In Need of a Faith Lift

My college newspaper opted not to run this for fear of backlash. Here is the editorial I wrote about the future pope.

As Pope Benedict XVI’s tenure comes to an end, his legacy will be marred with controversy. Although exonerated, his status as a member of the Hitler youth has tainted his reputation and had his actions questioned by sects from all over the globe. Aside from his ties to the Reich, he has also been implicated on covering up various child abuse scandals within the Catholic Church.

            Before he was Pope Benedict, he was Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger and before his papacy he spent 24 years as the Head of the Congregation of the Faith, which was once known as the Holy Office of the Inquisition. This is the same inquisition that accounted for thousands of deaths and murders over the centuries due to religious differences and accusations of witchcraft. In other words, Pope Benedict has been involved with organizations with extremely poor images.

            With a new face about to emerge as the next poster child of Catholicism it’s time the Catholic Church joined the 21^st century. 

            First of all, next guy (because the Catholic Church will never allow a female pope) can’t be a former Nazi. If you were a manager in charge of hiring and former employers included Adolph Hitler or any other murderous dictator, one would be inclined to think you wouldn’t hire them. So why should the highest religious position in the world get a pass?

            Secondly, the next top dog for the church has to report any and all reports of abuse of any kind to authorities. During Ratzinger’s role as Cardinal, all the cases of the child abuse reported throughout the Catholic Church came to his desk. One particularly sickening incident was Wisconsin Reverend Lawrence C. Murphy who worked at deaf school for 24 years. During his tenure, he allegedly molested nearly 200 deaf boys.

            Despite various letters from local and national church figures urging the Vatican to intervene, Pope Jean Paul II and Cardinal Ratzinger did nothing and Father Murphy died of old age before being punished. This was even after Murphy wrote a letter to Ratzinger asking to not be tried for his crimes so he can die with the “integrity” of the priesthood. Shorthand, the next pope cannot be a Nazi who may have covered up child molestation.

            A solution: let priests get married. If the bible teaches that we are here to repopulate and spread the word of god, why prevent god’s most devout from spreading their seed? Most pedophiles are not homosexual and are opportunist abusers. They abuse whomever they can get away with. Rather than forcing old men to be with young boys for years on end, let them marry someone and have their “needs” satisfied.

            Finally, the church needs to get with reality. The doctrine needs to change. Stop condemning Africans to hell for using condoms when the population is burdened by the world’s largest AIDS epidemic.  Stop telling women what they can or can’t do with their body.  Leave the gays alone. Marriage should be a human right not a heterosexual privilege. Everyone should be allowed to get married, that includes priests. The next pope is scheduled to be announced around Easter.