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Sunday, April 24, 2005
Editorial: The Pope's challenges
TODAY the world is once again witness to what is undoubtedly a historic moment in the Catholic Church's history as it anoints its first Pontiff in 26 years in solemn yet grand ceremonies at the Vatican City.
Hardly had the white smoke cleared in the chimney and he was introduced to a massive gathering of believers in Rome, Pope Benedict XVI had been the subject of countless in-depth reports ranging from his reluctant association as a Hitler's Youth member to his nickname as "God's Rottweiler."
Much is to be expected of the Pontiff who at this early stage had been extending the hand of reconciliation to sectors that the Church had alienated with its stark conservative stance on a lot of issues.
Here in the country militant gay groups stage parades while women's groups voice their sentiments on the pope's rise to power with them expecting little in the way of change as far as Church policies are concerned.
But among the slew of issues that the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany would initially face is the question of marriage among priests and the inclusion of women priests in the service.
Also included in the agenda of house cleaning are the various sexual offenses committed by the Catholic clergy around the world that had contributed to a drop in the number of faithful.
In the matter of discipline Pope Benedict XVI is fully equipped for the job having served as disciplinarian of the Church in the days when there is an increasing number of women priests in the Catholic hierarchy.
At this time one may wonder if there is a need to create yet another Vatican Council similar to what Pope John Paul VI did in the early 60s that led to numerous reforms and the easing of strained relations with Protestant churches.
Then again archconservatives would veto that idea almost straightaway saying that what's needed is to bring the erring Catholics back to the fold and enforce discipline if necessary.
Of vital significance is the continuing battles it wages on artificial contraceptives and other methods used by the governments in curbing population growth.
For the Philippines its faithful is calling on the Pope to become the unifying force that would reconcile it with other faiths like Islam.
These are issues that need addressing to by the pope who must find ways to enable the Church to be responsive to challenges posed by an increasingly hostile and cynical world without losing the tenets of its faith.
(April 24, 2005 issue)
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