Fishermen and Dancers

Instantly there will be criticism and a wrongheaded overlay of conservative/liberal political polarities that actually do not apply to matters of theology, faith, and doctrine. I can already hear Chris Matthews and his braying, adenoidal rant, and his show doesn't even come on for several hours.

From the scraps of commentary I have heard today, Ratzinger played a key role in the Second Vatican Council in the early 60s, and was at the time considered a progressive. Keep in mind that celebrating mass in English (or any vernacular language) was an almost radical idea in those days. As some sections of the church marched towards the left on certain teachings Ratzinger has continued to occupy the same ground. So now he's a conservative.

To some, "progressive" means that anytime a change is made it should be viewed as a door being cracked open, and it's time to shove harder. Mass in the vernacular? Heck, why not rap the Mass? Or act it out with sock puppets?

It's this way of thinking that brought American Catholics the mesmerizingly awful phenomenon of liturgical dancing. (If we can sing, why not dance?) Imagine a bevy of heavy-set middle aged women gliding down the aisles of church, flailing their arms and twirling about with streamers. They're certainly not the type of dancers that help focus the mind on the importance of the sacraments. Nor do they make Daddy want to give money.

I digress. In any event - welcome Benedict XVI. Today those of us that are Catholic have reason to celebrate. But challenges lie ahead.