Does A New Ultra-conservative Pope

[The Lone Liberal]

Mean that the American Catholic vote is now and for the foreseeable future in the Republican column?

[beam me up scottie]

1. It didn't mean that with jp2,

why would it now?

[greatauntoftriplets]

2. Not in Chicago.....

not entirely. What irks me is that Chicago is known as a Democratic city with a Democratic mayor...but one who is good friends with craphead.

[Smarmie Doofus]

3. I wouldn't think so. I think the church will continue....

to hemorrhage in the US and in the rest of the west. Granted, those that stay will probably lean republican, but that's not 'cause catholics are following Ratzinger's orders so much as 'cause there will be fewer liberal and politically independent people identifying as "catholic".

I think its a wash, politically. But I think it's good that the RC church will become more like its "true self". Less confusion and ambiguity about what it actually stands for.

[Inland]

4. If the reaction in the dem party is mindless catholic bashing, yes.

If the reaction is tea and sympathy, there is a chance to shake worried catholics from a political philoso[hy that has gone to far.

[The Whiskey Priest]

6. edit

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[MADem]

5. I think it means that moderate and liberal catholics will either

...wait patiently, or move away. Perhaps a third, the hard core, are pleased with the continuity aspect.

Benedict XVI is a transitional Pope. He will hold the line, try to eke more money out of Europe, grow the developing countries, and maybe streamline the operation slightly. He will probably throw some sop to the US, probably in the form of a visit and a triangulation issue (the death penalty, maybe?) but I think unless he comes up with something that captures the American heart, he is going to see the contributions go down rather than up.

I think he went into the conclave with a simple majority, but not a super majority. The people who supported him likely indicated that they would wait twelve days if they had to, to be able to use the simple majority, and would not be moved, so the rest just fell in line after they couldn't come up with a competing name to give him a run for the prize. No phone, no TV, no motorcare, not a single luxury...they figured, why waste ten more days for the same result?

I also think JP2 all but named him to the college as his successor. The end result, ironically, was that the College of Cardinals looks like the GOP senate. Nuke option at work, folks.

It is a shame, but it won't last forever. Didn't JP2 make a big deal about suffering for your faith? Well, it looks like today's Catholics are going to have that opportunity with this Papacy.