Word: pope
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Still traumatized by the fall of Constantinople, these theocons deserve our sympathy, but not our ears, for their prophecies are factually flawed and intellectually incoherent. Europe is not going to “leave from history” anytime soon, pace Pope Benedict XVI’s warning, nor is it about to become part of dar al-Islam. At best, these apocalyptic visions reflect Burkean conservatism—unwarranted fear of change qua change—and, more often, they are motivated by simple xenophobia...
...wake of John Paul?s poignant twilight, his successor and friend Pope Benedict XVI was largely granted a honeymoon from public criticism in the first year of his papacy. That of course ended abruptly with reaction from Muslims and non-Muslims alike to his provocative September speech in Germany about faith and reason, though even that died down with his well-received visit to Turkey in November. But over the past few months back in Rome, there has been a steady flow of criticism of the now 80-year-old pontiff, much of which also relates to his rigid views...
...That very incident is at the center of the latest controversy, after an Italian comedian used an annual city concert in Rome to blast the Pope. Andrea Rivera, one of the MC?s of the concert, said to some 700,000 youths and a national television audience: "I can't stand the fact that the Vatican refused a funeral for Welby but that wasn't the case for [Chilean dictator Augusto] Pinochet or [Spanish dictator Francisco] Franco." He also tried this one-liner: "The Pope says he doesn't believe in evolution. I agree, in fact the Church has never...
...Rivera?s remarks may not have belonged at this feel-good concert, and it?s not surprising that Osservatore rushed to the Pope?s defense. But clearly, at a time when there is all too much actual terrorism in the world, the newspaper overreached with its analogy. Even Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi seemed to recognize Osservatore?s excess when he subsequently downplayed Rivera?s comments as simply ?foolish...
...likely that both the Pope and Bagnasco will continue to face criticism in Italy, where the Church-State rapport is a constant source of conflict. At least for Benedict, there is a four-day trip to Brazil beginning May 9, which might be a nice break from the rising tension at home. Naturally, though, there?s no guarantee that going abroad will be a honeymoon...