KCP - Catholic Diocese of Broome

The reign of the seventy-eight year old Pope Benedict XVI promises to be as interesting as it will be short. Given the enormous workload that goes with being Pope, a workload that would alarm most people, the Holy Father’s reign will come nowhere near the impressive twenty-six years of his predecessor. However, one gets the feeling this will be no country stroll for the energetic Bishop of Rome. It is far more likely to be engaging and memorable for the people of faith and the faithless alike.

As a Cardinal, +Joseph Ratzinger had as many detractors as he had fans. As Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith the eminent academic had responsibility for monitoring the works and actions of those who held positions teaching the faith. His job description called for him to be a protector of doctrine and a guardian against error. Such a task is not an enviable one especially in an age of ranging diversity with its peculiar notions of freedom entrenched among a host of different human types. Subjectivism, for instance, is as alive among self-styled academics as it is among check-out operators. The thought that two moral opinions in complete contradistinction can both be right still echo in the corridors of staffrooms and in the halls of homes. A common defence of abortion and embryonic stem cell research (which destroys the embryo) is that “it might be wrong for you but it’s not wrong for me” – as though a claim of personal freedom can somehow outweigh moral objectivity and principle. Relativism is prevalent in talkback radio shows and self evident in newspaper columns. Unfortunately it is also prevalent in some parishes, Catholic educational institutes and in the opinions of some who have been ordained and/or professed as witnesses to Christ and truth. Such people resist any thought that dogma must be held to be true and that there is such a thing as a proper teaching authority. The gift of faith in such instances takes a back seat to personal opinion.

A recent TV panel show on SBS supposedly exploring the question of what sort of Pope the Church needs, dwelled fleetingly on a few controversial subjects and treated the challenge of the moment like some sort of political rally. The panel was composed of the usual suspects who appear to make a living lampooning the mystical body of Christ while promoting their own outrageous opinions. These darlings of the media project an over-developed ego which is perhaps at the heart of subjectivism and relativism.

Missing from the panel were the ordinary true believers who expect from their pastors leadership in the way of justice and holiness. I mean those mums and dads and others who recognise the challenge of living the Gospel in today’s world and who, despite much opposition from secular forces, continue in their quest of a loving relationship with Christ, the true shepherd and the way of truth.

A friend of mine rang me after the election of Pope Benedict. He is the father of a wonderful family all of whom went to Catholic schools. Three of the four children no longer practise their faith and they struggle to even recognise the call to holiness. His comments are still ringing in my ears “We have to believe that the Holy Spirit has raised up this Pope for us, to lead us along the path of truth. He is the successor of Peter”.

We need to pray for each other that all of us who struggle in the way of living out the Gospel today will listen with joyful hearts to the Holy Father, the Vicar of Christ and the first pastor of us all. I believe we shall not be disappointed.