www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Can American be POPE? but why?

I really dont think its a good idea.... :rolleyes:

Randy,

in the subject title of this thread you initiated, you pose two questions, (which are rather good questions, if some one is truly looking for answers). Yet your own response is a bit lacking in thought, and given the " :rolleyes: ", appears to be somewhat sarcastic.

Do you wish to engage the forum members in serious discussion?

Sure.... I really want everyone thought on whether having an American Pope is a good idea.

My apology if I was sarcastic. Can request to delete this thread and start all over? thanks.

Randy

I remember hearing from Catholic relatives in the 60's when I was quite small, that we should NEVER have an American Pope because we're too political over here. Realistically speaking though, when I got older and began asking questions, no one ever gave me a logical explanation as too why an American cardinal should never become Pope. I've heard it stated that if an American cardinal became Pope, he'd be merely a pawn of the US government. Similar misgivings were expressed when a Pope from a communist country was elected. It didn't happen though. I even remember hearing practicing Catholics ask the question "why must the Pope always be an Italian" and here again a little basic research would have shown them that Italian Popes were frequently at odds with the Italian government. So my answer is a resounding NO, there would be nothing wrong with having an American Pope providing he possesses the spiritual qualities necessary for his position as head of the visible church.

I agree Braddah Lawrence, but do you think our current American Cardinals have that spiritual capacity to lead 1.2 Billion Catholics and most them are traditionals ?

Randy,

Are you here to discuss issues or issue condemnations of individuals within the Church? If the former, then discuss them without sarcasm. If the later, please find another forum to participate in.

Admin

Ok got it.....> <

John,

I agree about sarcasm and I'm glad to see so does Randy but there is a serious concern here. No one can really judge the heart of another but it is true that many of the modernist problems seem to eminate from the American Church under whose watch are the American Bishops.

Randy,

There are some American Bishops who have shown courage and an appreciation for traditional Christianity here in the states. While generally speaking I would wonder about the effectiveness of an American Bishop in that role and would wonder about a bishop from the most powerful secular nation on earth being the next pope I think the Holy Spirit can guide the Cardinals to the man He wants.

I'm just agreeing with you that my tendancy would be to think that a bishop from our non-traditional country might cause some eyebrows to raise including mine.

Dan L

Dan,

I agree that there is an issue here that is worthy of discussion. I�m just asking that it be discussed without sarcasm and in all possible charity.

I agree that the Holy Spirit can guide the cardinals to choose the man that He wants. Even though it is certainly appropriate to discuss these issues I think it must always be done from the context of prayer.

Admin

Forgive me for posting this article but this is one example. I pray that our Church Cardinals be guided with the Holy Spirit.

Cardinal Law recalls Pope John Paul, amid protests

Vatican, Apr. 11 (CWNews.com) - Cardinal Bernard Law was the principal celebrant at a memorial Mass for Pope John Paul II (bio - news) on Monday, April 11-- the 4th of 9 daily Masses called the novendiali, celebrated in St. Peter's Basilica for the deceased Pontiff.

The American prelate, who resigned his post as Archbishop of Boston in the midst of the sex-abuse scandal there, remains the focus of intense criticism among victims of abuse, and several activists protested his selection to preside at the memorial Mass. Representatives of victims' groups passed out flyers in St. Peter's Square, questioning the selection of Cardinal Law to be the focus of ecclesiastical honors, and asking for help to repair the wounds of the sex-abuse scandal.

Cardinal Law was chosen to preside at the Mass because of his current post as the archpriest of the basilica of St. Mary Major. Each Mass of the novendiali is designated for a particular group within the Church in Rome, and this 4th Mass was for the clergy of the four major basilica: St. Peter's, St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, and St. Paul-outside-the-Walls. The 5th Mass of the novendiali will be celebrated on Tuesday for the papal clergy-- the College of Cardinals and other designated clerics. The principal celebrant will be Cardinal Eugenio Sales de Araujo, the senior cardinal-priest.

In his homily, Cardinal Law paid tribute to the long and loyal service of Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz as personal secretary to the Pope John Paul II. He also took note that the Church was celebrating the feast of St. Stanislaw: namesake of Archbishop Dziwisz, and predecessor of Pope John Paul II as the Bishop of Krakow.

I'm sorry, Randy, but that is an example of nothing. Whether WE like it or not, Bernard Cardinal Law was transferred BYT THE LATE POPE to his current position. As he is clergy in one of the four major basilicas, he is, by default, among those celebrating this fourth Mass. it is NOT an example of something wrong that the American Cardinals have done.

It is a reminder of Cardinal Law's past sins.

Please stop merely cutting and pasting articles about the Church, and put some of your thoughts down, instead of "I found such-and-such an article, definition, or other item". In this thread alone you began it by stating that an American Cardinal is a bad idea...then you added that having an American Pope would not be a bad idea,as soon as someone pointed out that there is, in his opinion, nothing wrong with it provided the Cardinal in question possesses spiritual qualities.

You seem, by those two statements, to misunderstand what the concern about an American Pope IS. Certainly you have not commented on it. I realize from your statements about only knowing one Papacy that you must be very young, but there really should be some sort of thoughtful analysis behind a post, not merely repetition.

Gaudior, who would have sent a PM had that been possible

The idea of "pope" is totally incompatible with "American."

Anyway, the pope needs more than one language.

Stojgniev

Mr. Hannan,

That is your opinion. You really have an anti-American slant to some of your posts. And, BTW, several of the cardinals from the U.S. speak more than one or two languages.

The hallmark of this Forum should be charitable discussion, not things such as, inter alia, American-bashing.

I wish you peace.

Charles

I can think of at least two American cardinals who would be wonderful Popes. I won't name them because I don't want to prejudice the Holy Spirit's decision. But we are certainly not completely bereft of saintly prelates here in the States ...

stojgniev:

Yours is an indictment of the 11 U.S. Cardinals who will participate in the Conclave proper.

Can a Polish Cardinal be Pope? That was the question for 455 years before the election of John Paul II.

Any one among the members of the College of Cardinals can be Pope, including the U.S. Cardinals. Although it might not be opportune for any of them at this juncture of our Church history.

There are other, and more, American Cardinals in Rome: the Latin American papabili.

Did you hear the beautiful Italian of Cardinal Law yesterday?

Amado