James Stabile Informational Newsletter
May 2005
Religion and Spiritualism...
We have a new pope, Pope Benedict XVI. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany was elected the new pope. I think it was a mistake.
Strong words, but words from the heart. Pope Benedict XVI is a very conservative, traditional, non-tolerant person. He appeals to the John Paul II conservative branch of the Roman Catholic Church, however, he will not appeal to the American Catholic laity. We need a pope who represents the Catholic (universal) Church of Jesus Christ. Catholic means universal. The church must be universal in nature. It must be the church of all people, just as Jesus is the savior of all people.
Let's go back to the beginning, Jesus selected Simon as the head of His church. He said something to the effect, "You are Peter and upon this rock I will build My Church". Peter was the first Catholic pope. He was the head of the new Christian Church of Jesus Christ. The disciples of Jesus came from all walks of life. Many of them were married. Jesus mandated few human regulations for them to follow in ministering to the faithful. Namely, to love God and to love one another. As the church grew and became a political power in the world, the hierarchy of the church began to impose their laws and regulations in the ministering to the faithful.
Especially in the Middle Ages, these manmade rules and regulations were developed to give a sense of "holiness", "unequal ness" and "supreme" to the hierarchy of the Catholic Church. The Protestant Reformation came about due to the supreme, non-tolerant and selfish practices of some of the clergy, the controlling branch of the clergy. The church was becoming a manmade institution. God was present in name only. Make no mistake, man ruled the church and continues to rule the church today.
I am a Catholic, a follower of the universal church instituted by Jesus Christ. God is my leader, not the man in Rome. However, I respect the pope, and pray for him, but I will not accept any ruling that is contrary to Jesus' commandments, "Love God and love one another".
...I'm back. I have had some time to observe Pope Benedict XVI at work, so to speak. I am starting to change my opinion of Peter's heir to the Papacy. Benedict XVI may well be a transitional pope. His holiness may be a universal pope who unites rather than divides members of the human race, but that remains to be seen. Let's give the pope some time. Let's see what he accomplishes in these troubled times. God does work in mysterious ways, let's give the pope the benefit of the doubt.
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