New Pope is a Disaster

Rabbi Michael Lerner, editor of the world's largest circulation progressive Jewish magazine, TIKKUN.........

"Ratzinger is being falsely described as a conservative, when in fact he, despite his publicly genteel manner, is a raging reactionary. Unlike many American conservatives who oppose gay sexual practices but not their legal rights, Ratzinger in 1992 argued against human rights for gays, stressing that their civil liberties could be "legitimately limited."


Dr. Matthew Fox- www.OpEdNews.com -Why should we be surprised that the current Catholic hierarchy, who elevated Cardinal Law the poster boy for pedophile clergy, to a special place of power in Rome, has just elected Cardinal Ratzinger as pope? The “Yes Men” of Pope John Paul II’s church have chosen one of their own who is guaranteed to play the Punitive Father. Cardinal Ratzinger is living proof of the dictum coined by Catholic historian Lord Acton when he said “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Ratzinger, far from supporting movements of justice, has committed his career to silencing those who have and elevating the rich and powerful, such as Escriva, fascist sympathizer and founder of opus dei, to sainthood. It is a sad day and a decisive one for the Roman Catholic Church.
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This is what I find most offensive about this Pope. He was george bu$h's choice for Pope! Gallup has a poll today that show that American Catholics say they will rely on their own conscience, to make their choices, not that of 'Pope Ratzinger'.

However as this article points out, many American Catholics voted for bu$h because of his so-called stand on Abortion. So much for using their own mind huh?
Magginkat
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FOCUS New Pope Intervened in US Election in Bush's Favor

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/042005Z.shtml

And a couple more comments..................

Why abortion rate is up in Bush years

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/editorial/outlook/2851283(excerpt)
When Bush took office, the nation's abortion rates were at a 24-year low, after a 17.4 percent decline during the 1990s. Enter George W. Bush in 2001. One would expect the abortion rate to continue its consistent course downward, if not plunge. Instead, the opposite happened.


Under Bush, the decade-long trend of declining abortion rates appears to have reversed. Given the trends of the 1990s, 52,000 more abortions occurred in the United States in 2002 than would have been expected before this change of direction.

In 16 states, there were 16,392 fewer marriages than the year before, and 7,869 more abortions. As male unemployment increases, marriages fall and abortion rises.

Women worry about health care for themselves and their children. Since 5.2 million more people have no health insurance now than before this presidency -- with women of childbearing age overrepresented in those 5.2 million -- abortion increases.


It’s a man thing
Gene Lyons

"If men become too close to other men, then they are always vulnerable to this accusation of, ‘ Oh, you must be gay, ’" one psychologist told the Times. Indeed, most of the article consists of twentysomething guys explaining the exact rules for being vulnerable and sensitive without seeming faggy. Suffice it to say they’re more complicated than the infield fly rule.

Also completely unnecessary after you grow up. First, you know who you are, whatever you are. Second, once you start playing that game, it’s easy to end up like a certain president I could name, swaggering around in macho costumes like a member of the Village People.

http://www.nwanews.com/story.php?paper=adg§ion=Editorial&storyid=114048