Did the Catholic Church just jump the shark

[KitchenWitch]

by electing Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger?

This is an honest question...not a slam.

[CBGLuthier]

1. Nahh they jumped

Back when the Fonz moved into the pope's garage apartment. :-)

[Rabrrrrrr]

2. They jumped it temporarily, but I'm sure they'll recover from this

Might take them a long time, but they'll recover.

Assuming the Catholic Church survives, which I'm also pretty sure it will.

It's been through worse times, that much is certain.

[Liberalynn]

3. Don't Blame Me

I'm an ex-Catholic who voted for Kerry. Today I was never prouder of my choice to leave the church. I made the right decision.

ETA: Sorry I hit the wrong reply button. I meant to reply to the main post in general.

[PATRICK]

4. A vast engine

idling in neutral with a tidal wave fast approaching from behind. i suppose the papacy in particular has spent two millennial largely hunkering down to survive crises. I can't think of a single choice that would alienate or dismay or raise various types of sighs and groans than the appointment of the Church's chief doctrinal specialist and Inquisitioner.

If you saw that mover, "The Shoes of the Fisherman" eliminate the dark horse Anthony Quinn and elect the chief frontrunner and you get pretty much the idea of what just transpired. And the papal choice of so many new cardinals must have been more than conducive to this eventuality.

You might as well let the Cardinals of the inner Roman Curia(the centralized government of the Vatican Church) decide and the others could have saved plane fare.

It is more important in what it won't do. It won't inspire, won't provide progress, won't allow movement, won't solve any Church problems. Somewhat like Bushco, as much as the actions might provoke anger and dismay it is in what is NOT being done for the future that is disastrously wasteful.

[Beware the Beast Man]

5. He's no Rodrigo Borgia, that's for sure.

[Speck Tater]

6. Fonzi - Ratzi. Connect the dots. (nt)