Defending Benedict XVI

[Isilzha]

I can't believe I have to ask a question like this already, but I saw someone comment about some things that he has apparently said, and I wanted to know how to address them. The Hitler Youth one I think I can address on my own, but the others I didn't know what to say. Thanks

So what you're saying is that you support a pope who:

believes that non-Catholics (contrary to recent Catholic responsa and dogma) are doomed to damnation (http://www.religioustolerance.org/rcc_othe.htm)

would like to ban transsexuals from Holy Mother Church (http://waitingfordorothy.blogspot.com/2005/04/ratzingers-legacy.html, at the top)

believes that "Homosexual unions are also totally lacking in the conjugal dimension, which represents the human and ordered form of sexuality." By this, he states that homosexuals are, by loving each other, not human, when love is among the most human of all emotions. (http://www.ewtn.com/library/CURIA/CDfhomun.HTM)

and is a former member of the Hitlerjugend (Hitler Youth)
(http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2089-1572667,00.html)

As I said before, Jesus tap-dancing Christ. Please explain how you support this kind of guy.

[theMutant]

So what you're saying is that you support a pope who:

believes that non-Catholics (contrary to recent Catholic responsa and dogma) are doomed to damnation (http://www.religioustolerance.org/rcc_othe.htm)

First of all, religioustolerance.org not only misinterprets some of the points of Dominus Iesus but the person you're quoting failed to read the complete article he linked to which gives the following as then Cardinal Ratzinger's view.

Salvation is accessible to those who are not members of the "Church" -- (i.e. not Roman Catholics or Eastern Orthodox Christians). It comes through grace which originates with Christ and "enlightens them in a way which is accommodated to their spiritual and material situation."

would like to ban transsexuals from Holy Mother Church (http://waitingfordorothy.blogspot.co...rs-legacy.html, at the top)

Not only does this site completely misrepresent the teachings of Dominus Iesus but the specific claim about banning transsexuals is supposedly from an "eyes only" document which they fail to reference. Very convenient to not have any actual document anyone can go and read for themselves to verify the claims, don't you think?

believes that "Homosexual unions are also totally lacking in the conjugal dimension, which represents the human and ordered form of sexuality." By this, he states that homosexuals are, by loving each other, not human, when love is among the most human of all emotions. (http://www.ewtn.com/library/CURIA/CDfhomun.HTM)

Where does he get his conclusion? Saying that a homosexual relationship is not consistent with the human and ordered form of sexuality is not even close to saying that the people involved in such a relationship are not themselves human. He also fails to realize that fornication (heterosexual relationships between unmarried persons) and adultery are not consistent with the human and ordered form of sexuality. To apply his misinterpretation to those relationships would mean that the Church teaches that heterosexual fornicators and adulterers are also not human. Completely ridiculous.

and is a former member of the Hitlerjugend (Hitler Youth)
(http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article...72667,00.html)

Yes, he was required to join the Hitler Youth just like all young boys in Germany at the time. He never attended it however. He was also a member of the Nazi army - but he deserted because he opposed the Nazis. For goodness sake, even the Jerusalem Post defends him against this claim!
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satelli...273080&apage=1