Don’t laugh. I wouldn’t encourage the idea that the Holy Father would allow “popularity” to influence him, in fact he’s proven in his quiet steadfast humility that the contrary is true.
However, Elizabeth Scalia put it well in her post:
It would be trite to suggest he is avoiding the underbelly of holding the chair of Peter. But I think it’s important to point out the gravity, pervasiveness and vitriol of anti-Catholicism. Because it’s wrong, because those not really paying attention don’t have the first clue, and because those who are not-so-subtly appeasing this like to take the tact of playing it down, which really is just complicity.
The essence of Elizabeth’s words rings true:
“…. the pope’s interest in, and support of, the church’s engagement with new media proves he is not exactly out of touch with the world, but when the Benedict finally logged on to Twitter he got to see firsthand the sort of raw, unhinged anti-Catholic hatred so active within social media threads. We who work in new media experience this hatred so regularly it barely registers with us, but for Benedict, or those around him, it must have been a shocking revelation to encounter the vilest expressions of hatred, the intentional voicings of malice and evil hopes, flung squarely at the Holy Father, in real time.
A hoped-for encounter with the faithful also brought an encounter with something wicked.”
God bless the Holy Father. God bless the upcoming conclave. And God bless all souls, especially the lost.
As was the case with ancient Rome, our (Catholic) major problems are from within. The proliferation of pseudo-Catholics has been very damaging. However, unlike the Roman Empire, the Church will survive (and the gates of hell/ netherworld/ death shall not prevail against it).
Don’t laugh. I wouldn’t encourage the idea that the Holy Father would allow “popularity” to influence him, in fact he’s proven in his quiet steadfast humility that the contrary is true.
However, Elizabeth Scalia put it well in her post:
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/theanchoress/2013/02/12/prayer-and-penance-did-twitter-hasten-benedicts-retirement/
It would be trite to suggest he is avoiding the underbelly of holding the chair of Peter. But I think it’s important to point out the gravity, pervasiveness and vitriol of anti-Catholicism. Because it’s wrong, because those not really paying attention don’t have the first clue, and because those who are not-so-subtly appeasing this like to take the tact of playing it down, which really is just complicity.
The essence of Elizabeth’s words rings true:
“…. the pope’s interest in, and support of, the church’s engagement with new media proves he is not exactly out of touch with the world, but when the Benedict finally logged on to Twitter he got to see firsthand the sort of raw, unhinged anti-Catholic hatred so active within social media threads. We who work in new media experience this hatred so regularly it barely registers with us, but for Benedict, or those around him, it must have been a shocking revelation to encounter the vilest expressions of hatred, the intentional voicings of malice and evil hopes, flung squarely at the Holy Father, in real time.
A hoped-for encounter with the faithful also brought an encounter with something wicked.”
God bless the Holy Father. God bless the upcoming conclave. And God bless all souls, especially the lost.
Good points. When I have had pieces published in the Des Moines Register, the viciousness of the anti-Catholic responses is disturbing.
As was the case with ancient Rome, our (Catholic) major problems are from within. The proliferation of pseudo-Catholics has been very damaging. However, unlike the Roman Empire, the Church will survive (and the gates of hell/ netherworld/ death shall not prevail against it).
Totally agree with you on every count. Thanks for writing.