Evangelical viewpoint on the new pope

[Ian David]

Pros and cons
Conservatism in a new pope is both a positive and a negative | by Joel Belz


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Here's where the alliance holds: Stay firm on abortion and euthanasia; hold the line on traditional marriage; keep saying no to special rights for homosexuals; don't flinch on male headship (although evangelicals are flabbier on that one than are their Catholic friends).

But the very Catholics likely to stand their ground on those fronts are typically those who are more "traditional" in areas where evangelicals insist change is needed in the Catholic way of seeing things. Evangelicals tell me they'd love to see a pope who would enunciate clearly a more biblical doctrine of justification by faith alone. Evangelicals tell me they'd like to see a pope who moved his church from an emphasis on hierarchical authority and toward one on biblical authority. Evangelicals tell me they'd love to see a pope who would move his church away from a focus on Mary and other saints and toward a focus on Jesus Himself.

Which is, of course, as a good friend reminded me, only to raise the old question: "Is the pope Catholic?" Or, in this case, if he were even to suggest such radical re-expressions of truth, could he still be called a Roman Catholic? Wouldn't you almost have to call such changes, if you'll pardon the expression, a reformation?

<snip>

It is instead to point out the complexity of a relationship that used to be simpler. It was easier when evangelicals and Roman Catholics barely talked—when we saw each other only in shades of black and white, with almost no grays in between. Now, in a shockingly secular age, we share so much about many core beliefs and institutions. Indeed, we share so much that we often see ourselves more as allies than as enemies. And yet we know how great is the distance that simultaneously separates us.


More:
http://www.worldmag.com/displayArticle.cfm?ID=10557

[XanaDUer]

1. Huh.

"But the very Catholics likely to stand their ground on those fronts are typically those who are more "traditional" in areas where evangelicals insist change is needed in the Catholic way of seeing things. Evangelicals tell me they'd love to see a pope who would enunciate clearly a more biblical doctrine of justification by faith alone. Evangelicals tell me they'd like to see a pope who moved his church from an emphasis on hierarchical authority and toward one on biblical authority. Evangelicals tell me they'd love to see a pope who would move his church away from a focus on Mary and other saints and toward a focus on Jesus Himself...'

Ain't gonna happen born againers. Whether you like it or not, the Church puts a lot of emphasis on good works and care of the poor and disenfranchised.

And Ratzinger follows John Paul's lead as Mary as co-redempteress. It just drives them crazy.