I monitor nearly 30 blogs these days, thanks to the Sage plug in for Firefox, and some of them are already listing the “Pope-bashing” going on after the election of Benedict XVI. I couldn’t help but be struck by the irony of the situation. I just saw a leftist blog using all kinds of profanity while mocking Ratzinger’s German heritage. It is simply disgusting. Our readers know you can come to Pros Apologian and you will never be assaulted by profanity or that kind of behavior. And yet, if I factually and carefully document the vast difference between the gospel of grace and that of Roman Catholicism, critics respond with the same kind of venom currently being spewed at the new Pope. Odd, isn’t it?
I stand firmly against the teachings of Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI. But the idea of mocking his heritage, his name, as if this were serious apologetic argumentation—outlandish! If you are going to oppose the man, oppose what he teaches, and do so accurately! For example, if I wish to address Benedict XVI’s views on Mary, I have here in my library his work, Daughter of Zion (Ignatius, 1983). Quote the man, do so fairly, in context, and then provide a reasoned argument against what he says. At times these days I wonder if I’ve been transported to another planet given how rarely anyone argues that way anymore.
On a completely different topic, just saw that reformedcatholicism.com is closing down. I can’t help but point out that this experiment failed mainly because you can’t create any kind of meaningful unity when you can’t define truth. It’s just not possible, and getting a bunch of folks together who only share a common commitment to the undefinability of truth isn’t going to create long-term stability.
