September 15, 2006--Fanaticism XLX--God's Plan

While on a sentimental journey to his hometown in Germany, Pope Benedict XVI spoke about "God's plan." Specifically, how the Muslim idea of Jihad is contrary to it, and to "reason."

Though he was also in Germany to try to convince European Catholics who have drifted away from the Church (less than a quarter of Catholics in Germany attend services), and as one way to accomplish this he wanted to present himself as human and approachable, to overcome his dour Cardinal Ratzinger image, to be more Pope John Paul II like, this harsh speech was not helpful.

Nor was it historically accurate. He was attempting to reshape reality with techniques right out of Carl Rove’s playbook.

The NY Times reports that he said such things as –

“Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith that he preached.” I guess the Crusades slipped the Pope’s mind.

And, he went on to say, that violent Islam was contrary to reason and thus “contrary to God’s nature.” (See Times article below.)

And Pope Benedict is quite an expert on “reason,” as former Prefect of the Church’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. That Congregation, you know, is the extension of an earlier Congregation—this one “Of the Universal Inquisition.”

Under Cardinal Prefect Ratzinger, reason was hardly championed.

Among its other responsibilities, the Congregation was and is responsible for scrutinizing publications and individual Catholics for any evidence of deviation from doctrine. And when it finds something unacceptable, new ideas for example, it administers punishment—no longer burning at the stake, another rational activity, but rather excommunication and other forms of discipline.

If you have a moment, let me quote from one of the Congregations publications so you can see this Apostle of Reason at work:

REGULATIONS FOR DOCTRINAL EXAMINATION

When the discussion [about a text under question] has finished, the Consultors alone remain in the room for the general vote on the outcome of the examination, aimed at determining whether doctrinal errors or dangerous opinions have been found in the text, and specifically identifying these in light of the different categories of truth-propositions found in the Professio fidei

If the author has not corrected the indicated errors in a satisfactory way and with adequate publicity, and the Sessione Ordinaria has concluded that he has committed the offense of heresy, apostasy or schism the Congregation proceeds to declare the latae sententiae penalties incurred; against such a declaration no recourse is admitted.

Disciplinary Measures

If the author has not corrected the indicated errors in a satisfactory way and with adequate publicity, and the Sessione Ordinaria has concluded that he has committed the offense of heresy, apostasy or schism, the Congregation proceeds to declare the latae sententiae penalties incurred; against such a declaration no recourse is admitted.

Rome, from the Offices of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, June 29, 1997, the Solemnity of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul.

+ Joseph Card. RatzingerPrefect

In the past, some of the following made the list of banned authors—Erasmus, Voltaire, Descartes, Kant, Copernicus, Sartre, and of course Harriet Beecher Stowe—her Uncle Tom’s Cabin was considered too revolutionary.

After all, what would the world do without slaves?