The AP called Pope Benedict XVI a "transitional leader." The Forum's online edition carried the less than friendly headline "Unchanging choice."
The apparent flavor of The Associated Press was that the AP was not happy with the choice of Cardinal Ratzinger. Drawing from the grumblings of a few disappointed people who clearly had their own choices for Pope, the AP attacked the Holy Father for his comments on Turkey and his stated desire to hold the line on Catholic Church doctrine.
However, the AP fails to recognize that Cardinal Ratzinger is not a "transitional leader" at all - he is the Pope in his own right and properly selected. He was chosen by the cardinals to head the church and for Catholics we believe that God really chose him and not the cardinals. The cardinals were merely shown the way.
As for changes in doctrine, the Catholic Church is not a social club. Changes in church doctrine are not viewed in the same fashion as man made procedural changes. The doctrines are God given, and how do you say to God that we are now changing the doctrines because they no longer fit with the loose morals our society has developed? You cannot.
Pope Benedict XVI is just the sort of intellectual and spiritual leader the church needs. Continuity from Pope John Paul II is the right thing for the church.
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David J. Chapman
Fargo
