Letters

Papal election

Frank Bellet

Contents - Jun 2005 - Buy a copy now Editorial: Corpus Christi - the Body of Christ Habemus Papam: Benedict XVI charts course as successor to John Paul II - Michael Gilchrist He was my Pope, too: a Lutheran's appreciation of John Paul II - Uwe Siemon-Netto News: The Church Around the World The Catholic Church's dissenters miss the boat - Chris Hilder Benedict XVI and liturgical reform - Dom Alcuin Reid OSB Mother Teresa's legacy continued at Georgetown University - Peter Reynolds Papal awards for WA Catholic politicians - Hugh Ryan The previous Pope Benedict and his quest for world peace - R.J. Stove Letters: John Paul the Great? - Patrick Ryan Letters: Papal election - Frank Bellet Letters: New Pope - Deidre Lyra Letters: Unchanging teachings - Greg O'Regan Letters: A true shepherd - Lynn Wise Letters: Another Parish - Peter Gilet Letters: Pre-Vatican II myths - Douglas V. Boyle Letters: Chavagnes College - Pascale Cotterill Letters: Outstanding education at Chavagnes College - Br John Moylan CFC, MA, MEd Letters: Revolt manifesto - P. Gartland Letters: Sanity? - Tom King Letters: Catholic schools - Kevin McBride Letters: Sponsorship request from Uganda - Joise Nasuna Letters: Kathmandu school - John E.J. Fetz Events: Solemnity of Sts Peter and Paul - Fraternity of St Peter Events: Juventutem WYD 2005 Cologne Pilgrimage - FSP Books: John Paul the Great, edited by William Oddie - John R. Barich (reviewer) Events: Catholic Doctors' Association Mass and Dinner Poetry: Sonnet on the Election of Pope Benedict XVI - Bruce Dawe Books: More Good Reading from AD Books Reflection: Cardinal Nguyen van Thuan: witness to the priesthood and Eucharist - Fr Dennis Byrnes

There is so little genuine and healthy humour in all forms of the media these days, it was a refreshing change to read or listen to the unintentional humour in articles and comments (from experts) leading up to the election of the new Pope.

Journalists used such impressive sounding "sources" as "several Church officials" and "close Vatican watchers" - the latter probably referring to the regulars at Tony's Pizza Hut.

The real clanger came from a dunce in the UK, who speculated that the Church needed a "healer" and that this would rule out Cardinal Ratzinger.

Along with the debate on the Pope, was the reference to the "decline" in Church influence in Europe.

No-one has picked up on the fact that the critics who savour reporting this pay little attention to the growth of the Church in Africa and Asia.

These bomb-throwers in the media, who usually are the very ones to label their opponents as "racist" at the drop of a hat, seem to think that white Europeans are more important people than those in the Third World, who apparently don't count in their view.

FRANK BELLET
Petrie, Qld

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 18 No 5 (June 2005), p. 14