Welcome back from the land of The Clueless Mark! It is fun to be a bit triumphalist from time to time, kinda like having a little too much fun at a party. Anyway, one thing I am looking forward to is EVERYONE knowing *exactly* what our Church stands for - that would be a great thing, and I hope the with God's help and this pope we can in some real way reach that wonderful state of affairs.
John Hearn | 04.19.05 - 7:53 pm | #

Andrew Sullivan is having a seizure.

I think we should take it easy on the guy though, considering that he's had to deal with the election of Bush and Ratzinger all in the short span of 6 months. Something like this could put him in an institution.

What's that german word...schadenfreude or something?
BillyHW | 04.19.05 - 8:31 pm | #

I for one am absolutely elated, and will be no matter what Pope Benedict does. I love the man, have since years before I converted, and cannot think of anyone I want to replace JPG.

He can take us to the mattresses against Western Secularism. He can write the west off and put his efforts into Africa and Asia. He can trade Mahoney et al to the Anglicans for a layman to be named later. Even if he were to overturn the indult and require at least one clown be present at every Mass, I don't care.

I love him and he is my Holy Father!!!
Boniface MacInnes | 04.19.05 - 8:37 pm | #

That's awesome, Mark!! We'll be watching at 9:30am EDT (well, not me, because I'll be at work..).
victor | Homepage | 04.19.05 - 8:37 pm | #

Have you guys seen the latest cover from the Sun?

http://drudgereport.com/pr.jpg

Horrible stuff! I knew this was coming, but this is really something else.
ElCapitanAmerica | 04.19.05 - 9:01 pm | #

I agree with Kathy Schaidle!
Dunstan | Homepage | 04.19.05 - 9:11 pm | #

On CNN ... Sister Joan looks really sad.
ElCapitanAmerica | 04.19.05 - 9:24 pm | #

Have you guys seen the latest cover from the Sun?

The Sun is a scummy British tabloid, isn't it? Did we really expect anything else from them?
Publius | Homepage | 04.19.05 - 9:27 pm | #

Anybody have a link to an online version of Pope Benedict XVI's dissertation on Saint Augustine (hopefully in English)
ElCapitanAmerica | 04.19.05 - 9:35 pm | #

No web-video of the MSNBC show? Or even a transcript? I am saddened. Didn't they use to be so net-savvy and everything, with that weird computer-generated pundit opposite Soledad O'Brien and that techno-skeptic Cliff Stoll?

Will it re-run sometime tonight?
Kevin Jones | Homepage | 04.19.05 - 9:44 pm | #

They don't re-run these shows, only the late night talks shows.
ElCapitanAmerica | 04.19.05 - 9:47 pm | #

I thought all along that Cdl Ratzinger would be our new pope, and said as much on Jimmy Akin's blog last week. BenedictXV1 has been with JP2 for long enough for us to know that he will carry on the work of upholding the TRUTH - no matter what our Liberal Screaming Skulls say.
I can't help grinning (even smugly) at the secular media trying to find disgruntled Catholics to state the Church's disappointment at getting such an arch conservative pope - who will keep the Church in the Dark Ages and continue to hide the Church's "Dark Past".

What a bunch of eggs - brittle on the outside, mushy in the middle.
Don(Kiwi) | 04.19.05 - 9:48 pm | #

Long live Pope Benedict XVI!!
Maribeth | 04.19.05 - 9:59 pm | #

You were both brilliant! What a day!
Gen X Revert | Homepage | 04.19.05 - 11:18 pm | #

I completely applaud Benedict XVI. This situation, though, is going to require a great deal of neighborhood level "apologetics." I have read Ratzinger Report, and God and the World, and I think that Benedict XVI is a man of deep intellect, as well as deeply compassionate in a quiet, tender way. I promise to walk on my hands for a year, though, if anyone in the media actually reads these same works, and discusses this man on the merits of his words, and not in the arena of duelling labels. Pope John Paul the Great was a true genius as a philosopher, but his soul was that of a poet. Benedict XVI is a man of intelllect as well, but more of the style of a logician. In the last few hours, I have gone through God and the World again and found at least half a dozen quotes of his that "liberals" might find attractive. On pp 120-1 he very intelligently discusses the possibility of extraterrestrial life!!
Kyro Lantsberger | 04.19.05 - 11:20 pm | #

Surprise! Hans Kung doesn't approve!

"The name Benedict XVI leaves the possibility open for a more moderate policy," said the Swiss theologian Hans Kueng, whose license to teach theology was revoked by the Vatican in 1979. "Let us, therefore, give him a chance. As with the president of the USA, we should allow a new pope 100 days to learn."

But Kueng already has formed his judgment: "An enormous disappointment for all those who hoped for a reformist and pastoral pope."
ElCapitanAmerica | 04.19.05 - 11:32 pm | #

Very cool to see you quoted in the Washington Post this morning, Mark : ) They even noted your point about the pope not fitting into American political categories -- something we are always in need of reminding of.

They also called your blog 'lively' ... come back from hiatus soon so we can pick it up again! : )
Kimberly | Homepage | 04.20.05 - 12:53 am | #

I'm not even going to look at Sullivan. I can well imagine enough.

Ratzinger - sorry, the Holy Fathr - has forggotten more about Vatican II than Sulllivan (or I) ever knew. He was a Council pereti, for goodness sake. A radical break from John Paul II? He was his righthand man.

He's aonly a disappointment for those with a radically different idea of what the Council was - i.e., a Great and Wonderful Revolution That Enables Me to Do Whatever I Want and Still Be Afffirmed in My Essential Goodness.

As for me, I am tickled pink about Benedict XVI. If Mark does not mind me stealing his WashPost quote.
Richard | 04.20.05 - 12:56 am | #

Wait a minute -

Sullivan is not even Catholic anymore.

Why does he care?
Richard | 04.20.05 - 12:56 am | #

Heartiest congrats to Mark and La Shaidle for boffo performance on MSNBC. Actually pulled me toward a cable chat show- a once-in-millenium accomplishment at that. Loved how both of our peeps brushed aside the mountains of wildly contradictory evidence on Americans Building A Better Pope. Following the studied cynicism of our Beliefnet scribe at the Vatican- practicing a variation of the Cuomo School of Catholicism- I'm personally opposed to this Pontiff but....Actually impressed by how Kathy S. stayed on her best behavior- no mouth-foaming or invectives against heretics. Quite touching and moving. Again nothing in MSNBC's schedule ever set for more than four minutes. Could see M&S baiting dissidents in prime-time- K. Olbermann, beware....
Gerard E. | 04.20.05 - 1:03 am | #

Man, it's obvious you guys get a lot more action over there than here - wish I could mix it with you - (dream )
Don(Kiwi) | 04.20.05 - 4:17 am | #

"Kathy Shaidle, as possessor of the pair of XX chromosomes in the group, was anointed to speak on behalf of all Womankind, but failed her entire sex by not much caring whether women are ordained or not."

hahaha... that's hilarious!!!
Jermaine | Homepage | 04.20.05 - 4:25 am | #

Oh Mark, this post so reminds me of why I've been missing you on your hiatus. Could you post for at least a week before you go back into it?
Emily | Homepage | 04.20.05 - 8:45 am | #

Unfortunately I didn't get to see you or Kathy on MSNBC but our local ragsheet of a newspaper did have the good sense to quote you. Great job, Mark, as always you are a credit to those who bring the faith before the eyes of the public (and I'm sure Kathy was equally effective!)
Christine | 04.20.05 - 9:22 am | #

Is there any way we could possibly all agree to make these com boxes "Sullivan Free" for, say, the next 30 days? I reallly don't wish the man ill, but the invocation of his name and opinions really casts a pall on an otherwise joyous event. Besides, what can a Unitarian possibly contribute to this discussion? Just a suggestion. ;>))
Hal McCard | 04.20.05 - 10:15 am | #

Hey, Mark!

We just saw you on MSNBC - looking very spiffy and most uncharecteristically sober. Articulate as always and full of memorable lines. They didn't show Kathy or Ron Reagan but just your interview as representative of the "blogosphere" (Weighty office, that, but no mention of being HRE - surely you mention that in your cv!)

Watch out, George Weigel! (Who was visibly impatient as he strongly contradicted the inane questions of MSNBC's woman on the streets of Rome) You don't have a corner on all the orthodox commentaries anymore!
Sherry Weddell | 04.20.05 - 10:16 am | #

Really a nice interview on MSNBC. I'm thrilled by the election of Pope Benedict XVI. It's time to continue the revertion to our TRADITIONAL roots, and the media is trying to spin this as such an ominous thing for the catholic church. However, Mark, did you have to use the "pelvic issues" phrase? I understand why it was used (the usual range of issues that the media is screaming for the Catholic church to consider). I consider myself to be extremely conservative, following that priest should be men (etc), however, and I'm still cringing from the use of that phrase. Surely there must be something not quite so, well, crude and abrupt.
Paige | 04.20.05 - 10:17 am | #

At least the Sun did not put him on page three!

Has Greeley chimed in? He has long promoted Ratzinger as the "evil genius"... and calls prelates he dislikes "psychopaths".
Will Linden | Homepage | 04.20.05 - 10:27 am | #

Actually, I thought Kathy came across as a Catholic Ann Coulter. Crowing over the discomfiture of one's opponents seems a little, dare I say it, unevangelical.

I personally have a great appreciation for Pope Benedict's thinking, but almost none for the smug and snarky variety of conservative "Catholic" bloggers. I suspect that a lot of the more right-wing ones have not actually read his condemnation of anti-Vatican II traditionalism and of those who disrespect homosexuals. It will be interesting to see how popular he will be among the SSPXers when he condemns their divisiveness.
Sarah | 04.20.05 - 10:30 am | #

Forgot to mention in my last post--Father Greeley came out in favor of Pope Benedict. But Our Sunday Visitor thinks he's a heretic.
Sarah | 04.20.05 - 10:33 am | #

"Personally, I think that those who are elated *and* those who are having hysterics are probably in for some surprises. I also think that, once people get to know the guy, they will be pleasantly surprised."

I have to agree with this statement. The man never changes the Papacy, being the Pope invariably changes the man.

-Tony
Tony Miller | Homepage | 04.20.05 - 11:21 am | #

Huh? OSV thinks he's a heretic?
Dave Mueller | 04.20.05 - 11:58 am | #

Sarah - you thought Kathy "came across like a Catholic Ann Coulter"? Knowing Kathy well, I can say that you've probably given her the highest of compliments.

And Mark - if I'm not mistaken, Jeff Jarvis is a Unitarian or something suchlike. Not a Catholic. Not even close. (Do Unitarians even actually believe in God? My impression was that the believed in belief, or believed in their belief in belief, or whatever.)
rick mcginnis | Homepage | 04.20.05 - 12:46 pm | #

Sarah, you again? do I have my first cyber-stalker?!

Ann Coulter: well, if you mean I came across as a tall thin blonde with an Ivy League law degree who rights NYT bestsellers, sleeps until 1pm and turns out to be right about pretty much everything -- well, thanks!!

Yeah, Jeff is like some kind of McChurch person. Nice fellow, but... rather obsessed with "free speech" (that is, Janet Jackson's boobs etc.)
A Boomer, in other words. I appreciate him giving my name to MSNBC in spite of the fun I've sometimes had at his expense, so I suppose that makes him a better Christian than I am.
Kathy Shaidle | Homepage | 04.20.05 - 1:08 pm | #

You can see a video of the interview here:

http://thepoliticalteen.net/2005...rs-41905-video/

I found it via your fellow interviewee Jeff Jarvis's website: ww.buzzmachine.com who gives his response to your attack on him.
Glyn | 04.20.05 - 1:11 pm | #

Apologies, the above message had a broken link in it, so this is the corrected version:

You can see a video of the interview here:

http://thepoliticalteen.net/2005...rs-41905-video/

I found it via your fellow interviewee Jeff Jarvis's website: www.buzzmachine.com who gives his response to your attack on him.
Glyn | 04.20.05 - 1:12 pm | #

Concerning the disgraceful front cover of the British newspaper "The Sun" which a couple of people have linked to above.

The owner of the Sun is Rupert Murdoch, who I believe also owns FOX NEWS, so send him an email expressing your disgust. The Sun notoriously has very few readers in the Catholic city of Liverpool, and they've been trying to win them back - I doubt if this is the way to do it.
Glyn | 04.20.05 - 1:21 pm | #

FYI -

Paul Wilkes is an author and has a website called Beliefnet. He wrote a book called "The Good Enough Catholic". The title describes the book well and keep in mind that Father Ryan at St. James Cathedral/Seattle loves him. He is very "progressive" in his views and thinks growth comes from innovation. He has been on many shows lately - and has been awful (in my opinion). He was one of many guests on Larry King last night - talked about the fear of the liturgy being forced back into the Pre-Vatican II era. Thank God, Fr. Fessio was also a guest and took the time to set the record straight on what VII actually said about the liturgy.
Becky | Homepage | 04.20.05 - 3:42 pm | #

Becky,

I know that Fr. Ryan loves Wilkes, or at least that book of his. I can still remember Ryan touting the book from the pulpit some years ago. That was around the time he also touted the failed former archbishop of San Francisco and his book or speech advocating reforms in the Church. He invited Quinn to preach one Sunday and praised him to the hilt. The actual sermon was okay but the idea of promoting him and his ideas rubbed me the wrong way. The current archbishop of SF is still having to pay the price for Quinn's messes.

I like Fr. Ryan personally and he is very good on liturgy, especially music, icons and processions etc. But he can't resist subtle digs against Rome on occasion (less in recent years) and I have never ever heard a pro life (ant-abortion) homily at the cathedral on Sundays. Not even on the last Respect Life Sunday earlier this year (just a parenthetical comment within a normal homily about the texts of the day).
Arnold | 04.20.05 - 5:02 pm | #

I read Wilkes' book, THE GOOD ENOUGH CATHOLIC and found it appalling. The title pretty much describes the content...just choose what YOU want to believe...cafeteria Catholicism at it worst.
Lynn | Homepage | 04.20.05 - 5:32 pm | #

Recall that the Sun is the paper known chiefly for featuring a naked woman on page three.

Adverting to the roll of newspapers from "Yes, Prime Minister"...
....and the people who read the Sun don't care who runs the country, as long as she has...ah, "huge tracts of land".
Will | Homepage | 04.20.05 - 7:43 pm | #

I actually have a copy of "The Good Enough Catholic" under my bed. I simply cannot bear to return it to our church library where others may find it and read it. As Lynn says, it's appalling.
Michelle K. | 04.20.05 - 10:48 pm | #

Michelle K.

I say burn the book...or send it to the dump. Tell the parish you lost it and replace it with a good book. I would be glad to supply one from my store.
Becky Steffan | Homepage | 04.21.05 - 12:06 am | #

Thanks for the offer Becky. I think I'll substitute my copy of "Ungodly Rage" by Donna Steichen for it.
Michelle K. | 04.21.05 - 4:19 pm | #

Rupert Murdoch was made a papal knight of some sort at the behest of Cardinal Mahoney. That of course, was when he was still married to his first wife.
Sandra Miesel | 04.21.05 - 4:22 pm | #

Well, actually, Sandra, Ruport Murdoch was made a papal knight...so you might want to replace "at the behest of Cardinal Mahoney(sic)" with "at the behest of John Paul II." But then, that wouldn't fit your program of slander, would it?
A.O. | 04.23.05 - 5:52 pm | #

Several years ago, when I was a DRE at a small parish, we got a shipload of free books from a Catholic company that had an excess of them. We received two or three copies of "The Good Enough Catholic" in that shipment. They were added to our library and, after a few weeks, one of our parishioners checked out a copy. Several days later, she came into my office and handed me the book and said, "I think this might be heresy..." I read a few pages that she had indicated, then I quietly got up, went into the library, and removed the rest of the copies.

Hmm... Wonder if Pope Benedict will bring back the Index. Might not be a bad idea...
Matthew Minix | 05.01.05 - 12:05 am | #