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BENEDICT XVI: NEWS, PAPAL TEXTS, PHOTOS AND COMMENTARY

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30/10/2009 05:41
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Benedict XVI: The object of envy by vain men and fellow octogenarians like Hans Kueng, Scalfari and Cardinal Martini perhaps!


I translated this piece the other night to post with the articles by Bruno Mastroianni ('Why the Pope draws people...') and Roberto Pepe denouncing Scalfari's throwaway insult of the Pope last week ("The devil fearful of the Pope..." in the preceding page, when to my utter chagrin, my PC froze just as I had finished the translation but before I could copy it or save it! Of course, it was gone when the computer rebooted, and at 2:30 in the morning, I was not about to do it all over. However, I cannot not translate it, so let me try again!


The arrogant Scalfari
and the 'modest theologian'

by Antonio Socci
Translated from

Oct. 25, 2009


It would seem Eugenio Scalfari likes Popes - as long as they are dead and buried, and therefore exploitable against the living Pope whom he detests.

For example, La Repubblica, which was founded and edited by him for some time, had for almost three decades - there is more than ample documentation of it - 'bombarded' John Paul II as reactionary, fundamentalist, regressive, and even for being anti-Communist! In short, Papa Wojtyla was Catholic - an unpardonable sin for Scalfari.

He was always being compared to his dead predecessors, John XXIII and Paul VI, and accused of rejecting and betraying Vatican II. [Hmmm.,doesn't it all sound familiar? And yet people think that John Paul II's Pontificate was nothing but roses and incense from the media. Not so, though they all tried to make it sound that way, after he died!]

But now that John Paul is dead, Scalfari has appropriated him to try and denigrate the living Pope who is now the figure in his gunsight.

In Scalfari's column this week in L'Espresso, he writes that in the course of history, there have been terrible Popes of all kinds, but also some who were 'exemplary', the last exemplary Popes being John XXIII, Paul VI and Papa Wojtyla.

In comparison, the present Pope [the way Scalfari says it in Italian, 'Quello attuale', by itself already sounds contemptuously dismissive!] is "a modest theologian who makes us lament his successors".

Yes, you read right: 'a modest theologian'. Surprising news missed by most of the newspapers. This line would make it seem that the Supreme Pontiff was subjected to a painstaking examination in theology and failed, with a stinging verdict, by one Scalfari who implicitly presents himself as a luminary in the theologic galaxy.

Now, the founder of Repubblica is certainly a competent journalist with a long career but, as far as I know, he has never been known for encyclopedic culture, nor for being a giant of philosophical thought (in fact, when he has tried to indulge in philosophical reflections, he has only aroused some hilarity, and the more malicious have described some of his philosophical argumentations as dilettantish, as of someone 'playing by ear').

But no one suspected or imagined that he has now become an exceptional theologian qualified to pass judgment on someone with the caliber of Joseph Ratzinger! How, when and where did this metamorphosis take place?

Unfortunately, Scalfari's theological competence is purely self-certified. No one can verify it. However, it would have been Scalfari's chance to document - at least in a few lines - the reasons for his ferocious dismissal of the theologian Pope. At the very least, he might have let us know if he had read a single book by Ratzinger, and if so which one. (As everyone knows, the Ratzinger bibliography is endless, with hundreds of titles).

But perhaps, in order to formulate his unappealable verdict, Scalfari did not need to read a single book by the 'examinand'. Maybe he is endowed with that rare charism called innate wisdom. Still, he could have cited at least one statement by Ratzinger (just one, no more) that shows theological incompetence - but he did not do so.

So, his readers at L'Espresso must take his judgment as undiscussable and indisputable dogma, without being able to examine it freely as modern secular mentality would require.

Scalfari owed it to his readers to explain the credentials and preparation that qualify him to pass judgment on a man like Joseph Ratzinger, whose 'modest' curriculum vitae reads thus: professor of theology in important German universities; as a young man, theological expert and consultant to Cardinal Frings and the other German bishops attending Vatican II; author of hundreds of books and essays; bishop, cardinal, and for more than 20 years, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith - handpicked by the exemplary John Paul II to be the guardian of orthodoxy in the universal Church - and finally, Pope.

Of course, in contrast to Scalfari who walks with hieratic gait and, according to his friends, carries his head as if it were an ostensorium borne in procession - the most evident characteristics of Joseph Ratzinger are simplicity, humility and sincere friendliness.

He was always that way as cardinal, and I can testify to that personally. His gentleness always gave me the impression of evangelical innocence that is truly rare to see in great intellectuals, which he is.

In his private behavior as well as public actions, in his years at university, in his books and lectures, he has never shown the least trace of intellectual arrogance typical of academics, nor of haughtiness or intolerance.

On the contrary, Joseph Ratzinger is extremely welcoming, a good man - always ready to extend a fraternal or paternal hand, even towards antagonists who have attacked him harshly (e.g., Hans Kueng).

His distinguishing characteristic has been the defense of truth in charity, and it was no accident that he prepared the draft of Cardinal Frings's address to Vatican II denouncing the methods of the former Holy Office.

He has never once used harsh words against anyone, although he never hesitates to defend the Catholic faith - with gentleness, to profess the truth, and to inspire it. Because he has always had unshakeable faith in 'logos', in the reason that all human beings are endowed with, whatever creed they belong to, and therefor, in the possibility of mutual comprehension and dialog, if not obstructed by prejudice or ideology.

That is why he likes to listen to others and look deeply into their arguments and objections, with profound respect for them and love of the search for truth.

He is, quite simply, a rarity in the intellectual world. Perhaps because he is profoundly Christian and feels solidarity with all men. In his books, he has never expressed scorn for anyone. Nor does he make judgments, as we journalists love to do, in shovels.

Scalfari and his newspaper seem to be the king anf the temple of such Universal Judgment, which is, in this, case, a universal pre-judgment (prejudice). Which easily becomes self-penalizing (for scoring in one'd own goal).

For example, in the column in question, Scalfari praises Cardinal Carlo Martini and contrasts him with the rest of the Catholic hierarchy: "He thinks in a way that is radically different from that of the Church."

With which words, Scalfari unwittingly makes the worst possible compliment to his prelate friend: to oppose him to the rest of the Church only confirms the old song and dance of secular media who have elected Martini their 'anti-Pope'. Which is the worst disgrace that can happen to a successor to the apostles.

Indeed, Jesus warned his disciples that if they were his authentic friends, they would be scorned and persecuted by the world as he was. He warns them against the flatteries and applause of the world as a sign that if they earned these, they were off course.

Perhaps it would be good for Cardinal Martini to recall what Don Lorenzo Milani [an Italian priest who was known for educating poor children with unorthodox methods that 'equipped them for real life']. In the 1960s, he too was held up by L'Espresso as a model against the rest of the Church.

But don Milani responded firmly to the magazine: "And in what way do you think I am like you? How exactly?...This Church possesses the sacraments. It is not L'Espresso that gives me the power to absolve sins. Do you give me the Mass and Communion? You journalists should realize you are in no position to judge the Church. You are not qualified to do so. I spent 22 years of my life trying to escape the company of those who read L'Espresso and Le Monde or write for them. You should snob me, say I am naive and a demagogue, but do not honor me as one of you. Because I am not... Only God matters, and man's only task is to adore God - everything else is filth".

And yet don Milani himself endured injustice from the Church bureaucracy. it would be so nice to hear similar words from Cardinal Martini who had been part of the Church hierarchy, from whom he received only power and glory. Better yet, how nice it would be if he himself defended the Pope from people like Scalfari....

[Dream on, Socci! But like Hans Kueng, Martini is the same age as the Pope, so one wants to be 'kind' out of respect for their age. Indeed, there was one other article earlier this week that claimed the cardinal appeared to be echoing Scalfari in his new weekly column for Corriere della Sera... I'll check it out.]

[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 30/10/2009 10:06]
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