Which Way Will the New Pope Lead?

It became clear shortly after Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was chosen that liberals and some in the media decided that it would be politically incorrect to like the new pope. I’m so glad that the Holy Spirit did not consult them before dispensing his infinite wisdom upon the College of Cardinals. Benedict XVI is a brilliant, prayerful and humble man who will surprise many people during his papacy. Long may he reign.

Michael Marasco

Glendale

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I’d like to think I’m not the only American Catholic who watched the election of a successor to Pope John Paul II hoping the church’s new leader would be someone able and willing to guide its faithful in a direction more closely aligned to Jesus’ message of forgiveness, compassion and redemption for all.

Disappointingly (but hardly surprising), church leaders opted for someone whose views seem to favor dogma over inclusion; indeed, they elected a pope who prefers a smaller church, as long as it is more doctrinally “pure,” as it were.

The Vatican “old boys” stayed true to form; more’s the pity.

Unless the Roman Catholic Church’s hierarchy and policymakers are able to effectively address and resolve such issues as its stance on divorce, family planning, homosexuality and the exclusion of women in key religious roles, the number of faithful will continue to drift away from the church. Or, perhaps more likely, they will simply ignore Rome and continue to practice their faith in spite of church policies, as do many American Catholics.

Juan Vega

Eagle Rock

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As a parish priest and later as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI has spent much of his adult life atoning for his onetime membership in the Hitler Youth by reaching out to the Jews. Ironically, however, with his medieval orthodoxy, especially on issues of sexuality and women’s rights, this conformist, rigidly doctrinaire prince of the church may ultimately turn out to be more popular with the Jews than with many of his fellow Roman Catholics.

Harold N. Bass

Northridge

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The new pope, as Cardinal Ratzinger, set up relativism as a serious challenge to his faith.

This was probably because relativism was a major reason for the spread of secularism in Western Europe. I hope that now, as Pope Benedict XVI, this brilliant, humble and good man will work ecumenically with all who see divine will differently than he does.

Relativism simply holds that serious people will see life’s meanings and purposes in their own unique ways.

Porter Ewing

Van Nuys

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One of the new pope’s first priorities should be to order that all molesting priests be turned over to law enforcement agencies. He should also order that the privacy of the confessional does not apply in these cases. Molesters do not deserve such protection. Those who protect molesters should also be prosecuted for conspiracy.

Mike Kirwan

Venice

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Does this mean that the popemobile will now be made by BMW?

Robert J. King

Los Angeles