The road ahead for new pope

On Tuesday, the College of the Cardinals selected Cardinal Joseph

Ratzinger to become the next pope. Ratzinger, who adopted the name

Pope Benedict XVI, served as the chief of staff for Pope John Paul II

and has been portrayed in the press as a conservative, much like John

Paul II. What will be the biggest challenge facing Pope Benedict XVI

as he takes control of the Roman Catholic Church?

As any religious leader, the challenge before the pope is to

remind all who will listen that they must cultivate a life of the

spirit.

To draw from a military episode, Napoleon appeared undefeatable as

nations buckled under his relentless assaults. With ultimate victory

over Russia at hand, as the armies of France stood at the gates of

Moscow, Napoleon’s supply lines proved to be too long.

Cut off from communication and provision, far removed from the

source of his effort, the attack sputtered, and the remnant of a

once-invincible war machine retreated. He soon fell at Waterloo.

Whereas once a continent was of insufficient size to contain his

ambition, now an island served to house him.

What is true militarily is also instructive for the religious

life. There are times when we feel victorious as obstacles fall

before our irresistible advance. Accomplishments and achievements

swell us with pride.

But one day, our march may be arrested. We realize that our supply

lines to the source of life have become attenuated. All the victories

heretofore won become like ashes in the mouth.

We awaken to find ourselves up against a wall with precious little

support, far from where we should be, in pursuit of foreign conquest,

with no option but retreat. Like Napoleon’s, our world shrinks.

In our society, the supply line is to science, which promises we

can know everything; the supply line is to technology, which promises

we can do everything; the supply line is to consumerism, which

promises we can have everything.

These are lines to false promises. How we need to be within reach

of the lifeline of divine communication -- so the spirit can speak to

us -- and the lifeline of Biblical provision -- so the spirit can

nourish us.

The mission of the pope is to summon the faithful to fortify their

lifeline to God and the spirit, to return from straying so far from

the source. At the top of his agenda must be this message: Greater

than one who travels far from home to besiege a city is he who

journeys home to God and conquers himself.

RABBI MARK S. MILLER

Temple Bat Yahm

Newport Beach

Like so many Mexican Americans, I was brought up Catholic, and I

remember well some of the significant changes in the church that

affected me directly. I was in middle school when suddenly I no

longer had to wear a head covering to mass, and I could participate

in the church services of my non-Catholic friends.

Later on, I was relieved I no longer had to “go to confession” to

receive communion, but only had to search my own heart, repent and

ask forgiveness. As a young person, I experienced the Catholic Church

as a living tradition that could respond and grow with the times.

I see the greatest challenge for Pope Benedict XVI to be: will he

be able to respond to the urgent needs of our planet, our human

family and the Catholic Church itself, or will he be more committed

to preserving a conservative interpretation of the tradition at all

costs?

It has been an interesting and educational experience to witness

the death of a pope and the selection of a new pope via television

and the printed media. I can see, as an outsider, that Cardinal

Ratzinger was an obvious choice, given his closeness and service to

John Paul II, a widely popular and charismatic figure. Many have

already labeled him a “transitional pope” and do not look to his

papacy for much change or innovation.

I very much like the response of the prominent theologian Hans

Kung, who was denounced and removed from office by the last Vatican

leadership: Let’s suspend judgment until after the first 100 days of

Pope Benedict’s office. Then we will be better equipped to see in

what directions he will lead.

I will take this “wait and see” attitude. I will wait and see, for

example, how the new pope views non-Catholics. Will he continue to

see Buddhist, Jewish and Protestant faiths as defective? I will wait

and see how he grapples with contraception and the AIDS epidemic.

Will he continue with this policy of the church, which creates a

situation within that the vast majority neither believe in nor follow

-- the teachings on birth control -- but resort instead to a “don’t

ask, don’t tell” strategy in order to be in good standing?

I will also wait and see how the leadership continues to solve the

problem of sex crimes against children by priests along with its

institutional facilitation.

As a young adult, I converted to Zen Buddhism partially because of

its focus on the development of awareness and meditation as skills to

better see problems and solutions as they unfold in the present.

Tradition and religion are seen only as tools to uncover the innate

wisdom that can always guide us. They are not seen as truths that we

must protect and defend.

I think if Pope Benedict XVI stays close to his mandate of

proclaiming the gospel of Jesus -- that love and forgiveness are

available for all people -- then he can do a good job. He will not

merely be a transitional pope but will be a true religious leader in

a changing world.

REV. CAROL AGUILAR

Zen Center of Orange County

Costa Mesa

There are two huge problems many of us face in keeping our faith

system relevant to our communities and vibrant personally. Pope

Benedict XVI has a greater problem because he has more than a billion

people under his wings.

The first challenge is cultural Christianity. As a nation becomes

dominated by a particular religion, it becomes culturally expedient

to “fit in” to the mold.

From the time Emperor Constantine converted both himself and

effectively the Roman Empire to Christianity, the church has fought

this issue. America is labeled a Christian nation, but much of what

our nation is famous for around the world is anything but Christian.

It is assumed that if you are an American, you are a Christian.

This is what makes the war on terror a jihad, or holy war for Osama

bin Laden -- he equates democracy with Christianity.

Even within our culture, a recent survey of American beliefs

netted that though more than 70% of Americans believe in the basics

of Christianity, far less actually live those basics out. This is why

many of us no longer call ourselves Christians, but Christ-followers.

The latter definition implies action rather than just adjective.

The Roman church is no exception to this rule. There are many

cultural Catholics who go to one or two masses a year but don’t live

the doctrines of the church in their everyday life.

This became evident in our last election. This divide has caused

what we have been hearing in the press about liberal American and

European Catholics wanting a more relativistic approach to church

teachings.

To be sure, there are issues such as birth control and the place

of women in the church that should be reevaluated by the church, but

that doesn’t mean that the core teachings of the church should be

thrown out as well. When the church gets caught up in these side

issues, it is very easy to be distracted from the core teachings that

are most vital to our faith.

The second challenge is cultural syncretism. Globally, Catholicism

has not kept as true to church teaching as Rome would like. In order

to be more effective in many cultures, it has allowed the local

religions to influence faith and practice. This becomes very

dangerous, as Christ becomes just another incantation for the local

medicine man to use. Christianity loses its uniqueness and its power.

These challenges behoove Pope Benedict XVI to wake the sleeping

Roman Catholic giant from her slumber as a global power, to focus on

the real issues of the faith and not be distracted by menial issues.

And that may be the greatest challenge of all, dealing with real

issues of faith and the purpose of the church ... helping the poor,

the widows and the orphans.

Rick Warren challenged his congregation last Sunday that, with

more than a third of the world claiming the name of Jesus, why have

we not done better at eradicating more disease, sickness and poverty

around the world?

One day, we will be held responsible for that fact. Pope Benedict

XVI will need to answer for his flock, as will I for mine.

SENIOR ASSOCIATE

PASTOR RIC OLSEN

Harbor Trinity

Costa Mesa

Given his age, health and the magnitude of responsibilities in his

new ministry, Pope Benedict XVI will be challenged to be vigorous and

vital physically, intellectually and spiritually. Although he was

elected because of his similarities with John Paul II, I hope no one

expects him to have either the energy or the charisma a

20-years-younger Karol Wojtyla had when he began his papacy.

Given his previous office as conserver and defender of Roman

Catholic traditions, the then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger said or did

something to offend almost everyone. He has said that Christians

other than Roman Catholics are “inherently deficient” and acted in

ways that demonstrate that he believes Episcopal/Anglican priests

like me are not truly ordained. He has said in many ways that

Christianity is the only true faith and real religion.

I hope everyone will give this new pope opportunities for new

beginnings, forgive any overzealousness enforcing party lines from

when he was cardinal, and pray for Pope Benedict XVI to be an

outreacher and visionary, as I will try my best to do.

The day of his election, there was a joke making the rounds that

while John Paul II’s first words at his installation were “Be not

afraid!” the first from this benedict will be “Be afraid. Be very

afraid!” I hope we all will avoid such cynicism, find better humor

and give this pope a chance to be what he must be, for above all,

this pope needs to make a new beginning of being a compassionate

reconciler.

I am hopeful that Pope Benedict XVI will value dialogue over dogma

and diversity over rigidity, for the mystery of God is far greater

than our efforts to control it. May the God of surprises surprise us

all!

(THE VERY REV’D CANON)

PETER D. HAYNES

Saint Michael &

All Angels Episcopal Church

Corona del Mar