Same as the Old Boss?

Recent summaries of the prior positions of the new pope make him out to be a real social and moral conservative -- very similar to John Paul II or a Mormon apostle. Yet Hans Kung, a Catholic theologian who has criticized the conservative Catholic retrenchment under JPII, has issued a "let's wait and see" statement, noting that the focus, tone, and direction of the thinking of previous popes has sometimes changed after they became the Pope. He suggested that popes, like presidents, go through a "first 100 days" period when they first come to grips with real issues and define how their administration (or pontificate) will operate and what policies it will carry forward or change. Perhaps Benedict XVI will take a different line than Cardinal Ratzinger. In fact, reports I heard said that his first mass stressed an ecumenical message and reaching out in a friendly way to other faiths, not themes he emphasized in the past.

Comments

[Christian Y. Cardall (TSM)]

Sorry for the lame comment, but it is related to the title... I just have to say that on the way home from work today I listened to a live Van Halen album, and they do a version of "Don't Get Fooled Again" that totally rocks.

[Dave]

Perhaps they weren't fooled again. I've read commentary that the very name "Benedict" taken by B16 harkens back to the prior B15, who was a peacemaker and healer in the first part of the 20th century. Just like only Nixon could go to China and not be called soft on Communism, maybe only a conservative pope can adopt a more open approach to social and moral issues without being accused of betraying the church of the conservative legacy of JP2.