And, of course, everyone knows that I'm actually a coloratura baritone. Just like most people who pay attention to the news know that Pope Benedict XVI, while flying to the U.S. for his recent visit, took questions from reporters and spoke (among other things) about the sex abuse scandal. But journalist Jorge Ramos must have missed that minor, hardly reported, and under-the-radar story, for he writes this in an April 24th piece for Dos Mundos (ht: Stohn):
Popes do not grant interviews to the press. Nor do they equivocate. Or at least that is what the defenders of papal infallibility believe. But the reality is that it would have been extremely difficult for Benedict XVI to visit Los Angeles without being grilled by the press on this subject.
Ramos, according to his site, is a well-regarded, high-profile reporter and author. And yet its hard to take him seriously when he starts his piece with sort of angry nonsense:
The only reason the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to the United States attracted any attention is that it was his first as pope -- nothing more. There are no changes and no new debates to be engaged in. After all, Joseph Ratzinger is known for defending the Roman Catholic Church’s most traditional values. He travels a lot, but he doesn’t change.
Actually, Pope Benedict doesn't travel that much, especially compared to John Paul II. More importantly, it's so obvious that Ramos must be an angry Catholic or former Catholic who would rather rant about his dislike for the Church and her teachings than try to actually report on something of substance. After all, if Ramos is really interested in the Pope entering into "debate" with those who disagree with the Church on this or that issue, he might consider taking a look at Benedict's three-year-old papacy—especially the writings produced by the Pope—and note that it has been, in many significant ways, a papacy of debate and dialogue. Benedict, in other words, has been continually interacting with and responding to ideas and beliefs that often differ from his own, including those coming from Islam (see the Regensburg address), secularism (ditto, and Spe Salvi), Judaism (see Jesus of Nazareth), the academy (the Sapienza lecture), cafeteria Catholics and non-Catholics (see Deus Caritas Est), and so forth and so on.
But Ramos is not only not interested in paying attention to what Benedict actually says and does, he falls back on the same old tired clichés that flow thoughtlessly from chronic chronological snobbery and inchoate thought:
Perhaps it’s a matter of age. John Paul II was elected pope when he was 58 years old. Benedict XVI -- who was described by Mahoney as “very intelligent but always humble” -- began his papacy at 78. And save exceptional cases, men that age, whatever their religion, generally don’t change the principles that have guided them throughout their lives.
That is why Benedict XVI will not be the pope of change. And, if his attire is any indication, it is more likely he will ratify the values of the past.
For more of Ramos' rantings, see this April 18, 2005, column (see how many empty clichés you can find!), written on the cusp of the election of Pope Benedict XVI.
Oh, and for those who are curious: No, I don't have any audio proof that I am a coloratura baritone. But, hey, I don't need proof: I'm just a coloratura baritone blogger, not an off-key reporter.
"And, if his attire is any indication,..."
Evidently he's also a fashion critic.
Posted by: Subvet | Sunday, April 27, 2008 at 07:35 PM
Yeah. What a moron.
Posted by: Ed Peters | Sunday, April 27, 2008 at 09:21 PM
I guess he can't be bothered with facts.
Posted by: Julie | Monday, April 28, 2008 at 04:35 AM
TRUTH NEVER CHANGES, WHEN PEOPLE OF THE MINSET TALK OF CHANGE , THEY ARE REFERING TO BIRTH CONTROL, ABORTION WOMEN PRIESTS AND THE LIKE, THEY WILL NEVER CHANGE,,,,THEY BELIEVE THAT THE CHURCH HASENT HEARD THEM,,BECAUSE THE CHURCH HASENT CHANGED ITS POSITION,,
Posted by: joseph | Monday, April 28, 2008 at 05:26 AM
Good point joseph. That is a popular fallacy isn't? When people say you're not "hearing" me they most often mean you're not "agreeing" with me.
Posted by: LJ | Monday, April 28, 2008 at 06:48 AM
Jorge Ramos is just another fool who doesn't tire of listening to his nonsense and believes everyone else wants to listen too. He is just another whiner who is on his third or fourth marriage now (none annulled as far as I know). Apparently not getting ones way means one knows better than God.
Posted by: Maria | Monday, April 28, 2008 at 09:02 AM
By the way, I am a lurker on this site (one of my favorites), but had to post when I saw your comments about Jorge Ramos since I've always felt that way about him. What is sad is that many people watch him on Univision and believe his nonsense. This is a great site Carl and I love it for teaching me much about my faith. Many blessings!
Posted by: Maria | Monday, April 28, 2008 at 09:05 AM
Maria: wonderful name!
Posted by: Augustine II | Monday, April 28, 2008 at 07:28 PM
Thank you very much Augustine II. I kind of like it too ;)
Posted by: Maria | Tuesday, April 29, 2008 at 08:23 AM
Visit Los Angeles? When was that?
Posted by: Gabriel Austin | Tuesday, April 29, 2008 at 11:45 AM
Gabriel: Ramos was complaining that Benedict didn't come to L.A. Apparently he didn't understand that one reason Benedict came to the U.S. was to speak at the U.N.; neither did he appreciate the fact that this Pope isn't going to hit every major city, nor travel much at all, really.
Posted by: Carl Olson | Tuesday, April 29, 2008 at 01:53 PM