finding support for their own godless worldview in the Pope's speeches:

For cryin’ out loud -- people should know better, by now, than to ever, ever, ever accept media spin on what the pope has said. Just as the press inflamed many Muslims by mischaracterizing the pope’s remarks last September, they’re doing it again here. When it comes to popes, the only way to be fair is to read the full texts of a pope’s remarks. Otherwise, you’re just being played.

The Anchoress was referring to the "nothing positive comes from Iraq" clause of Papa Ratzi's "Ubi et Urbi" speech -- blogged here -- shamelessly taken out of context by the unholy warriors of the anti-war left last week. But back to the Holy Father's moral-equivalency argument re capitalism vs. Marxism:

Pope Benedict XVI offers a personal meditation on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ in his first book as pontiff, criticizing the "cruelty" of capitalism's exploitation of the poor but also decrying the absence of God in Marxism.

In "Jesus of Nazareth," released Friday, Benedict touches on themes that have begun to emerge in his 2-year-old papacy: the spiritual weaknesses of modern materialistic life, in which people seem to think they can do without God.

What's with this "cruelty" of capitalism's exploitation of the poor? It sounds like Benedetto is stuck in Marxism's long-since discredited oppressor/oppressed analysis of the way of the world. Doesn't he realize that a rising tide lifts all boats? "You should send him a reading list," quips Tuck. Papa Ratzi could start by reading Fred Thompson's Opinion Journal piece yesterday re-explaining for those who still refuse to get it that cutting taxes increases revenues.

Note: Blog title taken from John 8:12, King James Version.

Comments

[enrevanche]

I am as devout a capitalist as they come, but even I must recognize that the developed, more-or-less capitalist world has not always covered itself in glory in dealing with the developing world... Mr. Ratzinger's point seems to be that the world's poor have generally taken it in the neck regardless of which ideology their tormentors subscribed to, a point which is borne out well by study of the contemporary history of, well, just about anywhere, and just about any -ism or institution, including Mr. R's Church.

Rising tides do indeed lift boats, and liberal democracy, the rule of law and free market economics have done much to improve the lot of people in the world.

Rising tides also tend to drown your ass if you don't have a boat and aren't good at treading water.

"Under capitalism, man exploits man. Under communism, it's just the opposite." - John Kenneth Galbraith

Or to quote another wise man, Pete Townshend: "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss."

[goomp]

Human nature is human nature. I believe most of us like to think of ourselves as good and kind but in reality while we are generaly not evil we take advantage of the opportunities that open up before us and if it is generally considered acceptable we give little thought to possible disadvantages that it may cause others. Material wellbeing, again speaking generally depends on planning and effort. Those who plan well and work hard may prosper more than those that don't but it does not necessarily consist of exploitation of others who do not expend the same effort. It does however help raise the wellbeing of all in as much as it increases supply and demand.

[Gayle Miller]

Man proposes nothing in the sight of God! His Will will be done - and our reliance on that is the hardest thing of all to sustain - the pure faith that God knows what He is doing.

[miss kelly]

And our beloved Papa Ratzi turns 80 today (April 16th). Thanks for continuing to follow the pontiff. He's definitely one of the good guys, and a tireless leader and shepherd.

I wouldn't be too hard on him for what he's said about evolution, which as you point out, he does support. When I attended Smith College back on the late 70's, studying biology, I distinctly recall one of my biology professors pointing our all the disconnects, gaps and inconsistencies in Darwin's theory of evolution and in the historical record. Evolution is of course widely accepted, but it's not fully understood. The notion of a gradual evolutionary change over time (the progression of horses being the classic example) was discarded in favor of the "punctuated equilibrium" theory of evolution. We probably haven't heard the last word on how evolution actually worked.

[hnav]

"...people should know better, by now, than to ever, ever, ever accept media spin on what the pope has said."

indeed...

the liberal push in the MSM is so vividly dishonest.

that rule above should apply to Republicans as well, for they always play the game, trying to debase support for anyone other than a Democrat.

you have to wonder, if they simply are insane.

either they go to work, and lie nearly everyday, or they are simply so lost in a partisan denial, they see everything in a bizarre twist.

regardless, it seems both unethical and nutty.