Roundup: Los Angeles Times, others lecture Pope

February 17, 2009

The Los Angeles Times this morning lectured Pope Benedict, whose “general insulation from public opinion,” the editors assert, “can border on arrogance.” The editors write, “How could the pope rehabilitate a crank such as [Bishop Richard] Williamson without a thorough investigation? One explanation is that the pope has been obsessed with reconciliation with Lefebvrites, who share his devotion to the 16th century Tridentine Latin Mass that was replaced by vernacular services after Vatican II. That may account for the pope's failure to consult with Cardinal Walter Kasper, the Vatican official in charge of ecumenical relations, but reconciliation with one group should not involve indifference toward another.” Others, particularly the BBC, joined the Los Angeles Times in criticizing the Pontiff.

 

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Further information:

• Editorial: Pope Benedict’s damage control (Los Angeles Times)
• Vatican failing publicity tests (BBC)
• Fiasco over Holocaust-denier raises questions over quality of papal advice (Irish Times)
• Editorial: Bishop Mishap (Harvard Crimson)
• Dissent: Unfounded Criticism (Harvard Crimson)
• Church officials out of touch with mainstream (University of Wisconsin - Madison Daily Cardinal)