So there has been a swift reaction to the election of the new pope by many Jewish leaders around the world, including Tikkun's awesome and progressive Rabbi Lerner. Rabbi Lerner and many other Jews are rightfully concerned that the new pope was once a member of the Nazi army and involved with the Hitler Youth organization. Whoa.
But here's the thing. Even if you believe that the new pope is an anti-Semite, it seems to me that because of his new position, he'll have to work extra hard to counter any appearance of anti-Semitism, so that he just might become the most friendly pope to Jews since... well, since John Paul II. I suspect that Benedict XVI will move swiftly and effectively to counter any impression that he's an anti-Semite, and that this will be good news for the Jewish community.
The bad news is that this guy was the theological source of JPII's ultra-conservative pontificating over the last 20-odd years, so we're not likely to see any changes in the church's position on birth control, women in general, divorce, and all the other out-of-date rules that need to change. Oh, well, maybe next pope.
But here's the thing. Even if you believe that the new pope is an anti-Semite, it seems to me that because of his new position, he'll have to work extra hard to counter any appearance of anti-Semitism, so that he just might become the most friendly pope to Jews since... well, since John Paul II. I suspect that Benedict XVI will move swiftly and effectively to counter any impression that he's an anti-Semite, and that this will be good news for the Jewish community.
The bad news is that this guy was the theological source of JPII's ultra-conservative pontificating over the last 20-odd years, so we're not likely to see any changes in the church's position on birth control, women in general, divorce, and all the other out-of-date rules that need to change. Oh, well, maybe next pope.
"and all the other out-of-date rules that need to change."
Laugh.
-Phil
Actually, most Jews aren't that concerned-in large part because in terms of internal matters, it isn't our business. And, while Lerner is definitely progressive, as the foremost expert on the subject of Awesomeness, I would certainly dispute the categorization of him as such. His views also don't reflect those of the rest of the Jewish community, which are significantly more diverse and less worried, as evidenced here.